N.B. school board chooses new leadership
Dealing with failed 2007-08 budget is group's immediate priority
BY JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer

Claire Padovano

NORTH BRUNSWICK - Claire Padovano was elected school board president Tuesday, taking over the position from Ann Casey, who decided not to run for re-election this year after serving a three-year term.

"It feels good, but I know there is a lot of responsibility in working a lot of hours, but I'm willing to do that," last year's board vice president said. She feels she is prepared because of her six years on the board, including experience serving on the curriculum, finance, policy, student services and negotiations committees.

Neil A. Malvone was nominated as vice president in only his second year as a board member.

"I am happy the members of the board have enough confidence in me being vice president. I hope to keep the district moving forward," he said.

The board's immediate concern is the failure of this year's budget and the reduction to be completed by the Township Council. The challenge is to figure out a way to keep quality education at a high level, according to Malvone, without sacrificing services.

Neil Malvone

An issue related to the budget defeat, and therefore a concern of the board, is the live broadcasting of board meetings. The members, for the most part, feel that if residents saw a televised version of budget discussions, they would have understood the process and possibly voted in favor of the proposed 9-cent tax increase.

"I think it's a concern of the community that all other boards have televised meetings besides the Board of Education. … I think people aren't aware of what's going on. If they are televised, people who can't get to a meeting can see what's going on," Malvone said.

However, one person in opposition to the live broadcast is Gail DiPane, a former board president and member for 12 years. She said the Maple Meade building where the meetings are currently held is not equipped for live tapings, so the board would have to move to the municipal building.

"I think this building is the Board of Education and you should stay here. If you want to go out, you should go out to the schools themselves … so everyone has a chance to go to a meeting in their area," she said.

She said that taped meetings can still be broadcasted on Channel 22 and that residents can wait a few days to view the meetings if they do not attend in person. She feels it is important to keep the council and school board separate.

Another major concern in the district is the state of the facilities at each of the schools. About $11 million worth of projects have been backlogged, including roof repairs and field renovations. The most recent problem was the faltering of the lights at the high school football stadium this week where the boys varsity lacrosse team was playing. They were forced to forfeit the game because of the field situation.

"I'm disappointed the budget failed, because the budget addressed capital projects … I hope the council takes that into consideration when reviewing the budget," Malvone said.

Included in the facilities issue is the construction projects scheduled at Linwood Middle School and the elementary schools. The process has been delayed due to increasing costs.

"[Residents] have been waiting a long time. No one expected prices to skyrocket the way they did. We are trying to find a reasonable price without exorbitant bids that we can't accept," Padovano said.

In the long run, the new leaders hope the board comes together to follow the direction of the new superintendent, Brian Zychowski, and to keep the district progressing.

"I think I would like to see, with the new superintendent, a developed long-range plan of where we want to be. It may not be immediately, but in the next two or three years, and how we attempt to get there," Padovano said.