Monday, December 9, 2019
Please Vote on Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Please Vote on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 - your individual vote is very important. To learn more about the projects included in the referendum, please visit: https://www.htps.us/repair_replace_revive
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Thank you
Thank you all for your vote and support. I am honored to be re-elected to a second term and to represent Hillsborough and Millstone residents on the school board. This is an opportunity to bring the community together and do something good for our kids. Thank you again.
Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Please Vote - your vote is important!
Today, Tuesday, November 5th, 2019, is Election Day in Hillsborough NJ. Polls are open from 6am to 8pm. Please refer to your sample ballot for your polling location.
Thank you all for your vote and your support.
Also, the Somerset County website has a map of polling locations here.
Thank you all for your vote and your support.
Also, the Somerset County website has a map of polling locations here.
Monday, November 4, 2019
Election Day is Tuesday, November 5, 2019
Please vote on Election Day. I am on the ballot for re-election to the Hillsborough Board of Education (bottom of the ballot). Thank you for your support.
Saturday, November 2, 2019
Hillsborough Beacon BOE Interview
So that voters can better know me as a BOE candidate, I answered many questionnaires for the upcoming Tuesday, November 5, 2019 General Election. The Hillsborough Beacon article is linked here, and my responses are below.
- Candidates are asked to provide one or two short sentences about their professional background in their career, community service or any government experience to formally introduce themselves at the beginning of the story. Age of the candidate is politely requested as well.
I’m an engineer by training and previously worked in the defense and telecommunications industries. I’m 48 years old, married with 3 children who attend district schools, and volunteer in the community through my kids’ activities, as Hillsborough / Millstone Municipal Alliance secretary and co-chair of the AlumniCorps NJ area committee.
The Questions
- Why are you running for a spot on the school board? What drives you to public service?
I’m running for re-election because I care about kids and I want to continue doing something good for the school district. When I see an issue, I want to own it and be part of the solution. I believe I can do this most effectively as a BOE member.
- Other than taxes, what would you say is the most pressing issue/s facing the township schools? If elected, how do you plan to tackle that issue?
Improving communication with the community is key. I propose creating a citizens advisory committee to review and evaluate the school district’s needs, and develop proposals from the ground up. The committee would identify and prioritize improvements, provide recommendations to the BOE and help engage the community to gain widespread support.
- How would you say you differ from your opponents? Why should voters choose you?
I do my homework and then I do the needed work. I actively represent Hillsborough at the state and county levels. I’m a Certified Board Member, a member of the NJSBA Legislative and Finance committees and this year, I advocated for Hillsborough at the state Assembly and Senate budget hearings.
- What, in your opinion, makes Hillsborough Township somewhere you want to serve?
I love Hillsborough. My husband and I moved here in June 2002 and our oldest child was born later that year. She’s now in 11th grade and our youngest is in 5th grade. I am fully invested in Hillsborough as a parent, homeowner and fellow resident.
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Please re-elect Jean Trujillo to the Hillsborough Board of Education
Here is a one-page summary about why I am running for re-election to the Hillsborough Board of Education.
I am not using lawn signs (the last time I checked, they cost $418 for 100 signs and the BOE is an unpaid volunteer position), so if you support my re-election, I would appreciate your word-of-mouth recommendation to your friends and neighbors. Thank you.
I am not using lawn signs (the last time I checked, they cost $418 for 100 signs and the BOE is an unpaid volunteer position), so if you support my re-election, I would appreciate your word-of-mouth recommendation to your friends and neighbors. Thank you.
Hillsborough Education Association Questionnaire
So that voters can better know me as a BOE candidate, I answered many questionnaires for the upcoming Tuesday, November 5, 2019 General Election.
The Hillsborough Education Association's questionnaire is in the BOE Election Newsletter.
General:
How long have you been a resident of Hillsborough?
The Hillsborough Education Association's questionnaire is in the BOE Election Newsletter.
General:
How long have you been a resident of Hillsborough?
I am a 17-year Hillsborough resident.
Do you have children/grandchildren who attend Hillsborough Township Public Schools? If so, which schools?
Do you have children/grandchildren who attend Hillsborough Township Public Schools? If so, which schools?
I have 3 children and they attend HHS (11th grade), HMS (8th grade) and ARIS (5th grade).
Why are you seeking a position on the board?
Why are you seeking a position on the board?
In 2016, in response to this question on the HEA questionnaire, I wrote: “I’m running for the school board because I want to improve communications, have more transparency in decision-making and engage the public in the conversation of its priorities.”
I am running for re-election because these reasons still stand. I am fully invested in Hillsborough as a parent, homeowner and fellow resident. I care about kids and I want to do something good for the school district. I believe I can do this most effectively as a member of the school board.
What do you see as the top three education issues that our board must address?
Academically, we are a highly ranked district. Three areas that could use additional focus are (1) finances, (2) student & staff mental wellness and (3) communication.
The board must reconcile its educational philosophy with fiscal reality. Blaming Trenton won’t balance the 2020-2021 budget and not settling the contract with the district’s largest bargaining unit is counterproductive. The board can accomplish a lot with its $130M budget but it can’t do everything and will need to prioritize programs.
Mental wellness is important for both students and staff. Without it, anything else the board does is less effective. In 2016, I proposed two ideas – delayed school start times and a balanced school year schedule. In 2019, I am happy to share that Somerset County school districts are beginning the conversation about teenage sleep cycles and seriously considering how later high school start times might work.
The board must be a communications leader and meet the community where they are. The school district does great work, but without effective communication, how can the community know and support the district? Is the community A.W.A.R.E.* of the partnerships between the school district and township to support students? You can learn more at www.boroaware.org and find out more at our monthly meetings. The next meetings are Friday, November 1, 2019, and December 13, 2019 at 9am in the Hillsborough Municipal Building conference room.
* Advocating Wellness through Addiction Resources and Education
What is the greatest strength of the school district?
The greatest strength of the school district is its people.
What is the greatest weakness of the school district?
The greatest weakness of the school district is poor communication.
What would you do as a school board member to sustain the strength and address the weakness?
If re-elected, I will work to build trust and nurture positive relationships with all stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers, staff and the community, so that it is clear the school board truly values its people.
The school board should engage the community by acknowledging and responding to their concerns, and by sharing as much of the “behind the scenes” (i.e. transparency) as is legally possible to build understanding in and trust of the school board.
The community has a lot of good ideas, but it’s not easy to share those ideas unless you 1) know one of us personally, 2) feel comfortable speaking at a public meeting or 3) feel comfortable emailing us at boe@htps.us with your name. My idea is to have an anonymous, online feedback form (similar to the budget feedback form) that is always available where anyone can share their ideas, and that goes directly to the school board without any filter. I know the staff have great ideas that could improve the district if they felt someone was listening. I want to listen and then I want to act on those ideas.
Budgeting:
What is your philosophy about developing a school district budget?
A budget reflects the district’s priorities. Why does the school district exist? As a gedanken experiment, let’s consider a district that educates only one child. What is needed? I posit, you’d need a teacher who teaches math (to think logically), English (communication), Social Studies (civic engagement), science (life skill) and gym (physical activity is important to long term health), and a classroom. Then, as the number of students increases, teaching staff can specialize and you’d also need additional support services. My point is that the core of a budget should be the student and the teacher. This is what I meant when I talked about budgeting from zero. Start with the core subjects and then add what you can afford. I encouraged the board to have this discussion during the 2019-2020 budget cycle, but was rebuffed as being “too late.”
Despite the job losses of the last budget cycle, what has changed? Costs are still rising faster than the board’s ability to raise the tax levy. Therefore, the board needs to map out plans for the 2020-2021 budget or in April 2020, we will be in the same position of cutting more jobs.
And when making budget cut decisions, my idea is to cut the “stand-alones” that can be more easily re-instated when the money is available.
Considering the age of several of our schools, how would you prioritize the budget to address infrastructure concerns?
I acknowledge that going to referendum for infrastructure improvements gives the district the benefit of state debt service aid and allows the district to handle repairs at the same time.
However, I would have done it differently, similar to my personal finances, by saving money each year and paying for projects as we go, thereby saving interest payments. Previous boards made the decision to prioritize saving jobs over infrastructure investments, which I understand. However, growing the district’s programs, such as adding Chinese and sign language and the one-to-one Chromebook initiative (vs. bring your own device), feel irresponsible given our aging infrastructure. I would have prioritized core subjects (jobs), then infrastructure (with a long-range plan), then extras if money were available. That’s how I run my household. I think that’s why the community gets so angry about the board asking for yet more money because they don’t think we budgeted our finances appropriately.
Do you believe that our school district should budget to cap?
The law currently allows school boards to raise the local tax levy by 2% plus specific waivers. Given that costs which are out of the board’s control, such as health insurance premium increases and special education costs, are rising faster than the 2% tax levy, the board really has no choice but to use all the available funds. So yes, I believe the district should budget to cap each year. If the 2% number changed, then I would need to re-consider. Please note, the board can only increase by 2% the portion raised by local property tax and not on the entire budget, which includes state aid.
What should the board do to gain community support for our schools, and for the school budget
Communication. Communication. Communication. We don’t do enough communication and residents’ not knowing what is happening in the town and the school district is difficult to combat. An idea is the board could design a six degrees of separation kind of phone chain as a matter of course. The school district is the town’s largest employer and the school board should be a community leader. If this kind of information sharing system were implemented before it were needed, it could really improve the way residents view its school district.
Another idea is to improve communication is invite a member of the Association and a member from the community to participate in committee meetings. This would add another level of transparency in the decision-making process. Other school districts have included the community in their committee meetings, so I would look to them for best practices.
How accountable do you feel to taxpayers when it comes to budget issues?
I do feel accountable to taxpayers. The district cannot spend money it doesn’t have. But I balance the taxpayer with what the students need. Given the projected loss in state aid, I have advocated on Hillsborough’s behalf that we be allowed to take a waiver to go above the tax levy cap in order to meet the state’s definition of local fair share. Depending on ratables, etc, if granted, that likely means a tax increase.
Would you ever consider subcontracting services? If so, what areas?
In 2016, in response to this question, I wrote: “One of the district’s core competencies is to educate students, so I am not against the idea of subcontracting services that are not in the district’s core competency. However, without analyzing the budget, I’m not convinced the district would achieve long-term benefits from subcontracting services.”
My points still stand. Here are some additional thoughts: I did a line-by-line review of the proposed 2019-2020 budget and I’m not convinced the district would save money by additional subcontracting. There’s benefit to the district in hiring its own employees. Also, it’s important to me that our employees have health insurance and can support their families because that is concrete evidence that we believe our people are our greatest asset.
What is your position on the failed 2019 referendum? What is your position on the proposed future one(s)?
I acknowledge that some feel I hurt the district with my opposition to the March 2019 referendum. Please allow me to defend my position. The referendum ask sounded great in theory, but it was not well designed because there were too many assumptions of things that had to occur perfectly for the solution to be successful. It was risky to assume full increased state aid for changing the weighting of half day kindergarten students, counted as ½ a student, to full day kindergarten students, counted as a full student. The problem is the state does not fully fund the state aid formula and underfunds the state’s portion by approximately $1B. Once the state calculates a district’s fair share, to apportion state aid across the 581 school districts, it uses a multiplier to assign each district its lesser state aid. Which means that Hillsborough wasn’t guaranteed to get the full benefit of its new full day kindergarten students because there is only so much money to be distributed.
Secondly, this referendum was only part one of the roll-out. Permanent space for FDK required additional space. What if the community did not approve a second referendum? Would the district continue FDK or would future boards decide to scrap the plan and allocate the money elsewhere? That is why I said the referendum was not well engineered.
Months later, I stand by my original comments. I am very sorry real people lost their jobs, but if the referendum had passed, the district would have simply postponed the pain for approximately three years and the layoffs would be even worse in three years. The district definitely needs more money. I had an alternative proposal to temporarily eliminate programs that could more easily be re-instated if the community agreed to fund them via a targeted tax levy referendum.
As I respond to these questions, the board has already decided to reserve the December 10, 2019 date for an infrastructure referendum. I voted no on the December date because I wanted to have this referendum at the November 5th, 2019 General Election because of greater voter participation. I do support the infrastructure referendum in theory but I disagree on the timing and I have not decided yet how I will vote on the referendum wording.
Negotiations:
What is your perception of the negotiations process that presently exists? Is there anything you would change?
I’m a member of the negotiations committee. In 2016, in response to this question, I wrote: “I don’t understand why contract negotiations take so long. Prior to starting negotiations, it would be helpful for the BOE and HEA to communicate with the public the top issues and their budget impact.
I understand the BOE’s position that it represents the community and therefore must vigorously negotiate the contract. However, I disagree that the BOE must achieve the lowest possible tax increase. As a community, we should remember that this is a contract with people who spend most of the waking day with our children. Teachers and staff do an amazing jo and they deserve a fair contract.
Not being on the negotiations committee, I may be way off target in my criticism. But that circles back to my point about increased communication so that the general public understands the issues.”
My points still stand. Here are some additional thoughts: The board needs to repair its relationship with the staff and community. One way to do this is to approach the % salary increase as a way of signaling the board’s positive intentions, rather than as a philosophical “line in the sand” that cannot be crossed. Regardless of where the contract settles, I predict there will be additional layoffs for the 2020-2021 school year, for reasons unrelated to the contract. Specifically, costs, such as health insurance and special education, are rising faster than the board’s ability to raise the tax levy.
Realistically, there are very few “knobs” left to address the budget shortfalls. The board has already implemented fees, increased class sizes, reduced staff and eliminated programs. The last “knob” that hasn’t been considered is self-insurance of health insurance and is a radical idea that could be a win-win for both board and staff. Other school districts have done this and I would look to them for best practices. Specifically, my idea is there would be no change in level of care, and reductions in health care use that result in savings to the district would be shared with staff. Extremes in health care needs would be covered by stop loss insurance. From personal experience, I know the stress and the importance of health insurance. For this idea to have a chance of success requires a working foundation of trust.
Here’s another radical idea. Take one person to represent the board and one person to represent the Association, stick them in a room and don’t let them out until they hash out a new contract. I think there’s compromise to be had outside of negotiation by committee.
What are your views on completing contract negotiations before the contract expires?
This is the goal. However, the BOE and HEA started meeting approximately 7 months before the contract expired and could not reach agreement.
Educational Quality:
With an eye to maintaining top-quality education and innovative programs, what do you think is a reasonable class size?
In 2016, in response to this question, I wrote: “Intuitively, small class size seems like a good idea. However, similar to full day kindergarten, my research shows mixed evidence and that the largest impact is for lower income families. Also, smaller class size seems to be more important in the lower grades (kindergarten through 3rd grade). The question is what’s the most effective use of our limited educational dollars? For example, does class-size reduction generate as much return as raising teacher salaries or offering additional teacher professional development opportunities?”
What is your position on the fees that have been implemented for student activities, sports, etc?
I am against “pay to play” and voted against the board majority to implement activity / sports fees. I think the reason these fees are so frustrating is that after academic subjects, clubs and sports are the most visible to parents and the community. That’s how the community knows and interacts with the school district – through football games and the marching band, to the drama productions and robotics team, to name just a few. It’s frustrating because as club parents know, there’s not equity in how clubs are funded vs. how sports are funded. To sports parents, it’s frustrating because they already support the school district through booster clubs.
On the topic of clubs, I would really like to find a way to fund more clubs at ARIS so that every student can participate in at least one club, if they want. Also, I would like to find a way for every club advisor to receive a nominal stipend vs. many that are supervised by volunteer advisors.
What is your position on using fees, Chromebook protection policies, etc as a source of revenue for the district?
I think it’s unfair. I understand the district needed to raise revenue in order to not let go as many staff. However, on principle, it’s unfair that the district gives every student a Chromebook to use for the year, but then tells families they could pay $60 to insure against damage for this “privilege.”
I’d rather buy the Chromebook outright and pay SquareTrade $75 for a four-year protection plan.
How important are athletic and fine art programs to the overall success of the educational process and why?
They are important, but secondary to the core subjects of math, English, Social Studies, science and gym.
What is your position on charter schools? What experience, if any, have you had with them?
I do not have personal experience with charter schools. Based on my research back in February 2017 when the Franklin school board asked for Hillsborough’s assistance in passing a resolution for a moratorium on charter school expansion, I am against charter schools in a strong educational district like Hillsborough because it pulls money away from Hillsborough schools.
What is your position on full day kindergarten?
Let me share the reasons full day kindergarten (FDK) is not my highest priority. I have grappled with this issue as I have three children who have gone through half-day kindergarten. My analysis of FDK is the greatest benefits are to low-income students and that long-term academic benefit is unsupported by the research. There are reasons to invest in FDK, such as improving non-academic skills that may raise overall achievement. However, if this was a priority for previous boards, they could have re-allocated money from the general fund to implement.
What steps do you think should be taken to maintain a reasonable class size?
In 2016, in response to this question, I wrote: “I don’t know. We’ve already separated our 5th and 6th grades into the intermediate school and our 7th and 8th grades into the middle school. This arrangement offers more flexibility in averaging out class sizes whereas the six neighborhood elementary schools have less flexibility. I like the K-4 set up and I am less interested in the idea of a K-2nd and 3rd and 4th grade specific school.
The research I looked at indicates that the largest benefit comes from reducing a class size of 22 to approximately 15 and it’s not clear the community would support such a small class size. There is a much smaller benefit by reducing class size by only 1 or 2 students.”
These points still stand. However, as the board discussed future plans for the district, we learned there is a significant cost savings in moving to schools with K-2 and 3rd-4th grade, which would allow averaging out class sizes.
What is your position on courtesy bussing and how it was implemented?
My understanding is that the communication to specific families who would no longer receive courtesy busing was rolled into the same email as subscription busing information. Although parents may have known there was the possibility of losing courtesy busing, combining the two related, but separate items, was confusing and poorly communicated.
Reducing courtesy busing does not mean students have to walk to and from school. What it means is that the responsibility of transporting some students to and from school shifts from the school district to the parents. The high school took the brunt of the budget cuts this go-around, from the majority of courtesy busing loss to new sports and activity fees. Though I am not opposed to the reduction of courtesy busing because it allows the board to keep teaching positions, I would have included a smaller radius around the high school and implemented a pilot program for the three elementary schools that are walkable, specifically the neighborhoods immediately adjacent to these schools.
Staff Morale & Development:
What ideas do you have for enhancing staff morale?
I believe that feeling like you don’t have a voice and you don’t have control of your circumstances are big morale downers. HTPS staff have a wealth of ideas and suggestions that could improve the district, if anyone asked and listened. On my own behalf as a fellow resident, and not authorized by the school board, I’m asking, and I’m listening: https://forms.gle/uvftri3kaDmJerTr8 Specifically, I would like to know: 1) What do you like most about the Hillsborough Township Public Schools? 2) What do you like least? 3) What would you change if you could?
I believe that happy teachers equal happy students. It’s important for our staff to feel that the BOE is supportive through its actions.
What is your understanding of the role of education support professionals in our school community?
I think education support professionals refer to the school’s support staff, such as guidance counselors, custodians, secretaries, nurses, instructional aides, etc. I know they are incredibly important in a well-run school and they are additional trusted adults that children can rely on.
Responsibilities of the Board:
When evaluating Superintendent performance, do you believe that areas such as facility deficiencies, safety issues and/or staff morale should be considered?
Yes, these areas should be part of the Superintendent’s evaluation. The board literally has four jobs: 1) set policy 2) adopt the budget 3) negotiate with its bargaining units and 4) hire and evaluate the Superintendent. That this board did not evaluate the Superintendent is mind-boggling.
All board motions are prefaced by the words: “On the recommendation of the superintendent,” if elected, will you accept the recommendation of the superintendent without question? If not, what sources of information would you consider when making board decisions?
I think my voting record proves that I do not accept the recommendation of the superintendent without question. I am active on the state and county level with New Jersey School Boards Association, so I learn about best practices from districts around the state. I also rely on personal experience. One of the most effective tools for analyzing an issue is “thinking through the details, step-by-step,” as in how would this proposal work from start to finish? Are some assumptions flawed? Can a catastrophic downside be insured against a predicted upside? This thought process partly explains why I was opposed to the March 2019 referendum.
What is your understanding of the role of the Superintendent? How does this role relate to the board of education, the community, students and staff?
The board sets policy and the Superintendent translates this policy into running the day-to-day business of the school district. The board and the Superintendent are also supposed to set yearly district goals so that there are guiding principles for the school year. Finally, the board is supposed to interpret the will of the community to the Superintendent. I strongly believe Hillsborough is a generous community that cares about its public schools but its residents also want to know their money is well spent.
What qualities do you believe define an effective board of education member?
The day after I was first elected to the school board in 2016, I was at the pediatrician’s office. I shared that I had just been elected and the nurse told me she had previously served as a board member for over ten years. She told me when she first started, she was given this advice: the first, “does this benefit the kids?” and the second, “every kid has something they can do. It’s our job to figure it out.” I keep this advice in mind with every decision I make.
I keep trying to be an effective board member. I talk to board members in other districts to learn their best practices, I advocate for Hillsborough on the state level, I use NJSBA as a resource to keep learning and improving and I make myself accessible to the community as a resource for navigating the school district.
What defines a successful board of education meeting? How do you view your role in ensuring meetings are conducted as such?
Here’s an interesting distinction: board of education meetings are meetings that are held in public, but they are not for the public. What does that mean? It means that because the board of education is a publicly elected body, they must conduct their action business in public per the NJ Open Public Meetings Act, aka the Sunshine Law, and set aside time for public comment. The meeting is a time for the public to observe their elected officials conducting the board’s business but not comment, except during the specially designated public comment times. I recognize this can be an incredibly frustrating experience when it seems the board is “just voting.”
As elected officials, I believe board members should behave respectfully to each other and especially to the public. We are community leaders. I am far from perfect, but I strive to behave where I would not be ashamed to have my actions reported on the front page of the newspaper. Finally, a successful board meeting is one where we did something good for the kids.
Conclusion:
What additional comments would you like to add in support of your candidacy?
Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts with the HEA membership and the wider community. As I reviewed my responses to the 2016 HEA questionnaire, I am struck by how many points are still true today in 2019.
In 2016, in response to this question, I wrote in part: “I’m an engineer by training and the most important thing I learned in school was to recognize when ‘I don’t know.’ I think that’s why I ask so many questions and try to learn from the answers. It’s also part of the reason I want to represent the Hillsborough [and Millstone] communities on the school board – I think a lot of us have questions we’d like answered.”
I was part of the board that added three elementary school counselors so that each elementary school now has its own dedicated guidance counselor. Also, I was part of the board that added a third student assistance counselor at HHS, approved varsity letters for academic teams and strengthened the vaping policy.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and how I think. I don’t know everything, but I listen to residents, I’m accessible and I try to keep the community informed. I’m asking for your vote on Tuesday, November 5th, 2019 in the General Election so I can continue to do something good for Hillsborough and Millstone’s kids.
I am running for re-election because these reasons still stand. I am fully invested in Hillsborough as a parent, homeowner and fellow resident. I care about kids and I want to do something good for the school district. I believe I can do this most effectively as a member of the school board.
What do you see as the top three education issues that our board must address?
Academically, we are a highly ranked district. Three areas that could use additional focus are (1) finances, (2) student & staff mental wellness and (3) communication.
The board must reconcile its educational philosophy with fiscal reality. Blaming Trenton won’t balance the 2020-2021 budget and not settling the contract with the district’s largest bargaining unit is counterproductive. The board can accomplish a lot with its $130M budget but it can’t do everything and will need to prioritize programs.
Mental wellness is important for both students and staff. Without it, anything else the board does is less effective. In 2016, I proposed two ideas – delayed school start times and a balanced school year schedule. In 2019, I am happy to share that Somerset County school districts are beginning the conversation about teenage sleep cycles and seriously considering how later high school start times might work.
The board must be a communications leader and meet the community where they are. The school district does great work, but without effective communication, how can the community know and support the district? Is the community A.W.A.R.E.* of the partnerships between the school district and township to support students? You can learn more at www.boroaware.org and find out more at our monthly meetings. The next meetings are Friday, November 1, 2019, and December 13, 2019 at 9am in the Hillsborough Municipal Building conference room.
* Advocating Wellness through Addiction Resources and Education
What is the greatest strength of the school district?
The greatest strength of the school district is its people.
What is the greatest weakness of the school district?
The greatest weakness of the school district is poor communication.
What would you do as a school board member to sustain the strength and address the weakness?
If re-elected, I will work to build trust and nurture positive relationships with all stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers, staff and the community, so that it is clear the school board truly values its people.
The school board should engage the community by acknowledging and responding to their concerns, and by sharing as much of the “behind the scenes” (i.e. transparency) as is legally possible to build understanding in and trust of the school board.
The community has a lot of good ideas, but it’s not easy to share those ideas unless you 1) know one of us personally, 2) feel comfortable speaking at a public meeting or 3) feel comfortable emailing us at boe@htps.us with your name. My idea is to have an anonymous, online feedback form (similar to the budget feedback form) that is always available where anyone can share their ideas, and that goes directly to the school board without any filter. I know the staff have great ideas that could improve the district if they felt someone was listening. I want to listen and then I want to act on those ideas.
Budgeting:
What is your philosophy about developing a school district budget?
A budget reflects the district’s priorities. Why does the school district exist? As a gedanken experiment, let’s consider a district that educates only one child. What is needed? I posit, you’d need a teacher who teaches math (to think logically), English (communication), Social Studies (civic engagement), science (life skill) and gym (physical activity is important to long term health), and a classroom. Then, as the number of students increases, teaching staff can specialize and you’d also need additional support services. My point is that the core of a budget should be the student and the teacher. This is what I meant when I talked about budgeting from zero. Start with the core subjects and then add what you can afford. I encouraged the board to have this discussion during the 2019-2020 budget cycle, but was rebuffed as being “too late.”
Despite the job losses of the last budget cycle, what has changed? Costs are still rising faster than the board’s ability to raise the tax levy. Therefore, the board needs to map out plans for the 2020-2021 budget or in April 2020, we will be in the same position of cutting more jobs.
And when making budget cut decisions, my idea is to cut the “stand-alones” that can be more easily re-instated when the money is available.
Considering the age of several of our schools, how would you prioritize the budget to address infrastructure concerns?
I acknowledge that going to referendum for infrastructure improvements gives the district the benefit of state debt service aid and allows the district to handle repairs at the same time.
However, I would have done it differently, similar to my personal finances, by saving money each year and paying for projects as we go, thereby saving interest payments. Previous boards made the decision to prioritize saving jobs over infrastructure investments, which I understand. However, growing the district’s programs, such as adding Chinese and sign language and the one-to-one Chromebook initiative (vs. bring your own device), feel irresponsible given our aging infrastructure. I would have prioritized core subjects (jobs), then infrastructure (with a long-range plan), then extras if money were available. That’s how I run my household. I think that’s why the community gets so angry about the board asking for yet more money because they don’t think we budgeted our finances appropriately.
Do you believe that our school district should budget to cap?
The law currently allows school boards to raise the local tax levy by 2% plus specific waivers. Given that costs which are out of the board’s control, such as health insurance premium increases and special education costs, are rising faster than the 2% tax levy, the board really has no choice but to use all the available funds. So yes, I believe the district should budget to cap each year. If the 2% number changed, then I would need to re-consider. Please note, the board can only increase by 2% the portion raised by local property tax and not on the entire budget, which includes state aid.
What should the board do to gain community support for our schools, and for the school budget
Communication. Communication. Communication. We don’t do enough communication and residents’ not knowing what is happening in the town and the school district is difficult to combat. An idea is the board could design a six degrees of separation kind of phone chain as a matter of course. The school district is the town’s largest employer and the school board should be a community leader. If this kind of information sharing system were implemented before it were needed, it could really improve the way residents view its school district.
Another idea is to improve communication is invite a member of the Association and a member from the community to participate in committee meetings. This would add another level of transparency in the decision-making process. Other school districts have included the community in their committee meetings, so I would look to them for best practices.
How accountable do you feel to taxpayers when it comes to budget issues?
I do feel accountable to taxpayers. The district cannot spend money it doesn’t have. But I balance the taxpayer with what the students need. Given the projected loss in state aid, I have advocated on Hillsborough’s behalf that we be allowed to take a waiver to go above the tax levy cap in order to meet the state’s definition of local fair share. Depending on ratables, etc, if granted, that likely means a tax increase.
Would you ever consider subcontracting services? If so, what areas?
In 2016, in response to this question, I wrote: “One of the district’s core competencies is to educate students, so I am not against the idea of subcontracting services that are not in the district’s core competency. However, without analyzing the budget, I’m not convinced the district would achieve long-term benefits from subcontracting services.”
My points still stand. Here are some additional thoughts: I did a line-by-line review of the proposed 2019-2020 budget and I’m not convinced the district would save money by additional subcontracting. There’s benefit to the district in hiring its own employees. Also, it’s important to me that our employees have health insurance and can support their families because that is concrete evidence that we believe our people are our greatest asset.
What is your position on the failed 2019 referendum? What is your position on the proposed future one(s)?
I acknowledge that some feel I hurt the district with my opposition to the March 2019 referendum. Please allow me to defend my position. The referendum ask sounded great in theory, but it was not well designed because there were too many assumptions of things that had to occur perfectly for the solution to be successful. It was risky to assume full increased state aid for changing the weighting of half day kindergarten students, counted as ½ a student, to full day kindergarten students, counted as a full student. The problem is the state does not fully fund the state aid formula and underfunds the state’s portion by approximately $1B. Once the state calculates a district’s fair share, to apportion state aid across the 581 school districts, it uses a multiplier to assign each district its lesser state aid. Which means that Hillsborough wasn’t guaranteed to get the full benefit of its new full day kindergarten students because there is only so much money to be distributed.
Secondly, this referendum was only part one of the roll-out. Permanent space for FDK required additional space. What if the community did not approve a second referendum? Would the district continue FDK or would future boards decide to scrap the plan and allocate the money elsewhere? That is why I said the referendum was not well engineered.
Months later, I stand by my original comments. I am very sorry real people lost their jobs, but if the referendum had passed, the district would have simply postponed the pain for approximately three years and the layoffs would be even worse in three years. The district definitely needs more money. I had an alternative proposal to temporarily eliminate programs that could more easily be re-instated if the community agreed to fund them via a targeted tax levy referendum.
As I respond to these questions, the board has already decided to reserve the December 10, 2019 date for an infrastructure referendum. I voted no on the December date because I wanted to have this referendum at the November 5th, 2019 General Election because of greater voter participation. I do support the infrastructure referendum in theory but I disagree on the timing and I have not decided yet how I will vote on the referendum wording.
Negotiations:
What is your perception of the negotiations process that presently exists? Is there anything you would change?
I’m a member of the negotiations committee. In 2016, in response to this question, I wrote: “I don’t understand why contract negotiations take so long. Prior to starting negotiations, it would be helpful for the BOE and HEA to communicate with the public the top issues and their budget impact.
I understand the BOE’s position that it represents the community and therefore must vigorously negotiate the contract. However, I disagree that the BOE must achieve the lowest possible tax increase. As a community, we should remember that this is a contract with people who spend most of the waking day with our children. Teachers and staff do an amazing jo and they deserve a fair contract.
Not being on the negotiations committee, I may be way off target in my criticism. But that circles back to my point about increased communication so that the general public understands the issues.”
My points still stand. Here are some additional thoughts: The board needs to repair its relationship with the staff and community. One way to do this is to approach the % salary increase as a way of signaling the board’s positive intentions, rather than as a philosophical “line in the sand” that cannot be crossed. Regardless of where the contract settles, I predict there will be additional layoffs for the 2020-2021 school year, for reasons unrelated to the contract. Specifically, costs, such as health insurance and special education, are rising faster than the board’s ability to raise the tax levy.
Realistically, there are very few “knobs” left to address the budget shortfalls. The board has already implemented fees, increased class sizes, reduced staff and eliminated programs. The last “knob” that hasn’t been considered is self-insurance of health insurance and is a radical idea that could be a win-win for both board and staff. Other school districts have done this and I would look to them for best practices. Specifically, my idea is there would be no change in level of care, and reductions in health care use that result in savings to the district would be shared with staff. Extremes in health care needs would be covered by stop loss insurance. From personal experience, I know the stress and the importance of health insurance. For this idea to have a chance of success requires a working foundation of trust.
Here’s another radical idea. Take one person to represent the board and one person to represent the Association, stick them in a room and don’t let them out until they hash out a new contract. I think there’s compromise to be had outside of negotiation by committee.
What are your views on completing contract negotiations before the contract expires?
This is the goal. However, the BOE and HEA started meeting approximately 7 months before the contract expired and could not reach agreement.
Educational Quality:
With an eye to maintaining top-quality education and innovative programs, what do you think is a reasonable class size?
In 2016, in response to this question, I wrote: “Intuitively, small class size seems like a good idea. However, similar to full day kindergarten, my research shows mixed evidence and that the largest impact is for lower income families. Also, smaller class size seems to be more important in the lower grades (kindergarten through 3rd grade). The question is what’s the most effective use of our limited educational dollars? For example, does class-size reduction generate as much return as raising teacher salaries or offering additional teacher professional development opportunities?”
What is your position on the fees that have been implemented for student activities, sports, etc?
I am against “pay to play” and voted against the board majority to implement activity / sports fees. I think the reason these fees are so frustrating is that after academic subjects, clubs and sports are the most visible to parents and the community. That’s how the community knows and interacts with the school district – through football games and the marching band, to the drama productions and robotics team, to name just a few. It’s frustrating because as club parents know, there’s not equity in how clubs are funded vs. how sports are funded. To sports parents, it’s frustrating because they already support the school district through booster clubs.
On the topic of clubs, I would really like to find a way to fund more clubs at ARIS so that every student can participate in at least one club, if they want. Also, I would like to find a way for every club advisor to receive a nominal stipend vs. many that are supervised by volunteer advisors.
What is your position on using fees, Chromebook protection policies, etc as a source of revenue for the district?
I think it’s unfair. I understand the district needed to raise revenue in order to not let go as many staff. However, on principle, it’s unfair that the district gives every student a Chromebook to use for the year, but then tells families they could pay $60 to insure against damage for this “privilege.”
I’d rather buy the Chromebook outright and pay SquareTrade $75 for a four-year protection plan.
How important are athletic and fine art programs to the overall success of the educational process and why?
They are important, but secondary to the core subjects of math, English, Social Studies, science and gym.
What is your position on charter schools? What experience, if any, have you had with them?
I do not have personal experience with charter schools. Based on my research back in February 2017 when the Franklin school board asked for Hillsborough’s assistance in passing a resolution for a moratorium on charter school expansion, I am against charter schools in a strong educational district like Hillsborough because it pulls money away from Hillsborough schools.
What is your position on full day kindergarten?
Let me share the reasons full day kindergarten (FDK) is not my highest priority. I have grappled with this issue as I have three children who have gone through half-day kindergarten. My analysis of FDK is the greatest benefits are to low-income students and that long-term academic benefit is unsupported by the research. There are reasons to invest in FDK, such as improving non-academic skills that may raise overall achievement. However, if this was a priority for previous boards, they could have re-allocated money from the general fund to implement.
What steps do you think should be taken to maintain a reasonable class size?
In 2016, in response to this question, I wrote: “I don’t know. We’ve already separated our 5th and 6th grades into the intermediate school and our 7th and 8th grades into the middle school. This arrangement offers more flexibility in averaging out class sizes whereas the six neighborhood elementary schools have less flexibility. I like the K-4 set up and I am less interested in the idea of a K-2nd and 3rd and 4th grade specific school.
The research I looked at indicates that the largest benefit comes from reducing a class size of 22 to approximately 15 and it’s not clear the community would support such a small class size. There is a much smaller benefit by reducing class size by only 1 or 2 students.”
These points still stand. However, as the board discussed future plans for the district, we learned there is a significant cost savings in moving to schools with K-2 and 3rd-4th grade, which would allow averaging out class sizes.
What is your position on courtesy bussing and how it was implemented?
My understanding is that the communication to specific families who would no longer receive courtesy busing was rolled into the same email as subscription busing information. Although parents may have known there was the possibility of losing courtesy busing, combining the two related, but separate items, was confusing and poorly communicated.
Reducing courtesy busing does not mean students have to walk to and from school. What it means is that the responsibility of transporting some students to and from school shifts from the school district to the parents. The high school took the brunt of the budget cuts this go-around, from the majority of courtesy busing loss to new sports and activity fees. Though I am not opposed to the reduction of courtesy busing because it allows the board to keep teaching positions, I would have included a smaller radius around the high school and implemented a pilot program for the three elementary schools that are walkable, specifically the neighborhoods immediately adjacent to these schools.
Staff Morale & Development:
What ideas do you have for enhancing staff morale?
I believe that feeling like you don’t have a voice and you don’t have control of your circumstances are big morale downers. HTPS staff have a wealth of ideas and suggestions that could improve the district, if anyone asked and listened. On my own behalf as a fellow resident, and not authorized by the school board, I’m asking, and I’m listening: https://forms.gle/uvftri3kaDmJerTr8 Specifically, I would like to know: 1) What do you like most about the Hillsborough Township Public Schools? 2) What do you like least? 3) What would you change if you could?
I believe that happy teachers equal happy students. It’s important for our staff to feel that the BOE is supportive through its actions.
What is your understanding of the role of education support professionals in our school community?
I think education support professionals refer to the school’s support staff, such as guidance counselors, custodians, secretaries, nurses, instructional aides, etc. I know they are incredibly important in a well-run school and they are additional trusted adults that children can rely on.
Responsibilities of the Board:
When evaluating Superintendent performance, do you believe that areas such as facility deficiencies, safety issues and/or staff morale should be considered?
Yes, these areas should be part of the Superintendent’s evaluation. The board literally has four jobs: 1) set policy 2) adopt the budget 3) negotiate with its bargaining units and 4) hire and evaluate the Superintendent. That this board did not evaluate the Superintendent is mind-boggling.
All board motions are prefaced by the words: “On the recommendation of the superintendent,” if elected, will you accept the recommendation of the superintendent without question? If not, what sources of information would you consider when making board decisions?
I think my voting record proves that I do not accept the recommendation of the superintendent without question. I am active on the state and county level with New Jersey School Boards Association, so I learn about best practices from districts around the state. I also rely on personal experience. One of the most effective tools for analyzing an issue is “thinking through the details, step-by-step,” as in how would this proposal work from start to finish? Are some assumptions flawed? Can a catastrophic downside be insured against a predicted upside? This thought process partly explains why I was opposed to the March 2019 referendum.
What is your understanding of the role of the Superintendent? How does this role relate to the board of education, the community, students and staff?
The board sets policy and the Superintendent translates this policy into running the day-to-day business of the school district. The board and the Superintendent are also supposed to set yearly district goals so that there are guiding principles for the school year. Finally, the board is supposed to interpret the will of the community to the Superintendent. I strongly believe Hillsborough is a generous community that cares about its public schools but its residents also want to know their money is well spent.
What qualities do you believe define an effective board of education member?
The day after I was first elected to the school board in 2016, I was at the pediatrician’s office. I shared that I had just been elected and the nurse told me she had previously served as a board member for over ten years. She told me when she first started, she was given this advice: the first, “does this benefit the kids?” and the second, “every kid has something they can do. It’s our job to figure it out.” I keep this advice in mind with every decision I make.
I keep trying to be an effective board member. I talk to board members in other districts to learn their best practices, I advocate for Hillsborough on the state level, I use NJSBA as a resource to keep learning and improving and I make myself accessible to the community as a resource for navigating the school district.
What defines a successful board of education meeting? How do you view your role in ensuring meetings are conducted as such?
Here’s an interesting distinction: board of education meetings are meetings that are held in public, but they are not for the public. What does that mean? It means that because the board of education is a publicly elected body, they must conduct their action business in public per the NJ Open Public Meetings Act, aka the Sunshine Law, and set aside time for public comment. The meeting is a time for the public to observe their elected officials conducting the board’s business but not comment, except during the specially designated public comment times. I recognize this can be an incredibly frustrating experience when it seems the board is “just voting.”
As elected officials, I believe board members should behave respectfully to each other and especially to the public. We are community leaders. I am far from perfect, but I strive to behave where I would not be ashamed to have my actions reported on the front page of the newspaper. Finally, a successful board meeting is one where we did something good for the kids.
Conclusion:
What additional comments would you like to add in support of your candidacy?
Thank you for the opportunity to share my thoughts with the HEA membership and the wider community. As I reviewed my responses to the 2016 HEA questionnaire, I am struck by how many points are still true today in 2019.
In 2016, in response to this question, I wrote in part: “I’m an engineer by training and the most important thing I learned in school was to recognize when ‘I don’t know.’ I think that’s why I ask so many questions and try to learn from the answers. It’s also part of the reason I want to represent the Hillsborough [and Millstone] communities on the school board – I think a lot of us have questions we’d like answered.”
I was part of the board that added three elementary school counselors so that each elementary school now has its own dedicated guidance counselor. Also, I was part of the board that added a third student assistance counselor at HHS, approved varsity letters for academic teams and strengthened the vaping policy.
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about me and how I think. I don’t know everything, but I listen to residents, I’m accessible and I try to keep the community informed. I’m asking for your vote on Tuesday, November 5th, 2019 in the General Election so I can continue to do something good for Hillsborough and Millstone’s kids.
BOE Candidate Profile - League of Women Voters
The League of Women Voters has compiled a "voter's guide." My full responses are here:
· What personal and professional experiences have prepared you for serving on the Board?
When my youngest child started kindergarten (now in 5th grade), I became an active volunteer in their schools, from organizing coupon book sales to running the Auten Road Intermediate School “teachers vs. Harlem Wizards” basketball fundraiser. Through my children’s activities, I have first-hand experience in how the district works from elementary school through the high school.
I’m an engineer by training and I mention this not so you think I’m so smart or anything like that. It’s because I want to share how I think. Engineers are trained to write down all their assumptions before presenting a solution. And more importantly, to recognize the solution is only as good as the assumptions. This is one of the reasons I was against the March 2019 referendum – I felt there were too many assumptions of things that had to happen perfectly to achieve success, but what if things didn’t fall into place? Who would be accountable? The district would be in even worse shape than the jobs lost with the April 2019 school budget. I will elaborate more on my Facebook page and blog. Please note, the responses to the League of Women Voters questions are character limited.
· What do you consider the most important challenges facing the school district at this time? How would you address these challenges?
I’ve talked to a lot of people over the years and my takeaway is that the community supports its public schools but they want to know the funds are well spent. That applies to everyone, from those who don’t have kids, to parents with school-age children, to those whose kids are grown, to senior citizens. People are drawn to a community because of its strong school system, but they are also mindful of the tax implications.
Right now, there is a lot of anger and distrust toward the BOE. As I see it, part of the problem is “the curse of knowledge.” Board members get information and debate in committee. When we come to a public meeting, whatever we’re discussing, of course, it’s “obvious” to us because we’ve already seen it many times, so we don’t explain it well and the community thinks we’re hiding something.
Building trust is the first step in repairing the board’s relationship with students, parents, teachers, staff and the community. Without a foundation of trust, it will be difficult for the BOE to effectively address the big items ahead, including settling the HEA contract, the superintendent search, the 2020-2021 budget, and infrastructure issues.
I would build trust through better listening and communication. Everyone has good ideas for the BOE, but it’s not easy to share those ideas unless you 1) know one of us personally, 2) feel comfortable speaking at a public meeting or 3) feel comfortable emailing us with your name. Continued in last question below.
· What are the most important factors for student success, and how will you, as a school board member, ensure that those factors are addressed?
I think the most important factors for student success include mental wellness, parental involvement and BOE expectations. Achieving this comes in different ways. First, it’s through caring teachers who know and connect with their students so that students develop their best selves. This is why it’s important to settle the HEA contract so the staff know the BOE recognizes certainty is important and cares about their wellness. Happy teachers = happy students.
Second, it’s having a strong support network in place, such as guidance counselors at every school and student assistance counselors (SAC) at the high school. I was part of the board that advocated for each elementary school to have its own guidance counselor and also to add an additional SAC at HHS.
Third, it’s engaging parents as partners in the education process because schools and teachers cannot do it alone. There is so much information available to parents, but everyone is busy and thinks, “Not my kid,” and that their family doesn’t “need” help. I strongly believe that everyone can use additional help, tips, and support. And I believe the BOE could set the expectation that every parent attend at least one “parenting” seminar (drugs, anxiety, learning differences, etc.) in their child’s K-12 journey. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.
All children can learn and every child has something they can do; it’s the board’s job to figure out how to make this happen.
· How will you communicate with parents and others concerned with education? How do you plan to respond to concerns?
Continued from the “most important challenges” question above … since my point was about trust and communication.
My idea is to have an anonymous, online feedback form (similar to the budget feedback form) that is always on where anyone can share their ideas. Because I think the community has a lot of great ideas and I think the staff have even more specific ideas that could improve this district if the BOE listened. And if you give us your email address, we’d let you know we received your idea. To jumpstart the conversation, I’d ask three optional questions about the school district. 1) What do you like most? 2) What do you like least? 3) What would you change if you could?
I think it’s also important to meet the community where they are, whether it’s receiving feedback at Back to School Night or responding to Facebook discussions with facts. It’s important for the BOE to recognize the community’s frustrations. I try to be accessible and receptive to constructive criticism.
· What personal and professional experiences have prepared you for serving on the Board?
When my youngest child started kindergarten (now in 5th grade), I became an active volunteer in their schools, from organizing coupon book sales to running the Auten Road Intermediate School “teachers vs. Harlem Wizards” basketball fundraiser. Through my children’s activities, I have first-hand experience in how the district works from elementary school through the high school.
I’m an engineer by training and I mention this not so you think I’m so smart or anything like that. It’s because I want to share how I think. Engineers are trained to write down all their assumptions before presenting a solution. And more importantly, to recognize the solution is only as good as the assumptions. This is one of the reasons I was against the March 2019 referendum – I felt there were too many assumptions of things that had to happen perfectly to achieve success, but what if things didn’t fall into place? Who would be accountable? The district would be in even worse shape than the jobs lost with the April 2019 school budget. I will elaborate more on my Facebook page and blog. Please note, the responses to the League of Women Voters questions are character limited.
· What do you consider the most important challenges facing the school district at this time? How would you address these challenges?
I’ve talked to a lot of people over the years and my takeaway is that the community supports its public schools but they want to know the funds are well spent. That applies to everyone, from those who don’t have kids, to parents with school-age children, to those whose kids are grown, to senior citizens. People are drawn to a community because of its strong school system, but they are also mindful of the tax implications.
Right now, there is a lot of anger and distrust toward the BOE. As I see it, part of the problem is “the curse of knowledge.” Board members get information and debate in committee. When we come to a public meeting, whatever we’re discussing, of course, it’s “obvious” to us because we’ve already seen it many times, so we don’t explain it well and the community thinks we’re hiding something.
Building trust is the first step in repairing the board’s relationship with students, parents, teachers, staff and the community. Without a foundation of trust, it will be difficult for the BOE to effectively address the big items ahead, including settling the HEA contract, the superintendent search, the 2020-2021 budget, and infrastructure issues.
I would build trust through better listening and communication. Everyone has good ideas for the BOE, but it’s not easy to share those ideas unless you 1) know one of us personally, 2) feel comfortable speaking at a public meeting or 3) feel comfortable emailing us with your name. Continued in last question below.
· What are the most important factors for student success, and how will you, as a school board member, ensure that those factors are addressed?
I think the most important factors for student success include mental wellness, parental involvement and BOE expectations. Achieving this comes in different ways. First, it’s through caring teachers who know and connect with their students so that students develop their best selves. This is why it’s important to settle the HEA contract so the staff know the BOE recognizes certainty is important and cares about their wellness. Happy teachers = happy students.
Second, it’s having a strong support network in place, such as guidance counselors at every school and student assistance counselors (SAC) at the high school. I was part of the board that advocated for each elementary school to have its own guidance counselor and also to add an additional SAC at HHS.
Third, it’s engaging parents as partners in the education process because schools and teachers cannot do it alone. There is so much information available to parents, but everyone is busy and thinks, “Not my kid,” and that their family doesn’t “need” help. I strongly believe that everyone can use additional help, tips, and support. And I believe the BOE could set the expectation that every parent attend at least one “parenting” seminar (drugs, anxiety, learning differences, etc.) in their child’s K-12 journey. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.
All children can learn and every child has something they can do; it’s the board’s job to figure out how to make this happen.
· How will you communicate with parents and others concerned with education? How do you plan to respond to concerns?
Continued from the “most important challenges” question above … since my point was about trust and communication.
My idea is to have an anonymous, online feedback form (similar to the budget feedback form) that is always on where anyone can share their ideas. Because I think the community has a lot of great ideas and I think the staff have even more specific ideas that could improve this district if the BOE listened. And if you give us your email address, we’d let you know we received your idea. To jumpstart the conversation, I’d ask three optional questions about the school district. 1) What do you like most? 2) What do you like least? 3) What would you change if you could?
I think it’s also important to meet the community where they are, whether it’s receiving feedback at Back to School Night or responding to Facebook discussions with facts. It’s important for the BOE to recognize the community’s frustrations. I try to be accessible and receptive to constructive criticism.
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Arts Ed NJ Q&A
So that voters can better know me as a BOE candidate, I answered many questionnaires for the upcoming Tuesday, November 5, 2019 General Election.
The Arts Ed NJ organization surveyed school board candidates and the results are here: https://www.artsednj.org/survey2019/
3. In which arts activities have your children been involved in school? (Check all that apply).
One child has taken drawing/painting classes for over 6 years. Another child participated in a local theater program.
6. It is widely acknowledged that the provision of a well-rounded curriculum is a key component of a high-quality education. However, with the recent emphasis on the implementation of Common Core for Language Arts Literacy and Math as well as the tests formerly known as PARCC Assessments a recent survey revealed there has been a reduction in both time and program opportunities for students in the arts. If this were true in your district would you support the narrowing of the curriculum in this way.
The arts are an important component of a well balanced curriculum. In an ideal world, all aspects of the curriculum would be well funded, but unfortunately, we don't live in an ideal world.
Because Hillsborough is faced with significant budgetary problems, I frame the issue as "what is the purpose of a public school education?" I believe the primary focus should be math, English, science, social studies and physical education (gym). Everything else, from arts to world language to sports to clubs, etc. are important but secondary in purpose and should be budgeted that way.
I acknowledge this is a terrible situation, but the district cannot spend money it doesn't have. The school district is funded by the local property base and state aid. With Hillsborough's decreasing state aid and the local tax levy limited to a 2% increase per year, combined with increasing health care and special education costs, there are few, if any, "knobs" left to adjust to achieve a balanced budget.
8. Extensive research has shown that the arts increases student engagement which is a key factor in addressing major educational challenges [closing the opportunity gap, reducing the dropout rate, preparing more students for college eligibility, and developing the creativity needed in the 21st century workforce]. Are you aware of the benefits of arts education for all students?
I acknowledge and believe there is significant benefit of arts education for students; however, school board members are tasked with setting policy and budget that benefit all students. Given the difficult budgetary choices, I believe the district must prioritize its spending on tested subject areas.
9. Have you or will you take a leadership position as an elected school board member that arts education is a critical component in the education of your district’s students?
Unfortunately, I cannot make this promise. Hillsborough will be faced with another set of difficult choices for the 2020-2021 budget. I predict that the district will have additional layoffs beyond what was cut in the 2019-2020 budget. My proposal is to make these cuts strategically, such that if the school board decides to go for a referendum to increase the local tax levy, these would be programs that could be more easily re-instated.
10. Please take this opportunity to provide additional comments or personal story highlighting your views regarding arts education and the role of the arts in the education of your students.
Hillsborough parents are highly engaged supporters of their children's participation whether in choir, marching band or drama club. There is an opportunity for the wider Hillsborough community - beyond parents - to support arts education with private donations, especially given the district's poor economic outlook. I am committed to developing private partnerships to supplement the arts curriculum.
The Arts Ed NJ organization surveyed school board candidates and the results are here: https://www.artsednj.org/survey2019/
3. In which arts activities have your children been involved in school? (Check all that apply).
One child has taken drawing/painting classes for over 6 years. Another child participated in a local theater program.
6. It is widely acknowledged that the provision of a well-rounded curriculum is a key component of a high-quality education. However, with the recent emphasis on the implementation of Common Core for Language Arts Literacy and Math as well as the tests formerly known as PARCC Assessments a recent survey revealed there has been a reduction in both time and program opportunities for students in the arts. If this were true in your district would you support the narrowing of the curriculum in this way.
The arts are an important component of a well balanced curriculum. In an ideal world, all aspects of the curriculum would be well funded, but unfortunately, we don't live in an ideal world.
Because Hillsborough is faced with significant budgetary problems, I frame the issue as "what is the purpose of a public school education?" I believe the primary focus should be math, English, science, social studies and physical education (gym). Everything else, from arts to world language to sports to clubs, etc. are important but secondary in purpose and should be budgeted that way.
I acknowledge this is a terrible situation, but the district cannot spend money it doesn't have. The school district is funded by the local property base and state aid. With Hillsborough's decreasing state aid and the local tax levy limited to a 2% increase per year, combined with increasing health care and special education costs, there are few, if any, "knobs" left to adjust to achieve a balanced budget.
8. Extensive research has shown that the arts increases student engagement which is a key factor in addressing major educational challenges [closing the opportunity gap, reducing the dropout rate, preparing more students for college eligibility, and developing the creativity needed in the 21st century workforce]. Are you aware of the benefits of arts education for all students?
I acknowledge and believe there is significant benefit of arts education for students; however, school board members are tasked with setting policy and budget that benefit all students. Given the difficult budgetary choices, I believe the district must prioritize its spending on tested subject areas.
9. Have you or will you take a leadership position as an elected school board member that arts education is a critical component in the education of your district’s students?
Unfortunately, I cannot make this promise. Hillsborough will be faced with another set of difficult choices for the 2020-2021 budget. I predict that the district will have additional layoffs beyond what was cut in the 2019-2020 budget. My proposal is to make these cuts strategically, such that if the school board decides to go for a referendum to increase the local tax levy, these would be programs that could be more easily re-instated.
10. Please take this opportunity to provide additional comments or personal story highlighting your views regarding arts education and the role of the arts in the education of your students.
Hillsborough parents are highly engaged supporters of their children's participation whether in choir, marching band or drama club. There is an opportunity for the wider Hillsborough community - beyond parents - to support arts education with private donations, especially given the district's poor economic outlook. I am committed to developing private partnerships to supplement the arts curriculum.
Monday, October 14, 2019
BOE candidate profile - the Patch
The Patch has a series of BOE candidate profiles. My profile is linked here with the full text below.
1. Description of yourself (background, age, work experience, education, etc.)
I am a 17 year Hillsborough resident, 48 years old and married with 3 children who attend district schools - HHS (11th grade), HMS (8th grade) and ARIS (5th grade).
I am an engineer by training and have dedicated the past 17 years to raising my children full time. In addition to volunteering on the Hillsborough Township Board of Education, I have varied volunteer interests, such as secretary of the Hillsborough / Millstone Municipal Alliance, co-chair of AlumniCorps, project lead of the Leadership Somerset Class of 2017 project benefiting The Arc of Somerset County Jerry Davis Center and I was a member of the FBI Newark Citizens Academy Class of 2018.
2. Why are you running for school board again?
I am running for re-election for a second term because I care about kids and I want to develop solutions for the school district (do something good). I have the interest, and more importantly, the bandwidth (time) to educate myself on educational policy. Finally, I am practical. Specifically, this district cannot spend money it doesn't have so how does the Board of Education reconcile this reality?
Although the district went through a devastating budget reduction cycle for the 2019-2020 school year, I feel I helped improve the school district in my first two years on the board. For example, I was part of the board's decision in 2017 to add 3 elementary school counselors so that each of the 6 elementary schools now has its own dedicated guidance counselor (previously the guidance counselors were shared 1 for 2 elementary schools) and in 2018 to add a student assistance counselor at HHS, approve varsity letters for academic teams and strengthen the vaping policy.
However, many of the issues I identified when I first ran in 2016, such as improve communication, have more transparency in decision-making and engage the public in a conversation of its priorities still stand. Therefore, I am asking for the community's vote so that I may continue working for the best educational outcome for Hillsborough's children.
3. Why do you feel you are qualified for this position?
I do my homework and then I do the needed work. I have invested time and energy to educate myself so that I am able to make decisions in the best interest of all children. Further, I listen to residents, am accessible and try to keep the community informed.
After my first full year on the board, I achieved "New Board Member Boardsmanship Certification," the first tier of the NJSBA Board Member Academy certification program (https://www.njsba.org/training/board-member-academy/individual-certification/nbm/) and after my second full year on the board, I was recognized as a "Certified Board Member," the second tier of the NJSBA Board Member Academy certification program (https://www.njsba.org/training/board-member-academy/individual-certification/cbm/).
I have also fulfilled the credit requirements for the third level of certification, "Master Board Member" (https://www.njsba.org/training/board-member-academy/individual-certification/mbm/) and the highest level of certification "Certified Board Leader" (https://www.njsba.org/training/board-member-academy/individual-certification/cbl/) but there are associated length of service requirements for these certification levels.
I actively represent the Hillsborough Township School District at the state level as a vice president of the Somerset County School Boards Association (https://www.njsba.org/counties/somerset/). I was a member of the NJSBA strategic planning committee (https://www.njsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Brochure-for-BOD-Nov3-1.pdf), am the voting delegate at the biannual Delegate Assembly (NJSBA policy setting body), and a member of the NJSBA Legislative and Finance Committees.
4. What are some issues you would like to address if elected?
At the July 29, 2019 special meeting of the Hillsborough Board of Education, the NJSBA field representative asked board members to list their top 3 short term and top 3 long term priorities. These were mine, in the order I wrote them down (see attached photo):
My Priority Focus Card - short term:
1) Budget '20-'21: decide on priority programs to keep (math, English, social studies, science and gym) and temporarily discontinue non-mandated programs to get the budget back on track and build fund balance. Fund some infrastructure improvements via the budget.
2) Build community trust in the Board of Education. This is important because we won't pass any referendum without it.
3) Settle the contract, knowing this is going to result in layoffs in '20-'21. This is important for student and teacher morale.
My Priority Focus Card - long term:
1) Change our thinking about the purpose of the school district. This is important because schools can't do it all; parent education.
2) Later high school start times, for example: elementary K-4 7:50am, Gr 5-8 8:30 am, HHS 9:10 am (40 minutes between each school start time for bus tiering). This is important for student well being.
3) Long term job stability. This is important for student and teacher morale.
1. Description of yourself (background, age, work experience, education, etc.)
I am a 17 year Hillsborough resident, 48 years old and married with 3 children who attend district schools - HHS (11th grade), HMS (8th grade) and ARIS (5th grade).
I am an engineer by training and have dedicated the past 17 years to raising my children full time. In addition to volunteering on the Hillsborough Township Board of Education, I have varied volunteer interests, such as secretary of the Hillsborough / Millstone Municipal Alliance, co-chair of AlumniCorps, project lead of the Leadership Somerset Class of 2017 project benefiting The Arc of Somerset County Jerry Davis Center and I was a member of the FBI Newark Citizens Academy Class of 2018.
2. Why are you running for school board again?
I am running for re-election for a second term because I care about kids and I want to develop solutions for the school district (do something good). I have the interest, and more importantly, the bandwidth (time) to educate myself on educational policy. Finally, I am practical. Specifically, this district cannot spend money it doesn't have so how does the Board of Education reconcile this reality?
Although the district went through a devastating budget reduction cycle for the 2019-2020 school year, I feel I helped improve the school district in my first two years on the board. For example, I was part of the board's decision in 2017 to add 3 elementary school counselors so that each of the 6 elementary schools now has its own dedicated guidance counselor (previously the guidance counselors were shared 1 for 2 elementary schools) and in 2018 to add a student assistance counselor at HHS, approve varsity letters for academic teams and strengthen the vaping policy.
However, many of the issues I identified when I first ran in 2016, such as improve communication, have more transparency in decision-making and engage the public in a conversation of its priorities still stand. Therefore, I am asking for the community's vote so that I may continue working for the best educational outcome for Hillsborough's children.
3. Why do you feel you are qualified for this position?
I do my homework and then I do the needed work. I have invested time and energy to educate myself so that I am able to make decisions in the best interest of all children. Further, I listen to residents, am accessible and try to keep the community informed.
After my first full year on the board, I achieved "New Board Member Boardsmanship Certification," the first tier of the NJSBA Board Member Academy certification program (https://www.njsba.org/training/board-member-academy/individual-certification/nbm/) and after my second full year on the board, I was recognized as a "Certified Board Member," the second tier of the NJSBA Board Member Academy certification program (https://www.njsba.org/training/board-member-academy/individual-certification/cbm/).
I have also fulfilled the credit requirements for the third level of certification, "Master Board Member" (https://www.njsba.org/training/board-member-academy/individual-certification/mbm/) and the highest level of certification "Certified Board Leader" (https://www.njsba.org/training/board-member-academy/individual-certification/cbl/) but there are associated length of service requirements for these certification levels.
I actively represent the Hillsborough Township School District at the state level as a vice president of the Somerset County School Boards Association (https://www.njsba.org/counties/somerset/). I was a member of the NJSBA strategic planning committee (https://www.njsba.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Brochure-for-BOD-Nov3-1.pdf), am the voting delegate at the biannual Delegate Assembly (NJSBA policy setting body), and a member of the NJSBA Legislative and Finance Committees.
4. What are some issues you would like to address if elected?
At the July 29, 2019 special meeting of the Hillsborough Board of Education, the NJSBA field representative asked board members to list their top 3 short term and top 3 long term priorities. These were mine, in the order I wrote them down (see attached photo):
My Priority Focus Card - short term:
1) Budget '20-'21: decide on priority programs to keep (math, English, social studies, science and gym) and temporarily discontinue non-mandated programs to get the budget back on track and build fund balance. Fund some infrastructure improvements via the budget.
2) Build community trust in the Board of Education. This is important because we won't pass any referendum without it.
3) Settle the contract, knowing this is going to result in layoffs in '20-'21. This is important for student and teacher morale.
My Priority Focus Card - long term:
1) Change our thinking about the purpose of the school district. This is important because schools can't do it all; parent education.
2) Later high school start times, for example: elementary K-4 7:50am, Gr 5-8 8:30 am, HHS 9:10 am (40 minutes between each school start time for bus tiering). This is important for student well being.
3) Long term job stability. This is important for student and teacher morale.
Monday, October 7, 2019
Re-election: November 5, 2019
Time flies! I'm finishing up my first term on the Hillsborough Board of Education and am running for re-election in the November 5, 2019 general election.
I am running because I care about kids and I want to be part of the solution. I have invested time and energy to educate myself so that I am able to make decisions in the best interest of all children. I listen to residents, am accessible and try to keep the community informed.
I am an engineer by training and my greatest strengths are asking questions and questioning assumptions. I am fiscally prudent by which I mean I am against wastefulness but I am for investing in the community's priorities. In 2016, I decided not to use lawn signs to advertise my candidacy. They cost $418 for 100 signs and it wasn't clear what the community would learn about me from those signs except my name (*1). Again, I am not planning to use lawn signs so I am asking for your help in sharing my candidacy with your friends and neighbors.
Communication is very important to me and I want residents to learn more about me and how I think. That's why I spend a lot of time answering questionnaires from various organizations. When the articles run, I'll post them online here and at www.facebook.com/jeanforboe.
The issues I identified in 2016 - improve communication, have more transparency in decision-making and engage the public in a conversation of its priorities - still stand. Therefore, I am asking for your vote so that I may continue working for the best educational outcome for Hillsborough and Millstone's children.
Your individual vote is very important. Please vote! Last year, the school board election could not be certified for days because the vote tally was so close. Thank you for your support.
-- Footnote:
(*1) I recently learned about "illusion of memory" which is research by Larry Jacoby, not directly related to elections, about false recognition influenced by unconscious perception. My inference is that lawn signs create a sense of familiarity, so that when faced with unknown names in the voting booth, "name recognition" gives those candidates a boost. Thus, my comment "it wasn't clear what the community would learn about me from those signs except my name" is actually the very point of lawn signs! I'm still not paying for signs.
Sunday, September 29, 2019
2019 Election Calendar
October 15, 2019: Last day to register to vote in the General Election
October 29, 2019: Last day to submit a Vote by Mail application by mail
November 4, 2019: Last day to submit a Vote by Mail application in person (3pm deadline)
November 5, 2019: General Election - polls are open 6am - 8pm
October 29, 2019: Last day to submit a Vote by Mail application by mail
November 4, 2019: Last day to submit a Vote by Mail application in person (3pm deadline)
November 5, 2019: General Election - polls are open 6am - 8pm
Vote by Mail Ballot Information 2019
From Steve Peter, Somerset County Clerk's Facebook page, here is a graphic representation of Vote By Mail 2019. Questions? County Clerk at 908-231-7013.
Sunday, March 10, 2019
More than you ever wanted to know about school state aid
NB: 1. I am a member of the Hillsborough Township School Board. Opinions expressed here are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of the Hillsborough Township School Board.
2. It is very important for the community to express their support or opposition to the referendum and its impact on the school district and taxpayer by voting on Tuesday, March 12, 2019.
2. It is very important for the community to express their support or opposition to the referendum and its impact on the school district and taxpayer by voting on Tuesday, March 12, 2019.
3. This is my personal assessment of the referendum and should not be construed as instructing the community on how to vote.
In addition to being a member of the Hillsborough Township School Board, I also volunteer as an officer of the Somerset County School Boards Association (SCSBA) and serve on the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) Delegate Assembly, Legislative Committee, Strategic Planning Committee and was invited to join the Finance Committee.
On Saturday, March 9, 2019, I spent the morning and early afternoon learning more about school funding (aka state aid) from the NJSBA Governmental Relations staff.
The top 3 factors influencing a district's state aid are: a) number of students b) make-up of the district (i.e. English as a second language, free/reduced lunch, etc) c) wealth of the district.
The state uses these factors to calculate the "adequacy budget" (*1) which is the minimum amount a district would need to spend to provide an adequate education for every pupil in the district.
Then, the state calculates what the local district can afford and state aid is supposed to cover the remainder. Except the state does not fully fund the formula and is about $600M to $1B short.
That means, while the state's goal is to give each district its calculated state aid, in reality, each district is getting funds on a pro-rated basis of the total available school aid. That is why I said, while implementing FDK is a creative idea to lose less state aid, it is not a guarantee from the state and could wind up being a very expensive mistake.
Hillsborough is losing state aid because of part c) - the state says our income has increased by ~33% over the last ~ 7 years. In fact, ~ seven years ago, Hillsborough was considered $13M underfunded! This volatility is difficult to react to, and my colleague Gregory Gillette suggested proposing to NJSBA that they advocate for a different formula that takes a rolling average over the last 5-10 years when considering a district's wealth. I brought this up at Saturday's Legislative Committee and the idea was well received.
According to the district's projections, Hillsborough was supposed to lose $695,046 for the 2019-20 school year. Based on Governor Murphy's proposed state aid numbers, Hillsborough will lose $526,434 (*2). The proposed loss is less than the estimated loss, at a difference of $168,612, which is a good thing. But it further shows that our estimates are just estimates and not guarantees.
Finally, I also proposed at Legislative Committee that NJSBA advocate that any district that is losing state aid and has the desire to increase the tax levy beyond the 2% cap be allowed to take a waiver to increase the levy for the amount of decreased state aid. The governmental relations team said they have been talking to Senator Sweeney's office and Sweeney's staff recognize parts of S-2 in light of the tax cap had unintended consequences. NJSBA staff said it’s possible there could be movement this session, so that is hopeful, but they couldn’t guess how realistic.
Hopefully this explains why Hillsborough gets the aid it does compared to neighboring towns. If you would like to know even more, check out the NJ Spotlight article on the subject (*3).
Footnotes:
(*1) Adequacy Budget (AB) = (BC + AR Cost + LEP Cost + COMB Cost + SE Census) x GCA where
- Base Cost (BC) is per pupil amounts weighted by grade level
- At Risk (AR) is at or below 185% of poverty guidelines
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
- Combined Cost (AR and LEP)
- Special Education Census (SE) - 2/3
- Geographic Cost Adjustment (GCA)
Local Share Calculation = (EQVAL x PVR x 50%) + (INC x INR x 50%)
(N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-52)
where
- EQVAL is the district's equalized property valuation
- PVR is the statewide property value rate
- INC is the district's income
- INR is the statewide income rate
Equalization Aid = Adequacy Budget - Local Fair Share
There are other areas of state aid such as special ed, transportation, etc.
(*2) NJ DOE 2019-20 State Aid Summaries:
https://www.state.nj.us/education/stateaid/1920/
(*3) NJ Spotlight article on School Funding:
https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/18/07/25/explainer-everything-you-need-to-know-about-school-funding-in-nj/
In addition to being a member of the Hillsborough Township School Board, I also volunteer as an officer of the Somerset County School Boards Association (SCSBA) and serve on the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) Delegate Assembly, Legislative Committee, Strategic Planning Committee and was invited to join the Finance Committee.
On Saturday, March 9, 2019, I spent the morning and early afternoon learning more about school funding (aka state aid) from the NJSBA Governmental Relations staff.
The top 3 factors influencing a district's state aid are: a) number of students b) make-up of the district (i.e. English as a second language, free/reduced lunch, etc) c) wealth of the district.
The state uses these factors to calculate the "adequacy budget" (*1) which is the minimum amount a district would need to spend to provide an adequate education for every pupil in the district.
Then, the state calculates what the local district can afford and state aid is supposed to cover the remainder. Except the state does not fully fund the formula and is about $600M to $1B short.
That means, while the state's goal is to give each district its calculated state aid, in reality, each district is getting funds on a pro-rated basis of the total available school aid. That is why I said, while implementing FDK is a creative idea to lose less state aid, it is not a guarantee from the state and could wind up being a very expensive mistake.
Hillsborough is losing state aid because of part c) - the state says our income has increased by ~33% over the last ~ 7 years. In fact, ~ seven years ago, Hillsborough was considered $13M underfunded! This volatility is difficult to react to, and my colleague Gregory Gillette suggested proposing to NJSBA that they advocate for a different formula that takes a rolling average over the last 5-10 years when considering a district's wealth. I brought this up at Saturday's Legislative Committee and the idea was well received.
According to the district's projections, Hillsborough was supposed to lose $695,046 for the 2019-20 school year. Based on Governor Murphy's proposed state aid numbers, Hillsborough will lose $526,434 (*2). The proposed loss is less than the estimated loss, at a difference of $168,612, which is a good thing. But it further shows that our estimates are just estimates and not guarantees.
Finally, I also proposed at Legislative Committee that NJSBA advocate that any district that is losing state aid and has the desire to increase the tax levy beyond the 2% cap be allowed to take a waiver to increase the levy for the amount of decreased state aid. The governmental relations team said they have been talking to Senator Sweeney's office and Sweeney's staff recognize parts of S-2 in light of the tax cap had unintended consequences. NJSBA staff said it’s possible there could be movement this session, so that is hopeful, but they couldn’t guess how realistic.
Hopefully this explains why Hillsborough gets the aid it does compared to neighboring towns. If you would like to know even more, check out the NJ Spotlight article on the subject (*3).
Footnotes:
(*1) Adequacy Budget (AB) = (BC + AR Cost + LEP Cost + COMB Cost + SE Census) x GCA where
- Base Cost (BC) is per pupil amounts weighted by grade level
- At Risk (AR) is at or below 185% of poverty guidelines
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP)
- Combined Cost (AR and LEP)
- Special Education Census (SE) - 2/3
- Geographic Cost Adjustment (GCA)
Local Share Calculation = (EQVAL x PVR x 50%) + (INC x INR x 50%)
(N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-52)
where
- EQVAL is the district's equalized property valuation
- PVR is the statewide property value rate
- INC is the district's income
- INR is the statewide income rate
Equalization Aid = Adequacy Budget - Local Fair Share
There are other areas of state aid such as special ed, transportation, etc.
(*2) NJ DOE 2019-20 State Aid Summaries:
https://www.state.nj.us/education/stateaid/1920/
(*3) NJ Spotlight article on School Funding:
https://www.njspotlight.com/stories/18/07/25/explainer-everything-you-need-to-know-about-school-funding-in-nj/
Saturday, March 9, 2019
Things to Consider on the Referendum
NB: 1. I am a member of
the Hillsborough Township School Board. Opinions expressed here are solely my
own and do not express the views or opinions of the Hillsborough Township
School Board.
2. It is very important
for the community to express their support or opposition to the referendum and
its impact on the school district and taxpayer by voting on Tuesday,
March 12, 2019.
3. This is my personal
assessment of the referendum and should not be construed as instructing the
community on how to vote.
This is the statement I
would have read at the March 4, 2019 Board of Education meeting if the meeting
had not been cancelled.
Here are a few things to
consider whether or not you support the referendum:
1) The $8.1M tax levy
proposal in the March 12, 2019 referendum ONLY covers full day kindergarten
($3M) and maintaining the status quo ($5M). This is a permanent tax
increase. In the future, there will be additional tax levy proposals
to address aging infrastructure and to build a new high school.
FDK has a $3M start-up
cost for the first year (staffing, modular classrooms - note, K students will
be in the main building; support staff / specials are proposed for the
temporary classrooms). The expectation is that by increasing
our student head count via FDK (half day K students are counted as 0.5
student), the district will lose less state aid. However, this is not a
guarantee. Another scenario could be the district spends $3M on FDK
and does not get its expected aid, thereby putting the district in worse
financial shape.
Finally, permanent space
for FDK requires more space, either with a new high school or building
expansion. This is another big assumption. The
referendum only mandates that FDK be implemented in the first year. Future
boards could decide to allocate the money elsewhere. While not likely, it's
possible. All these reasons together are why I said the plan is poorly
designed and why I voted no to linking FDK to the status quo part.
However, if all the
pieces fall into place perfectly, the upside is the district gets FDK and loses
less state aid (which means in Year 2, it wouldn't need the $1M state aid
portion of the $5M status quo part.)
2) The $5M status quo
part is made up of approximately
- $1.9M fund balance
replenishment (the district is required to keep 2% of its budget in reserve;
was semi-depleted in the last year for HVAC, increasing special ed costs, etc.)
- $1M estimate of state
aid reduction each year for a total of $5.3M over 6 years - the state aid loss
varies from year to year, some years are more than $1M, some years are less
than $1M
- $2M estimate of health
care premium increases, salary increases, other insurance increases, E-rate
revenue decrease, etc.
Because the 2019-2020
budget is projected to have a $5M deficit, it is true that reductions will need
to be made if the referendum does not pass. Because the school board did not
introduce a tentative budget, it is only speculation where the cuts would come
from.
My personal opinion is
that the district's mission is education, so any cuts should come from areas
that do not directly impact student learning. Also, I would immediately
introduce a resolution to go back to voters to ask again for funding. But
I would ask for it in a "staggered" fashion, not $5M or nothing.
Instead, I would propose $1M allows us to do X, another $1M allows us to do X
and Y, etc.
Unfortunately, because
of election deadlines, the earliest the board could hold another referendum is
in September 2019, so the 2019-2020 budget (which is finalized in May 2019)
would necessarily include reductions.
If the referendum
passes, that gives the district some breathing room. However, to be sustainable
into the future, the district will need to re-evaluate its priorities in light
of costs that are increasing faster than the board's ability to raise the tax
levy. This referendum plugs a hole, it does not solve the problem.
3) Consider the impact
over six years - state aid is projected to decrease by a total of $5.3M over
the next six years. If the referendum is approved, the district will gain
$48.6M in revenue from the local tax payer to fund FDK and maintain the status
quo, beyond the normal 2% tax levy growth plus exemptions.
*******3/11/19 EDITED TO
CLARIFY -
State aid is expected to
decrease by $5.3M over 6 years but it is cumulative. As an example, if our
current state aid is A dollars, and in Year 1, we are projected to lose X
dollars, and in Year 2, we are projected to lose Y dollars, that means our
actual Year 1 aid is (A-X) and our Year 2 aid is (A-X-Y).
Based on current
projections, the total state aid loss over 6 years for status quo (HDK) vs.
implementing FDK is actually $20M. Thank you to Licia Gaber-Baylis and Jeff
Consentino's discussion on how the aid is calculated for allowing me to clarify
this.
*******
Also note, the tax levy
for the current 2018-2019 budget is $95.5M, so this $8.1M tax levy represents
an 8.4% increase in the local tax levy. See the user friendly budget
page 2:
4) Finally, rate-ables
have not been certified for Hillsborough or Millstone, so while there are
estimates for tax impact on the "average" home, it has the feeling of
asking for a semi-blank check.
5) In conclusion, I hope
this perspective shows there are more things to consider than what is presented
through official channels and supporters / opponents of this proposal.
Your vote is important.
Please vote on Tuesday, March 12. Thank you.
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