Two contested races for seats on FRHSD board
Challengers seek seats from Freehold Twp., Marlboro incumbents
BY TOYNETT HALL Staff Writer
Three incumbents on the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education are running to keep their seats in the April 15 school election.

One current board member is running unopposed, while two incumbents will face off against challengers.

Each seat carries a three-year term on the board that oversees the operation of the FRHSD, which serves eight municipalities, includes six high schools and has a total enrollment of about 12,000 students.

Incumbent Christopher Placitella of Colts Neck is running unopposed. Residents of Colts Neck andMarlboro will vote for the Colts Neck representative.

Incumbent Bonnie Sue Rosenwald of Marlboro is being challenged by Katie Goon. Residents of Marlboro and Colts Neck will vote for the Marlboro representative.

IncumbentMichaelWright of Freehold Township is being challenged by Thomas Caiazza. Residents of Freehold Township and Freehold Borough will vote for the Freehold Township representative.

In Colts Neck, Placitella, 51, an attorney, is running for a third term. He served on the Colts Neck Board of Education prior to joining the FRHSD board six years ago.

Placitella said he does not serve for any political gain, but to have a hand in impacting the greatest number of students by shaping their lives as they go forward through their academic careers. He said that while the district functions very efficiently and provides an excellent education for a reasonable price, he would like to see the FRHSD pay close attention to substance abuse issues.

"Substance abuse is on the rise. Although it is not specifically increasing within the FRHSD, it is alarming," Placitella said. "I am concerned about the use of drugs by kids. I believe the parents are not plugged in enough. My agenda for the next six months is to see what we can do locally to combat this issue."

Placitella, who currently has a daughter enrolled at Colts Neck High School, said he is running to serve the best interests of the children and the community.

Placitella said he does not have any relatives who work in the FRHSD.

In Freehold Township, Wright, 45, is running for a full term for the first time. He was appointed by the board in 2006 to fill an open seat and was elected in 2007 to complete the final year of that unexpired term.

"I joined the board to give something back to the community. I am a product of public schools. I know firsthand that public schools can provide a quality education," said Wright, who is a vice president of human resources with Altria Corporate Services. "In addition, I sought to diversify representation on the board. I did not think the board mirrored what our schools looked like."

He said he has asked "if what we are doing is fulfilling the education of our children."

Wright said he believes the nine-member board "supports the district's mission to develop global lifelong learners.We provide a setting and atmosphere conducive to learning and excelling outside of the classroom, consistent with the district's mission."

Although Wright said he believes the district is on the right track, he said improvements can be made.

"Being a parent, I would like to see more constructive parental involvement as it relates to problem solving," Wright said. "Schools and administrators can only do so much … we need to do a better job of enrolling our parents in problem solving."

Wright said although the election is "not about me or any other candidate," he said voters should choose him because he has "proven leadership, is committed to education, is not in it for self-gratification," but instead wants to advance and make it better.

"I was committed two years ago when I was appointed to the board and I will stay committed," he said.

Wright said he does not have any relatives who work in the FRHSD and he does not have any children who attend school in the district.

Caiazza, 52, has lived in Freehold Township for more than 20 years. He teaches health and physical education at Freehold Township High School. He said he has an "acute need to serve the community."

"The district has done a good job for my children. I would like to serve and give a little of that back," he said.

Before Caiazza became a teacher he was a managing director for Federal Express. He believes he can contribute to the FRHSD not only as an educator, but as a decision maker who spearheaded a large organization.

He said that during his time with Federal Express, "I learned how to maintain quality in a tough environment. In addition to that experience I also hold a master's degree in educational leadership from Rutgers University, and have gained a lot of knowledge over the last 10 years as an educator."

Caiazza said he believes his diverse experience would be an asset to the board. He believes the district's concepts for the future are well ahead of state standards and he believes that what the FRHSD offers students surpasses other high schools.

He said he does not believe the district is doing anything poorly and wants to help maintain the quality of education presently being offered to students.

Caiazza said he does not have any relatives who work in the FRHSD and he does not have any children presently attending school in the district.

In Marlboro, Rosenwald is seeking a third term because she believes there is work to be done.

"I still feel there are many issues that have not been met. In the next year the district will face many challenges such as the possibility of redistricting, the possible impact of students coming (to the FRHSD) from (public housing) at Naval Weapons Stations Earle, the impact of the Northpointe residential development in Marlboro and the impact of adding affordable housing units in Marlboro."

Rosenwald said she should be reelected based on her "demonstrated record, and my representation of the parents, children and taxpayers of Marlboro."

She said she took on the role of a board member when no one else wanted it.

"I took on that fight. I was there. And I would fight again. Our children need a voice," she said.

Rosenwald said although the district's administrators pay attention to things such as the taxes people pay to support the FRHSD, she said the board can do a better job of focusing on the little things.

"We don't spend enough time on the little things. For instance, when a board gets its budget three days before they have to vote on it without a thorough discussion of every item, that board is not functioning at its highest level," she said.

In addition, Rosenwald said she would like the board to focus more on issues that affect students, such as reducing class size and seeking out more programs for students to be well rounded candidates for college recruiters.

Rosenwald declined to provide her age and occupation. She does not have any children who currently attend school in the district. Her son is a science teacher in the district, her daughter-inlaw is an English teacher in the district and her daughter is a substitute teacher in the district.

Goon, 41, a marine underwriter, and a Marlboro resident for nine years, said she cares about the educational growth of Marlboro's children. She is the mother of an 11-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy, both of whom are enrolled in the Marlboro Elementary School.

She said people should elect her to the FRHSD board seat because "my interest lies in the children. Although my children are currently enrolled in the Marlboro K- 8 School District, I am truly concerned about how education affects a child's growth. The FRHSD offers great programs; however, there is always room for improvement."

Goon said she believes she would be an asset to the board because of her financial background and education in accounting.

According to her, as a marine underwriter, "I evaluate risk. I can bring suggestions to the board and improve the great system that we already have."

Goon said she does not have any relatives who work in the FRHSD and she does not have any children currently attending school in the district.

While not everyone who goes to the polls on April 15 will vote for a representative on the board, voters in all eight sending municipalities will be asked to approve a tax levy to support the operation of the FRHSD during the 2008-09 school year.

The board has adopted a $174.6 million budget for the 2008-09 school year. On April 15, residents of the district's eight sending municipalities will be asked to approve a general fund local tax levy of $110.9 million to support the operation of the district in the coming year.

Pending approval of the budget by voters, the FRHSD tax rates will be the following in the eight sending municipalities:

• Colts Neck: increase of 1.9 cents from 81.2 to 83.1 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

• Englishtown: increase of 1.4 cents from 25.3 to 26.7 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

• Farmingdale: decrease of 4 cents from 37.2 to 33.2 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

• Freehold Borough: increase of 0.6 cents from 36.8 to 37.4 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

• Freehold Township: increase of 0.6 cents from 70 to 70.6 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

• Howell: increase of 1.8 cents from 35.3 to 37.1 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

• Manalapan: decrease of 0.4 cents from 36.3 to 35.9 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

• Marlboro: decrease of 0.8 cents from 85.1 to 84.3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

The FRHSD school tax rate is used to calculate the amount of property taxes that a property owner pays to support the operation of the district. The FRHSD tax is one portion of a property owner's overall tax bill. The tax bill also includes municipal taxes, local K-8 school taxes, Monmouth County taxes and several other assessments.