Freehold Borough voters approve two questions
Extracurricular clubs & school sports are spared
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer

By a slim margin on each of two ballot questions, residents delivered a double victory to the Freehold Borough Board of Education on April 17.

By a count of 357 yes votes to 299 no votes, voters approved a general fund tax levy of $7.4 million to support a $16.7 million budget for the 2007-08 school year.

By a count of 342 yes votes to 314 no votes, voters approved a second question to raise an additional $75,275 in local taxes to be used for school-sponsored athletics and extracurricular activities. Those activities that had been on the chopping block will now remain in the school district's educational offerings.

The second ballot question also provides for a residency officer to be hired at a cost not to exceed $15,000 annually. That person will conduct investigations to ensure that all children who attend Freehold Borough schools live in the municipality.

Speaking about the passage of the two questions, Superintendent of Schools Eliz-abeth O'Connell said she is "very grateful to the voters of Freehold Borough who supported this budget."

She thanked everyone who helped get information about the budget out to residents, but said the work is not done.

"We have already contacted state Sen. Ellen Karcher, Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck and Assemblyman Michael Panter to tell them we are still short 12 necessary positions to operate our schools under (New Jersey's) thorough and efficient education requirements," O'Connell explained.

The superintendent also referred to two pieces of legislation Panter plans to introduce in the Legislature.

According to a press release from Panter's office, the assemblyman has drafted two bills that are designed to ease the financial burden on certain school districts throughout the state that fall below the per-pupil spending standards for a thorough and efficient education.

According to information from Panter's office, the first bill would appropriate $14.3 million which the state Department of Education would distribute to 14 school districts in 10 counties throughout the state. The funding would bring these school districts' per-pupil spending amount up to acceptable thorough and efficient levels.

"While I am happy that the Legislature is taking steps to address property taxes, until we revitalize the state's school funding formula we will continue to see districts fall between the cracks," Panter said in the press release. "This legislation is necessary to address the disproportionate manner in which state aid is currently distributed."

In an effort to ensure that the Freehold Borough School District does not have to make severe cuts to its staff and programs, Panter's second bill would directly supplement the district with $1.1 million.

O'Connell said, "We will continue to work with our elected officials until we receive the appropriate level of funding to provide our children with the thorough and efficient education required by law."

School board President Jim Keelan said he was happy for the children of Freehold Borough that the budget and the second question were approved. He said he was grateful to the voters.

"This is just one victory," Keelan said. "We will continue to fight to ensure that the children of the borough receive their constitutionally guaranteed thorough and efficient education. We are not giving up. There is still $1.2 million that our schools need for the upcoming school year."

The K-8 school tax rate will increase from 66.7 cents to 74.2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation. That means the owner of a home assessed at the borough average of $257,000 will pay $1,906 in local school taxes in 2007-08, up from $1,714 in the 2006-07 school year.

The 2007-08 school budget cut 12 positions, including a math supervisor, a fourth grade teacher, a fifth grade teacher, a guidance counselor and a librarian. It includes the addition of two first grade teachers and a full-time and a part-time World Language teacher.