Article

Proposals are voted in everywhere except Hopatcong and Phillipsburg

Thursday, April 19, 2007 • BY JIM LOCKWOOD AND MIKE FRASSINELLI • Star-Ledger Staff

Sussex and Warren counties each had all but one of their school budgets approved in this year's an nual school elections.

That's a big shift from the trend in recent years of double-digit defeats in the counties' 48 school districts, including:

16 budgets rejected last year (10 of Warren's 23 districts, and six of Sussex's 25 districts);

10 defeated in 2005 (seven in Warren, three in Sussex);

14 voted down in 2004 (seven in each county).

School officials cited several reasons for the turnaround, including mandated budget caps keeping spending increases low and the first gains in state aid to districts in years helping reduce school tax hikes.

"The budget caps contributed to taxpayers understanding that schools are doing everything possible to control costs. This is a very happy moment for the kids and education in Sussex County, and it should be for taxpayers, too," said Robert Walker, superintendent of the Kittatinny Regional High School District, which had its 23rd consecutive budget approval.

But districts also have generally become more adept at communicating budgetary nuts-and-bolts within their communities, in regular informational presentations with civic and senior groups and at coffee klatches.

"Districts have done an appropriate job in selling to the public that we are being conscientious with the tax dollar," said Sussex County Superintendent of Schools Barry Worman. "School boards are being far more open in providing and explaining information, and just creating a relationship where the community feels it can ask a pointed question and get a straight answer."

In Sussex, only Hopatcong's budget was nixed. That was not entirely unexpected, as Hopatcong voters have approved only nine budgets in the past 29 years. However, Hopatcong's low voter turnout of around 10 percent, which was below the countywide average of 15 percent, was surprising.

"Obviously, I'm very disappointed in the end result," Hopat cong Schools Superintendent Wayne Threlkeld said. "But I'm also very disappointed that much of the community did not exercise the right to vote. It's a serious concern."

Meanwhile, three of the four special ballot questions in Sussex County -- in Kittatinny, Fredon and Sandyston-Walpack -- also were approved. The other special question, a proposal in Hardyston for full-day kindergarten, was rejected.

In Sparta, candidate Karen Scott, who has been feuding with the superintendent there, topped a five-way race for three seats. Scott and her running mate, incumbent Linda Curcio, and challenger Kevin Pollison, each were elected. Pollison ran as a team with Sandra Serret-Curran and Jennifer Dericks.

In Warren County, a newcomer joined his dad on the school board and residents gave a vote of confidence to candidates who gave a no-confidence vote to a local superintendent.

The near-sweep of budgets was a huge shift from a year ago, when 10 of 23 school budgets in Warren went down in defeat.

"I think it's terrific," said Blairs town Township School District Superintendent W. Michael Feeney, whose budget was rejected last year and overwhelmingly approved on Tuesday. "Certainly it was a different year, wasn't it?"

Thomas Gross, the interim superintendent of county schools, was at the county courthouse on election night, receiving four or five results at a time. Right from the start, the returns were to his liking.

"By the time we got to 10, I thought, 'This is going to be pretty good,'" Gross said. "I didn't think it would be as many (rejections) as last year, but I thought it would be more than one."

In Phillipsburg, where the school board a day earlier gave Superintendent H. Gordon Pethick a no-confidence vote over the slow pace of teacher contract negotiations, the budget failed.

Paul Rummerfield and Thomas F. McGuire, who voted for the statement of no confidence, were returned by voters, according to unofficial results. Robert C. Brennan, who voted against the statement, was not re-elected. Also voted in was Richard E. Turdo.

Gross and Feeney said school officials did a better job this year explaining the budgets to local residents and that state aid helped districts temper their requests.

Feeney said the Tuesday night results were likely a "rebound" effect from last year's dismal showing.

Things also were harmonious in Harmony Township, where James Tipton joins his father, Andrew Tipton, on the school board.

The younger Tipton, 37, was voted in along with Kelley Smith and Paul Williams, according to the unofficial tallies.

The civic-minded Tipton family also includes James Tipton's younger brother, Brian, the mayor of Harmony.

A great day for school budgets in Sussex, Warren

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