Mat-Ab voters reject fourth straight budget
BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG
Staff Writer

The Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District school budget failed once again.

Township and borough voters rejected the proposed $56.8 million budget, which would have carried a $43 million local tax levy, by 379 votes.

"We're deeply disappointed," Schools Superintendent Bruce Quinn said.

Aberdeen residents voted 980 to 776 against the budget. Matawan residents voted 539 to 364 against it. The total numbers of votes was 1,140 in favor and 1,519 against.

A total of 1,782 ballots were cast in Aberdeen, where there are 10,675 registered voters. The voter turnout was just under 17 percent. Matawan had slightly more than a 17 percent voter turnout, with 902 of the 5,198 registered voters casting ballots.

This is the district's fourth consecutive defeated budget.

The budget would have raised taxes 17 cents per $100 assessed property value for Aberdeen residents and 8.7 cents for Matawan residents, Business Administrator Laura Ventor said.

Quinn said that district officials thought this year's budget would pass due to the lower tax rate increase proposed compared to last year.

This year's budget included an increase in pre-kindergarten sessions and a new pre-K program in the Cliffwood Avenue and Ravine Drive schools, more high school teachers, and an additional guidance counselor at the middle school.

The budget also included new teachers for the elementary schools that are going through the reorganization process, and improvements to the elementary language arts/reading program. New extracurricular sports at the high school, such as golf and bowling, were also budgeted for.

Newly re-elected board member Jan Rubino said that she is disappointed that the public didn't understand what went into the budget, and how important it is to pass it.

The defeated budget will now go to the Aberdeen and Matawan councils, who will be responsible for setting the new school tax rate. Once the new tax rate is set, the school district must go through the budget and make appropriate cuts in order to financially meet the new tax rate. The district also has the option to file an appeal to the state.

According to a packet of information given to the public by the board, the average amount of money cut by the governing bodies is between $400,000 and $800,000, which results in a 2- to 3-cent reduction in the tax rate.

"I hope we can work with the councils to expedite a solution as soon as possible," said Ken Aitken, who won a seat on the board.

Quinn said that the district has already opened up dialogue with one of the councils, but declined to say which one. He also said it is unclear at this time if the district will meet with the two councils together or separately, as they have done for the past two years.

Quinn said the district hopes to work with the councils and come up with a solution that will provide tax relief for residents. He said he expects more dialogue with the two councils to take place this week.

Along with the budget, voters also defeated two additional questions on the ballot asking for additional general funds for lighting and security at many of the schools, and for computers and technology equipment.

"Now we're really precluded in going forward with those things during the next fiscal year," Quinn said.

The district asked voters to approve $255,000 for general funds for computer and technology equipment. The total number of votes between the two municipalities for this question was 1,158 in support and 1,514 against.

The second question was for the approval of $450,00 for general funds to purchase lighting and security upgrades for the majority of the schools in the district. Voters defeated this 1,566 to 1,104.

Quinn said he was surprised voters defeated the security and lighting question. He said he thought the voters would recognize the need for that in light of past events that have occurred in the district.

But not everyone saw the issue that way.

"I find it preposterous that Aberdeen Township school leadership can ask for $705,000 in security, lighting and educational equipment when they built planters and useless columns in front of the high school, which serves no building or educational purpose," Aberdeen resident Joseph McAleer said.

Quinn said he feels the voters are sending the district a message regarding property tax.

The board was expected to meet Monday night for a reorganization meeting at which time they will swear in the new board members, reorganize committees, and vote on a board president and vice president.

Matawan-Aberdeen voters reject budget
Published in the Asbury Park Press 04/20/05
By JUSTIN VELLUCCI
KEYPORT BUREAU


Matawan and Aberdeen residents on Tuesday voted down a proposed $41 million tax levy in support of a $56.9 million budget for their regional school system while re-electing one incumbent and choosing two newcomers for the district's Board of Education.

The budget, which was 6 percent larger than the 2004-05 budget, was defeated at the polls 1,519 to 1,140. It garnered support in only one Matawan voting district, where it received 33 "yes" votes and 26 "no" votes.

The budget would have raised $27,908,533.29 in Aberdeen, increasing the school's tax rate there by 5.3 percent, or about 17 cents, from $3.22 to $3.39 per $100 of assessed of property value. In Matawan, the budget would have raised $12,952,109.71 in local taxes, increasing the accompanying tax rate 2.9 percent, or 8.7 cents, from about $3.03 to $3.11 per $100 of assessed property value.

For an Aberdeen property valued at $113,661, the township's average, the school tax was $3,656.474 under the previous rate and would have been $3,853.107 under the new rate, an increase of $196.63.

For a Matawan property valued at $142,916, the borough's average, the school tax was $4,331.78 under the previous rate and would have been $4,444.687 under the new rate, an increase of $112.90.

Voters on Tuesday also rejected two ballot questions that sought to raise an additional $255,000 for new computer and technology equipment and an additional $450,000 for security and lighting upgrades and other additions at several district schools.

Those questions were defeated 1,158 to 1,514 and 1,104 to 1,566, respectively.

Matawan residents elected newcomer Charles F. Kenny, 40, to the regional school board. Though Kenny, an attorney, was running unopposed. The name of Arthur Fumarola — a longtime Board of Education member who died last month after filing his bid for re-election — still appeared on the ballot.

In Aberdeen, voters returned one incumbent to office but voted out a second.

Jan Rubino, a 47-year-old preschool teacher, won her bid for re-election, while newcomer Ken Aitken, 43, a network architect for AT&T, was voted onto the board. Incumbent Bill Marinella, 48, the owner of two area music stores, and challenger Donald Franklin, 37, a Postal Service letter carrier, lost their bids for the two open Aberdeen board seats.

Foot traffic was steady about 3 p.m. Tuesday outside voting districts in Aberdeen's Strathmore section, where residents voiced mixed opinions about the school district and its proposed budget.

"I'm interested in the education of the children, except I'm very annoyed (about) school taxes," said John Sanoudis, 78, a longtime Aberdeen resident who declined to say if he voted for or against the budget. "I think senior citizens should get a discount on the school taxes . . . because they don't have children in the school district."

Nannette Finkel, whose child is a fifth-grader at Strathmore Elementary School, said she voted to support the budget.

"I believe it's important to vote," said Finkel, who declined to provide her age. "And since I have a school-age child, even though it may raise my taxes, it's where I believe our money should be going."

Justin Vellucci: (732) 888-2617 or jvellucci@app.com

Mat-Ab candidates speak out on issues
BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG
Staff Writer

ABERDEEN — Lloyd Road Elementary School opened its doors for residents to come and meet the future of the Board of Education on Thursday night.

The school hosted Candidate Night 2005, and gave each person running for election to the school board an opportunity to address the public on pressing issues in the district, and how they would help make improvements.

Each candidate was called up to the microphone in the auditorium and was allotted five minutes to make a speech. During this portion of the event, the public was not allowed to ask questions.

A moment of silence was held in place of Arthur Fumarola’s speech. The Matawan resident and incumbent recently passed away.

The first person to speak was Aberdeen resident Kenneth Aitken, of Juniper Place. Aitken, a network architect for AT&T, has been an Aberdeen resident for over 12 years. He holds a master’s degree in telecommunications and a bachelor’s in electrical engineering.

Aitken said he is running because he cares “about our children, our community, and their future.”

Aitken said he is highly concerned that there has been a 38 percent increase in the budget since 2001, and asked the audience if they feel the children are getting the best education possible for that amount of money.

Aitken also said that while the district has great schools, they need to improve the math and science departments in order to keep up with the future, and with other countries. He also suggested that the high school offer more vocational classes so those who can’t afford a college education can learn a trade.

Aberdeen’s Donald Franklin, of Aberdeen Road, was next to make his speech. Franklin, a mail carrier, is a 35-year Aberdeen resident.

Franklin told the public he is running for the board because he cares about the children. He said that his top priorities if elected will be to keep the budget in check, improve test scores and improve school security, three issues that he feels are equally important.

Franklin said that test scores have either stayed the same or dropped, and something needs to be done about that. He said he has several ideas to improve test scores, including an early morning system for children to get tutored. He also said that he has a lot of ideas regarding security that he would like to implement without making the buildings look or feel like a prison.

Matawan’s Charles Kenny was next. Kenny, 40, of Sarah Court, is a lawyer. He asked the public to vote for him and enable him to continue a lifetime of volunteering for the community.

Kenny said he has been doing charitable work throughout his life, first as an Eagle Scout when he was a boy, then as a lawyer and father, and would like to continue doing so on the school board. Kenny said that his background of proven leadership skills, education and involvement in charitable work shows that he is qualified to serve on the board. He feels his experience as a trial lawyer will enable to him to bring a new perspective to the board.

Kenny, who resides with his wife and two daughters, said he and his family are proud to live in Matawan, are proud of the school district and want to make it the best it can be. He said he can serve on the board as an independent voice for the residents of Matawan and Aberdeen to make sure the children are getting the best education possible.

Aberdeen incumbent William Marinella was next to make his speech. Marinella, of Lloyd Road, is a 17-year township resident and is the owner of two music stores.

Marinella said he feels there are two things parents want from the school district. First, parents want to see that their children are getting a good education, and second, they want proof that they are getting their money’s worth. He said that he thinks the board has made many positive changes and is going in the right direction, and he would like the opportunity to continue working on the board. He said he is running again because he feels the district should continue to work on the goals they have committed to.

Marinella said that 85 percent of the budget is dedicated to personnel, and that the district wants the best and needs the fiscal support to maintain the best. He also said that he believes students should be well-rounded, and that he would like to improve the athletic programs in the schools.

Aberdeen incumbent Jan Rubino was the last candidate to speak. Rubino, of Arbordale Drive, is an 18-year township resident. She described her first term on the board as a huge learning curve, and said she takes great honor in her position. She asked the public to allow her another opportunity to help move the district forward.

She said she was delighted that the community puts their faith in the school board, and that the people seem to share the same vision for the schools as the Board of Education.

Following the speeches, everyone was moved into the library, where the public and candidates got up close and personal for a meet and greet. The public was able to have a one-on-one question-and-answer period with each candidate.

Voters will choose the next board members on April 19. Two Aberdeen seats and one Matawan seat are open.


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Boy arrested for Aberdeen school blaze
Labor Day fire caused $2M in damage, disrupted schedules
BY MICHELLE ROSENBERG
Staff Writer

The misbehavior of some kids can get them grounded for a week, but one 13-year-old boy may be sentenced to three years.

Authorities recently arrested a boy from the Cliffwood section of Aberdeen and charged him with second-degree aggravated arson for allegedly setting the Matawan Avenue Middle School on fire on Labor Day, Aberdeen Police Chief John Powers said.

The Aberdeen Township Police Department worked with the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office on the investigation, which police say is still ongoing.

The arrest was made at 6:50 p.m. on April 4 at the Aberdeen Town Square Shopping Center. Aberdeen Detective Chris DeSarno and county Detective Brian Vepnek were the arresting officers.

The juvenile was initially brought to the Aberdeen Police Department, and was then transferred to the Monmouth County Youth Detention Center, Powers said.

The juvenile is still being held in the detention center awaiting his next court date, said Barry Serebnick, Monmouth County assistant prosecutor.

The juvenile had a retention hearing the day after he was committed, and was then scheduled to have a probable cause hearing later in the week. That hearing was postponed, Powers said.

The case is being handled by presiding Superior Court Family Judge Eugene A. Iadanza, Serebnick said.

The boy was not a student in the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District. Local police would not say what they believe his motives for allegedly burning the building were.

Powers said that the detectives have spent the last seven months interviewing several individuals and gathering all the information they could, which ultimately led to the arrest.

He also said that the investigation is ongoing because police are not sure the culprit was acting alone. There is some information that makes it seem that others may have been involved, he said.

There were initial reports that two individuals were seen running from the scene around the time the blaze was set.

Authorities would not say if the juvenile in custody has a previous record.

Serebnick said that the maximum sentence for a juvenile charged with second degree aggravated arson is three years in the youth detention center, but the sentencing is “entirely up to the judge.”

At the beginning of the year, the New Jersey School Boards Association Insurance Group (NJSBAIG) offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. There was an additional $1,000 reward being offered by the nationwide program WeTip. Authorities said that as of now, nobody will be getting the reward money because it was not one person’s information that led to the arrest.

“I’m pleased that the police department was able to make an arrest,” Superintendent of Schools Bruce Quinn said. He also said he is grateful that the police department had the diligence to investigate the case.

Quinn also said that he is sad for the student arrested, and wishes he had made better choices. He said the juvenile disrupted the district, and he has to pay the penalty.

Quinn said that the district is hoping to move forward and never have to deal with something like this again.

The fire caused roughly $2 million in damage to the school, forcing it to delay opening twice, and hold split sessions for months due to lack of room.

There are still sections of the middle school closed off, and one group of sixth-graders was forced to attend their first year of middle school at one of the district’s elementary schools.

The fire, which was started on the roof, caused significant water and fire damage to the area behind the auditorium. Classrooms and the hallway were closed off. There was also significant damage in the gymnasium, cafeteria and girls’ locker room. Most of what was destroyed in the fire was newly constructed referendum work.

The insurance company covered the bulk of the cost of reconstructing what was damaged. The district was only responsible for a $5,000 deductible.

Quinn said the school board hasn’t discussed whether or not they will seek reimbursement for the deductible now that a suspect is in custody.

Now that an arrest has been made, the insurance company has the right to seek reimbursement from the boy’s family, said Bill Miller, NJSBAIG claims supervisor.

“The word of the day is ‘subrogation,’” he said. Subrogation means that because the insurance company has made payments to their insured, they have the same rights the insured would have if an arrest is made, he said.

“We’ve made extensive payments,” Miller said. “We’re not going to leave people penniless in the parking lot, but we’re not going to continue to make extensive payments without some kind of reimbursement.”

Miller said the insurance company is not sure what they will go after the family for, but that they do have the right to seek recovery.

The claims adjuster handling the case could not comment on the specifics.

Police are currently working to complete the case.

School budget increases a ‘drain on elderly of this community’

It never stops — Board of Education (BOE) budget increases leading to higher property taxes. Regardless of the amount, it is a drain on the elderly of this community (18 percent). We daily struggle just to meet daily sustenance and medical bills.

“Fixed income” is a misnomer — so much for that.

Last year’s budget had an item of $986,890 for extracurricular activities for catch up with other districts similar to ours. Through negotiation with the BOE it was reduced to $137,000 to cover expenses for track improvement and new band uniforms.

Now the proposed budget includes golf, bowling and new dance programs in another attempt to match or exceed other schools of our size.

In addition, there is $450,000 for general funds for the purchase of security and lighting upgrades at numerous schools. This in spite of the fact that these items were included in the $38.5 million renovation just completed. Also, I don’t see any mention of moneys for improving the low scores on the New Jersey assessment tests.

These tests include the grade eight proficiency assessment, the New Jersey assessment of skills and knowledge, and the high school proficiency assessment.

Director Caroline Pond said, “We are upset and plan to do something about it.” Spell out the details.

Finally, the cost of educating a student in our school system in 2002-03 was $9,494 and in 2003-04 was $10,232, an increase of 7.8 percent as shown in the school report cards shown in a local daily newspaper.

Finally, there is undoubtedly an item of $500,000 in the budget to cover any rejection of the offered budget by Matawan and Aberdeen. If there is acceptance by the voters, the BOE has more than really needed.

I have seen only the outside of the high school, and it is beautiful.

My belief is this budget needs serious revisions and a better use of resources.

Walter L. Born

Aberdeen

Boy, 13, arrested in school roof fire

Aberdeen police: Probe ongoing
Published in the Asbury Park Press 04/6/05
By JUSTIN VELLUCCI
KEYPORT BUREAU

ABERDEEN — Authorities have arrested a 13-year-old boy from the
township's Cliffwood Beach section in connection with the Labor Day
fire at Matawan Avenue Middle School that cost the school district's
insurance carrier nearly $2.3 million.

On Monday, detectives from the Police Department and the Monmouth
County Prosecutor's Office charged the boy, who was 12 at the time of
the fire, with aggravated arson. The charge carries a maximum penalty
of three years in a youth detention center, First Assistant Prosecutor
Robert A. Honecker Jr. said.

Honecker said the teen, who police think may not have acted alone,
climbed onto the school's roof Sept. 6 and used a lighter to ignite
paper and tar on top of the building. The teen was arrested at an
Aberdeen shopping center Monday night and was being held at the
Monmouth County Youth Detention Center in Freehold Township, Aberdeen
Deputy Chief John Powers said.

The suspect is not a student at the middle school. Honecker declined
to say where he is enrolled. Due to the "serious nature of the crime,"
the teen will be held at the detention center at least until a
probable cause hearing later this week, he said.

Authorities would not elaborate on a possible motive.

Powers said Tuesday he was proud authorities were able to make an
arrest in the case.

"The detectives — both our detectives and (those) from the
Prosecutor's Office — put a lot of time and effort into investigating
it, and we're pleased that at least we've got one person that's been
charged," Powers said.

School year disrupted

Several officials and parents also were glad there's been an arrest,
saying it provided closure to a year in which the school's calendar
and a $14 million construction project were thrown off by the fire.

"We're very pleased that the Police Department has been able to make
an arrest in this case," Schools Superintendent Bruce Quinn said. "The
incident was extremely disturbing and disruptive to the school
district. We'll be happy when the incident is behind us and we can
feel a sense of normalcy within the district."

While Business Administrator and Board Secretary Laura Venter said the
cost of repairs topped $2 million, the district's insurance company —
New Jersey School Boards Association Insurance Group — will foot
nearly all of the bill. The district is only responsible for a $5,000
deductible.

Officials offered $11,000 in rewards for information leading to
convictions in connection with the fire. Honecker said it did not
appear the reward led to information related to Monday's arrest.

The fire delayed the scheduled Sept. 9 start of the year at the middle
school by two weeks and forced closing off of several damaged
classrooms. The gymnasium was converted into space for four classes
and about 100 sixth-grade students were relocated to Lloyd Road
Elementary School.

"The school's been a mess — they're still not done with it," said
Dolores Bittner, a longtime Matawan Avenue resident whose grandson
goes to the nearby middle school.

Rosemarie Conner, whose daughter is an eighth-grader, said the fire
also had a human impact.

"It disrupted everyone," Conner said. "I just felt badly for the
children that are doing the show . . . because their auditorium was
destroyed and (the repairs are) not completely finished yet."

Suspect's age noted

Matawan-Aberdeen Regional Board of Education President Catherine T.
Zavorskas had mixed feelings about Monday's arrest.

"I'm surprised and relieved that they were able to arrest someone,"
Zavorskas said. "But it's really sad. It makes it even more sad and
upsetting to me that it would be a child."

Diane DeNardo, whose own son is 13, also was upset when she heard the
age of the suspect.

"Of course, you have mixed feelings because it's a kid and, you know,
kids do stupid stuff," said DeNardo, 44. "Thank God no one was hurt or
died. It was an inconvenience (but) the school district handled it
great."

Aberdeen police are continuing to investigate whether anyone else may
have been involved. They do not think the Labor Day incident was
related to a fire earlier in 2004 at Strathmore Elementary School on
Church Street, he said.

Justin Vellucci: (732) 888-2617 or jvellucci@app.com

Aberdeen police are continuing to investigate the Matawan Avenue
Middle School fire. Anyone with information can call the department's
detective bureau at (732) 566-2054.