6 Board of Education candidates in Woodbridge say they support school budget
Woodbridge school board candidates at a forum this week. (Staff photo: Augusto F. Menezes)
The six candidates vying for the three seats on the Woodbridge Board of Education agree that on April 20 voters must pass the school budget.
Scott Brescher of Colonia, John Golden of Woodbridge proper, Tom Maras of Fords, Debra Reinhart of Fords, incumbent Brian Small of Port Reading, and Jonathan Triebwasser of Colonia, all said they would vote "yes" on the $182.5 million budget, which cuts $12 million in programs and jobs while boosting school taxes by 4 percent. If defeated, the budget could be cut by the Township Council.
They also agreed that the teachers union should voluntarily freeze their salaries at least for a year.
Brescher and Maras are running as a team, while Small, Golden and Triebwasser are another slate. Reinhart, a mother of six, is running independently in the non-partisan election.
Brescher has been a township resident for 15 years and is a father of a 6-year-old at Claremont Avenue School No. 20.
The home inspector and irrigation contractor said he understands the need for fiscal responsibility.
"I feel I could apply some of my expertise to the school board and run it more efficiently than it is currently run," he said during a candidates forum Monday sponsored by the Parent Teacher Organization's President's Council.
Golden, a paid captain with the Woodbridge Fire Department, said he was a "quick learner." Golden is father of a daughter attending Woodbridge Middle School and two sons attending Ross Street School No. 11.
"Being a captain in the fire service, by design we must think outside the box," he said. "I'm used to getting the job done."
Before Maras became a frequent critic of the municipal government during Township Council meetings and other forums, he was traveling the world as an executive for multinational construction corporations. The arts enthusiast with two adult children has now turned his attention to the school board.
"I love this community and I will fight for it. . . to make sure we get our fair share so that our kids get the education they deserve and must have," he said.
Reinhart, a 14-year resident, says she became active when her children came home with notices taped to their backpacks saying that the district might have to close Ford Avenue Elementary School No. 14 because of cuts in state aid.
That never happened, but Reinhart filed her petitions to become a candidate anyway.
"I think I have a vested interest in the school board. I would be at every meeting, I would be voting at every meeting. I would not have to abstain from any vote for any reason," she said. Reinhart noted that she does not have any relatives working for the school district. Triebwasser's wife is a teacher at Menlo Park Terrace School No. 19 and Golden said he has relatives who teach and work with support staff and administration.
Small is a native and lifelong resident of Port Reading. Aside from serving as a police officer in the township police department for 27 years, he has volunteered his time with the Port Reading First Aid Squad and the Port Reading Fire Department. He is seeking his second term on the board.
"Our kids mean everything to me. They should get the same thing we received as students and we as a community have to work hard to make sure they do receive . . . what they are owed as students," he said. Small is a father of a daughter and son who graduated from Woodbridge High School and has a son and daughter at Avenel Middle School.
Triebwasser was an employee of the school district for 20 years as the food service and transportation supervisor before taking a similar position in Point Pleasant last year. He has a daughter who attends Lynn Crest Elementary School No. 22, a son at Colonia Middle School and a son at Colonia High School.
"Maybe the community has stopped believing in and trusting and supporting our school district, or maybe our school district itself has stopped supporting the community," he said. "I would like to bring some of that pride back to the district and try to elevate standards from the top down."
Woodbridge InJersey will publish and feature detailed bios on all the candidates this week.
The three candidates who voters elect to the nine-member volunteer board will help oversee a district administrators say has a history of being underfunded by the state.
Reinhart said the district's 24 schools should share more resources.
Triebwasser said his former role as trouble-shooter for the district gives him an understanding of how things can be done effectively.
Maras said pay freezes and benefits concessions should not just apply to school district employees, but municipal employees should be encouraged to do the same.
Golden called parents "a tremendous resource," pointing to examples of how parent organizations have raised money to beautify and help their schools.
Brescher said the interaction between the board and the public, such as the unprecedented public budget workshops the board held this year, should be "continued whether we're in good times or bad times."
Small said he's "not afraid to take on anybody, I'll fight any battle," but also the community has to work together during this funding crisis.
The candidates said that if given the opportunity to restore items cut from the budget, they would return updates to the curriculum, athletics, arts programs and school security.
VIDEO OF SUPERINTENDENT'S BUDGET PRESENTATION:
FitzRandolph, 
woodbridgenj and one other person are discussing.
rc1991 6:14 am on April 1, 2010 Permalink
Well then I would call Mr. Maras a bit of a hypocrite since he is constantly railing against the rise in property taxes. This was very apparent at the town meeting to discuss the Colonia CC situation. If you have a problem with property tax increases then you need to be consistent across the board. The problem with this school budget is the dog and pony show slide deck the administration is using to rationalize it. First off, Woodbridge Twp. is “underfunded” according to the Corzine formula recently enacted – relative to what? The state avg? Even though there are no longer Abbott Districts by definition, those 31 former Abbott districts still receive the bulk (Over 80%) of their funding from the state and still skew the state average spending per pupil. They use WW-Plainsboro as on the examples of an underfunded district – yet that district spends even less per pupil then Woodbridge yet its students outperform Woodbridge students so they are obviously doing something right. Just look at the slide for fixed cost increased – the largest expenditure is hospitalization costs. Perhaps if the WTEA had their constituents contribute 1.5% of their salaries to this across the board that cost would be substantially less. BTW 1.5% would be about $750 annually on a $50K salary – $550 more than they pay now – yet union dues are $750 a year across the board!! That’s right they pay more in union dues than for medical coverage. Look at the list of proposed reductions – 25 teachers…but NO administrators! There are 82 people working in the district office – 35 of them are pulling >$98K a year – how come there are no proposed cuts from the high paid administrative staff?! If the WTEA agrees to a age freeze and contributes as much to their hospitalization as they do to union dues, there would be substantial savings – add in savings if the administrator’s would actually cut costs and agree to the same and the constant property tax increased would not be necessary.
WoodbridgeNJ 9:51 pm on April 1, 2010 Permalink
Stop making sense rc!
JohnnyP 10:07 am on April 3, 2010 Permalink
Here we go again, to coin a famous old phrase, It’s going to be the same old story no matter who we put in. They all have agendas of their own and next year we’ll fight the same battle. Not one of the new B.O.E. candidates is against the budget. I must give them credit, though,for being honest about it. They want that 4 per cent tax increase no matter what. If you read all the blogs, nobody mentions this. It’s all about saving jobs, not cutting the fat.
Their motto is “WE WILL GET THAT 4 PER CENT INCREASE”.
Most of the talking and name calling is done and should be done!
Just VOTE NO!
FitzRandolph 9:50 am on April 8, 2010 Permalink
RC – Not only do you have to wonder why do they pay more to a union than they do to health insurance, you have to remember that ultimately any money they pay out came out of our pockets in the first place — and NOT by choice!