Incumbents succeed, but school budget fails
BY TOM CAIAZZA
Staff Writer
ABERDEEN - The hotly contested $59 million Matawan-Aberdeen school budget was defeated by voters on April 18, making it the fifth-straight year the towns' governing bodies will review it and recommend cuts.
The proposed $59 million school budget would have hiked the tax rate 18.25 cents in Aberdeen and 15.69 cents in Matawan.
Though the budget was defeated by more than 660 votes, all three incumbents won re-election. Patricia Demarest and John Barbato defeated challenger Michael Vail for two open seats from the Aberdeen delegation of the Board of Education. Gerald Donaghue ran unopposed for one seat from Matawan.
Vail did not expect to win, but was pleased with the 946 votes he garnered, just 23 votes shy of Barbato. Vail said that he had hoped to win, but unseating Barbato, an incumbent with 14 years on the board, would have been a daunting task.
"The two incumbents I've faced, one of them has been on the board for 14 years," Vail said. "From an expectations standpoint you have to be reasonable."
Vail called the campaign a "tremendous learning experience," and one that he would like to do again, but said it was too early to tell if he would definitely run next year.
"You can't be out in front of people enough," Vail said of what he has learned about campaigning. "You have to be meeting people, talking to people, telling them what your plans are and what they need."
Vail said that he got into the race because he felt the budget process required someone with financial expertise. He said that the fifth-straight defeat shows that the public is sending a message to the board that they are not satisfied with their spending practices.
"I truly believe the public has no faith in the budget being put forth," Vail said.
He said that a good educational system is in the best interest of the entire community, but some attention needs to be paid to the taxpayers' needs as well. He said that this year's budget fell short of addressing the concerns of taxpayers not utilizing the school system.
Vail said he hopes to see the board work together better in the future, and that responsibility will fall squarely on whoever is chosen as board president.
Demarest won her second term on the board with 1,085 votes. She said she was grateful for all the voters who supported her on election day.
She plans to focus on the immediate issue of budget cuts that the Matawan and Aberdeen councils will make in the coming weeks to make sure that no cuts are made to school programming.
In that vein, Demarest wants to begin planning for next year, which includes a superintendent review process, setting board goals for the coming year and creating programs for students at risk of performing under potential.
Demarest said that a better working relationship with the state and more support from them for middle-income districts previously lost in the state aid shuffle should be paramount concerns for the board.
"These are tough times we live in," Demarest said. "I hope the Legislature hears the voices of the people. We are on the verge of change. I am confident they are going to start looking at the funding formula."
For now she will make the best of what the board has to work with.
"You can't be discouraged," Demarest said. "You have to put one foot in front of the other. I am happy for what we do have."
Though Barbato has sat on the board for 14 years, he said that it is always exciting on election day. He thanked the people of Aberdeen for his re-election.
"I am very thrilled and honored that the people of Aberdeen see fit to have me there for another three years," Barbato said.
Barbato said that he will focus on upgrading communication between the board and the public.
"The word doesn't get out on the good things that happen in the district," Barbato said. "We need to find better ways."
He would also like to focus on improving communication between the board and the parents in the district. Barbato wants them to feel comfortable approaching them.
Citing Superintendent Bruce Quinn's positive relationship with Matawan and Aberdeen's governing bodies, Barbato said he expected the upcoming budget discussions to be "amicable."
Barbato thanked the people who supported his campaign and re-elected him.
"I will continue to not let them down in that area," Barbato said.
Donaghue ran unopposed for his fourth term as part of the Matawan delegation on the board with 459 votes. He could not be reached for comment.
BY TOM CAIAZZA
Staff Writer
ABERDEEN - The hotly contested $59 million Matawan-Aberdeen school budget was defeated by voters on April 18, making it the fifth-straight year the towns' governing bodies will review it and recommend cuts.
The proposed $59 million school budget would have hiked the tax rate 18.25 cents in Aberdeen and 15.69 cents in Matawan.
Though the budget was defeated by more than 660 votes, all three incumbents won re-election. Patricia Demarest and John Barbato defeated challenger Michael Vail for two open seats from the Aberdeen delegation of the Board of Education. Gerald Donaghue ran unopposed for one seat from Matawan.
Vail did not expect to win, but was pleased with the 946 votes he garnered, just 23 votes shy of Barbato. Vail said that he had hoped to win, but unseating Barbato, an incumbent with 14 years on the board, would have been a daunting task.
"The two incumbents I've faced, one of them has been on the board for 14 years," Vail said. "From an expectations standpoint you have to be reasonable."
Vail called the campaign a "tremendous learning experience," and one that he would like to do again, but said it was too early to tell if he would definitely run next year.
"You can't be out in front of people enough," Vail said of what he has learned about campaigning. "You have to be meeting people, talking to people, telling them what your plans are and what they need."
Vail said that he got into the race because he felt the budget process required someone with financial expertise. He said that the fifth-straight defeat shows that the public is sending a message to the board that they are not satisfied with their spending practices.
"I truly believe the public has no faith in the budget being put forth," Vail said.
He said that a good educational system is in the best interest of the entire community, but some attention needs to be paid to the taxpayers' needs as well. He said that this year's budget fell short of addressing the concerns of taxpayers not utilizing the school system.
Vail said he hopes to see the board work together better in the future, and that responsibility will fall squarely on whoever is chosen as board president.
Demarest won her second term on the board with 1,085 votes. She said she was grateful for all the voters who supported her on election day.
She plans to focus on the immediate issue of budget cuts that the Matawan and Aberdeen councils will make in the coming weeks to make sure that no cuts are made to school programming.
In that vein, Demarest wants to begin planning for next year, which includes a superintendent review process, setting board goals for the coming year and creating programs for students at risk of performing under potential.
Demarest said that a better working relationship with the state and more support from them for middle-income districts previously lost in the state aid shuffle should be paramount concerns for the board.
"These are tough times we live in," Demarest said. "I hope the Legislature hears the voices of the people. We are on the verge of change. I am confident they are going to start looking at the funding formula."
For now she will make the best of what the board has to work with.
"You can't be discouraged," Demarest said. "You have to put one foot in front of the other. I am happy for what we do have."
Though Barbato has sat on the board for 14 years, he said that it is always exciting on election day. He thanked the people of Aberdeen for his re-election.
"I am very thrilled and honored that the people of Aberdeen see fit to have me there for another three years," Barbato said.
Barbato said that he will focus on upgrading communication between the board and the public.
"The word doesn't get out on the good things that happen in the district," Barbato said. "We need to find better ways."
He would also like to focus on improving communication between the board and the parents in the district. Barbato wants them to feel comfortable approaching them.
Citing Superintendent Bruce Quinn's positive relationship with Matawan and Aberdeen's governing bodies, Barbato said he expected the upcoming budget discussions to be "amicable."
Barbato thanked the people who supported his campaign and re-elected him.
"I will continue to not let them down in that area," Barbato said.
Donaghue ran unopposed for his fourth term as part of the Matawan delegation on the board with 459 votes. He could not be reached for comment.
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