Central Regional Board of Ed Members Vote 'With Disgust' to Approve Budget Cuts
Board members slam Seaside Park officials for lack of cooperation in budget process
Held hostage.
That's how some Central Regional Board of Education members said they felt tonight when they voted 5 to 4 to accept $815,239 in cuts to the 2011-2012 budget.
"I think it's a damn shame our kids and staff are the victims of this," longtime board member Denise Pavone-Wilson said before she cast a yes vote. "Because of one town, we have to make major cuts. I'm disgusted. Now it's hitting the kids and our employees."
Board members had two choices. Either accept the cut, or appeal it to the state Department of Education.
School officials did not say where or who would be affected by the cut.
"We still need time to digest a number that large," Business Administrator/Board Secretary Kevin O'Shea told the audience. "We are going to have to come up with some solution in the near future."
The Central Regional board had done its best to operate as frugally as possible, board member Robert J. Everett Jr. said.
"We are very well aware of the economic conditions out there," he said. "It's kind of been a perfect storm out there. Sometimes your hands are tied. That was the case this year. I feel like we have a gun to our heads. We are being held hostage by Seaside Park. I don't feel they did their best."
Everett and several board members noted that Seaside Park officials had not faced the public during previous meetings on the budget earlier this month. They instead only attended the closed session portions, then left through a side door.
Newly-elected board member Michael Graichen - who holds the Seaside Heights seat - voted no. Graichen then took a swipe at Seaside Park officials for wasting money in lawsuits to try and withdraw from Central Regional.
"They have been duped on the assumption they are going to get out of Central Regional," Graichen said. "They are never going to get out of Central Regional. They better smarten up."
Seaside Park has been trying - so far unsuccessfully - to withdraw from the Central Regional district. Borough officials have claimed in court papers the state's school funding formula that uses property assessments to determine what a homeowner pays in school taxes is unfair. The average home in Seaside Park is assessed at $558,000. The average home in Berkeley Township is assessed at $204,000.
"The bottom line is this," Everett said. "They (Seaside Park officials) don't really care. We continue to spend money for this. Who wins in this? The lawyers."
"We never lose," Board Attorney Thomas Gannon quipped.
Also thrown into this complicated mix is an apparent arrangement made several years ago between now-disgraced former Toms River Regional Schools Superintendent Michael J. Ritacco and Seaside Park to allow some Seaside Park students to attend Toms River Regional for free. It hurts the Central Regional head count for state aid, school officials have said.
Central Regional has five sending towns - Berkeley Township, Ocean Gate, Island Heights, Seaside Heights and Seaside Park. Voters in Berkeley Township and Seaside Park defeated the tax levy portion of the budget on April 27 by a 106 vote margin.
Four of the towns - Berkeley, Island Heights, Ocean Gate and Seaside Heights originally agreed to zero cuts in the budget.
But Seaside Park municipal officials held out for much more. They originally suggested $3 million in cuts. It was a number none of the other four towns could live with. Seaside Park later came down to $1.5 million in cuts, then down to $815,239.
Newly-elected board member Tracy Mianulli - who holds the Seaside Park seat - said she had tried to talk with borough officials about the budget over the past several weeks.
"My kids are here," she said. "About 40 of our kids are here. We are very happy here. Unfortunately, there is a bigger issue at hand. I am here and I do support Central Regional. We are going to try and work something out."
The budget voters turned down called for the elimination of 11 employees, including nine teachers and two buildings and grounds employees. Freshman sports and home economics classes were also cut.
Central schools Business Administrator/ Board Secretary Kevin O'Shea said it was too soon to determine where additional personnel or programs would be cut.
"It's too big a number to digest in one week," O'Shea said after the meeting.
The board did receive one resignation and one retirement over the past week, "painless cuts" which could help, he said.
Board members Susan Cowdrick, who holds the Island Heights seat; Stephanie Jensen, who holds the Ocean Gate seat; Graichen and Robert Ray, who holds a Berkeley Township seat, voted no on the resolution.
Schools Superintendent Triantafillos "Tom" Parlapanides noted that 89 percent of the district's budget is funded by taxpayers. Central Regional receives only 11 percent in state aid, far lower than other neighboring districts.
Jose Deer
12:11 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
Everett with the YES vote !!!......why all the long faces, property taxes are going DOWN !!!!!
but let me get this correct......bunch of crybabies are complaining and blaming Seaside park and YET they refuse to let them leave Central Regional.......MAKES NO SENSE , except when you put they want their money into the equation , then it makes perfect sense.....cant have it both ways !!!
better get used to this.....next up get rid of that mayor Varano......and then 2012 is coming quicker than you think, its going to be a bigger messer all throughout NJ......that should be good for OVER $1 MILLION in cuts
VIVA SEASIDE PARK !
Seaside River
8:12 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
Enjoy another FREE day of education at Toms River. Soon you'll be paying the millions to us. Have a great day kicking off your summer on your smoke-free beach!
skizma
6:50 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
NO - YOU IDIOTS take your TAX anger out on kids!!! YOU ARE ALL STUPID - GO AHEAD, VOTE ON THE LOCAL, COUNTY AND STATE BUDGETS - Let me know how you make out!!! THERE's where they will hear you voice! But, you idiots fall for this FARCE, this distraction. The SMART A.....D POLITICIANS GOT YOU OFF THEIR BACKS AND LET YOU VOTE ON THE SCHOOL BUDGETS. YOU TAKE ALL YOUR FRUSTRATIONS AND BLAB TO THE SCHOOL BOARDS AND IT GETS YOU NOWHERE. You vote like idiots. And what's worse, it shows this is a town of stupidity. People are selfish and that's not the type of community anyone worthwhile wants to live in. Lousy neighbors like Jose Deer are all you get. Selfish idiots. common JOSE How much are your property taxes going down? What will you buy? another six pack?
skizma
6:55 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
OH Yeah Jose, how much DO YOU NOT KNOW? 11% of berkeley's budget comes from state aid. 11% LOOK around you stupid. READ and figure out what the other ADJOINING DISTRICTS GET. YOUR BIG MOUTH OUGHT TO BE IN TRENTON SCREAMING ABOUT THE FUNDING FORMULA. Oh, yeah, that would mean you would have to figure it out and do the math. Toms River was 40% funded by the state. Central is 11%. Look at Jackson, Manchester, Lacy....Lacy gets MORE than Central. Look and learn you idiot. It's NOT the budget or our spending per pupil that's out of line.....IT'S THE STATE FUNDING that's out of line! You are an idiot...again, the state let's you VOTE on the budget knowing FULL WELL idiots like you will NOT know what you are doing and what you are voting on. IT"S THE FUNDING! and shame on this Patch site. Somewhere they ought to show the people EXACTLY what the problem is. Two identical budgets can and are totally different with state aid. KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!
no_money_left
6:57 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
I would like to thank the 5 that voted YES to approve the $815,239 reduction in the budget. Regardless if it was reluctant or not – you did perform the action the voters asked for when they voted NO to the budget. I don’t live in SP, but am pleased that they continued to push for budget cuts – which each property tax payer in the Central Regional district will benefit from.
Sooner or later we all need to make cuts – painful as it is.
On the positive side – at least the budget didn’t have to go to the state where it could have been reduced even more.
skizma
6:58 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
Last line of the article MENTIONS, just mentions the 11% funding. Lousy article. Teach the people...INFORM them Patch. Common.......!!! TELL the people the real reason why all this happens. But....Jose...where's your big mouth on the supreme court's decision.....go to trenton and tell them YOU are sick of paying for something you get NOTHING from. NOTHING. You just don't see it in your Real estate tax bill. You are just stupid again. 500 mil....no biggy huh Jose?
skizma
7:00 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
t hurts the Central Regional head count for state aid, school officials have said. READ Jose.....it's true. STATE AID is BS in this district. It's lousy.....And for the central board....get RID of Park. We're paying sadly now. It will only make the school better and get rid of the detractors. We'll live.
June
7:50 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
Hay Jose, your really having fun running that sick mouth of yours,only we the people don't buy what your selling.Thank you,Skizma for giving Jose an open eye view what Seaside Pk real intentions are. But,it was a waste of time, Jose is toooooo blind or should I say tooooo stupid at this point to be reached.As for the people that have express such joy,shame on you also. The end results factor here will be a worse hardship than you can possiblely imagine. What price did our Kids education pay here with all the cuts yet to be made. And the foolishness not to know what that Abbot District is doing to us,where are all those know it all's who should have been supporting the efforts to rectifythat situation.
George
8:58 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
There is also the fact that our tax dollars are funding to seperate systems.
Much needed aid is being denied because money is being diverted to
Charter Schools. The School Finance Reform Act of 2008 was enacted so there
would not be 580 regular schools districts plus the 31 "Abbout Districts".
It was to be fully funded so money would to go to all Districts with a poor (financialy)
student population. When this did not happen.... bingo the lawyers were back in court
and we got the ruling earlier in the week. Two interesting pieces were in the Star-Ledger
on Thursday, one by Bob Braum and one byPaul Mushine gave a decent account of
what was going on behind the scenes by opposing sides.
Jose Deer
8:42 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
Good to see we now have the public leeches attention !!......enjoy your 2 month summer vacation (which no one in the private sector in the history of mankind has ever had) and hope it goes as slow as possible as when its over, 2012 will be even more of a problem budget.....
skizma
6:58 pm on Friday, May 27, 2011
You know what jose.....wrong again. The state employees have LOTS of days off per year. Put that together and they also get over 2 months a year...most get 3. you really don't know what you are talking about. you are just wrong. Nothing else. Public sector....you have no idea. sounds like you've never worked.....
George
9:15 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
Not all that accurate there are Exec's out there.
Leeches:
One that preys on or clings to another; a parasite.
One that expects to get their children educated in
another District without paying for it.
I am sure the teachers would give up at least (4) of those weeks
of so called vacation. The problem you would have is you would
be paying them more. I think they are (10) month employees or
are employeed for the nunber of school days that the state says a
public school must be open. If they increase the amount of days it
they would want to be compensated.
Missy on Onyx
9:21 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
And speaking of leeches you in Seaside Park should know a lot about that! I can't wait to see how much your taxes will continue to increase when the 6 million SSP owes Toms River comes due. And it will. And as far as two months off, you should've worked in the public sector or saved your vacation time and had two months off in the summer. Stop the jealousy. Just because you made poor career choices there is no need to spew hate. Again, can't afford the house? Shouldn't have bought it!I guess you feel you deserve not to pay taxes as well because you have million-dollar homes? Typical. While you send your kids to my town for free..SSP and there sense of entitlement. And you have the audacity to call others leeches.
Jose Deer
9:45 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
sure people shouldnt have bought a house in the 70s , so they can lose it now to the public leeches ,
and that goes for all of them , teachers , cops, politicians , local , county and state employees, ALL OF THEM !
This post is the TALKING POINTS post for the public pigs .......JEALOSUSY, POOR CHOICES, SHOULDNT HAVE BOUGHT HOUSE.....basically everything except couldnt get in calling us racists
GET LOST !! Its not going to work any more , taxpayers are sick of it
George
9:47 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
Dude, have some decaf. You just got your wish budget cuts and all.
Cussing out people only solidifies their opinions of you.
John Anderson
9:34 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
Once again Seaside Park saved the day!
-A Berkeley Resident
John J Anderson
George
10:05 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
The Park could care less if they saved the day for you.
Do you know what your taxes would be if the Park was allowed to crawl
out of the contract and their obligation to be in the Central Regional School system?
Not just them but any of the sending districts?
They would rather you pay for the education of their children.
Missy on Onyx
10:09 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
You get lost DEER. You know I'm right. Now go and leave with your tail between your legs you miserable piece of crap.
Jose Deer
10:40 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
no Missy on Oxy, you are LEFT !
John Anderson
11:38 am on Friday, May 27, 2011
I think Seaside Park should be allowed to leave the district. If it was really about the children there is no logical reason they should be bused 45 mins away past other (Much better schools) to attend Central.
The same goes for there is no logical reason South Seaside Park should be part of mainland Berkeley or Ortley Beachshould be part of Toms River. But then again this would all be too much common sense in NJ.
George
8:33 pm on Friday, May 27, 2011
Other schools that did not want them when they had to join the Central Regional School district.
If you are complaining about taxes now which you have wait until one of the sending districts
leaves.
skizma
7:03 pm on Friday, May 27, 2011
But Deer, you are wrong. Period. Again....get some guts....go to trenton, face the REAL politicians and tell them what you think of the school funding. You may not be able to understand it, but, bottom line, it stinks. You basically just don't know how it works. And, the state wants people like you, dumb dumbs, who fall for the VOTE on your school budget PLOY so to get you off THEIR backs. Well, we need someone like YOU DEER ON their backs. Put all that obstinance to good use....go get 'em Deer....go get 'em.
Denise Van Sant
11:01 pm on Saturday, May 28, 2011
Gee Whiz Skizma - you seem a little nutty. I think that Seaside Park should be able to go - I would want my kids to go to Toms River, not because I think it is a better school - just because of the travel time. I'm glad the budget was defeated, the earlier budget that passed for the millions of dollars worth of work on the Central Schools shouldn't have passed either. We need to make cuts. It is unfortunate about the 11% - you are right that is an issue that must be addressed.
skizma
7:45 am on Monday, May 30, 2011
Gee Whiz? It would be nice to just get rid of you folks, period. toms River would love your ratables. Now that Ritacco is gone, it may end up much less a good deal than you all anticipated. You have NO idea how it will turn out in the end. If travel is your only gripe, I have no problem with that. I always thought it was dumb you were part of Central to begin with. But, we had nothing to do with the stupidity of that decision when it was made. You live there and are fully aware of the situation. Our problem is you making the situation everyone elses problem. Like the two year old who doesn't like loosing so he kicks the winner in the shins. OK.....go. Leave.
Gretta
11:39 am on Monday, May 30, 2011
We, in TR don't want you Seaside Park; unless we get your ratables. TWO year of FREE education on our dime - it's time to pay up.
George
8:38 am on Sunday, May 29, 2011
If the bond issue vote did not take place where were you getting the money to make
the much needed and long overdue repairs to the roof, building and property?
If you think your taxes are high now wait and see what would happen if the sending
districts were allowed to leave or renege on their contract with the school district.
The sending districts knew what they were getting into when they formed the Regional District.
It looks like they were too small to build their own H.S's and at that time no place to send the students.
June
10:34 am on Sunday, May 29, 2011
Denise,perhaps you should move to Toms River than it won't be your problem anymore, if in fact is only the travel time that is worry some to you. This way you will get your tax dollars worth and not be lineing up with the rest of the bellying aching cry babies of trying to get even. Shame on those so call adults who live in up town houses on the beach side wanting to feel that they are being mistreated with the Revaluation. Thank goodness the people in Toms River caught on to the crook that made that free ride for you and your school tax money can now go where it was intended, Berkeley. If you can't leave that home of yours, why not try sending them in a Cab might even be tax deductible. You just never know lol
skizma
7:45 am on Monday, May 30, 2011
absolutely....
Denise Van Sant
5:13 pm on Sunday, May 29, 2011
Gee June, you're awfully mean....
And what's not my problem anymore? I don't have a problem. Some of you are downright frothing at the mouths over this issue. It's because it's for the kids.....right? LOL!
skizma
7:52 am on Monday, May 30, 2011
Mean? And gee Whiz? You must think you are June Cleaver? Good grief. "You're awfully mean"? You must be kidding....and as you would have a hard time seeing anyone else's view....yes it is for the kids education......in a system where, in every state, everyone pays for the education of the youth in their communities. Sort of like how you were educated. You were educated weren't you? Our parents paid for your education just as we all pay for every child's education. It's the concept of being part of a community. Or did you miss that class? Move south, there's the only place you'll truly find it cheaper.
George
7:38 pm on Sunday, May 29, 2011
Great lesson for the children when you sign a contract make sure you know what is in it
then honor it until it can be legally be adjusted. No frothing at the mouth just laughter.
Nothing is free in this world without strings attached. No more strings now so T.R.
wants to be compensated for educating the Parks children and so far the courts want
the Park to abide by their responsibility to support the CR District it as simple as that.
June
7:20 am on Monday, May 30, 2011
Could care less of what you like or dislike about my comments, you sure right on one thing, yes its for all the kids that attend Berkeley Schools and Central Reg. that you are cheating out of funds that could dam well be use . Your are definately correct I'm mean when it comes to education of our kids and their future . You make me sick,go put your head in the sand and find a sand crab to impress. It doesn't work for me,Denise
Gretta
11:48 am on Monday, May 30, 2011
TR is going to be compensated starting Sept. 1 but right now they still get FREE trans and education to our school - and summer time sports & trans, etc will also be supplied for FREE. TR BOE, how is SSP getting away with this?
Clean slate, please address special ed & trans costs that better be issued and how about retro pay? Why are the people of TR picking up the bill for these spoiled brats? This whole situation is not normal.
Nothing ever comes free in life, there is something dirty about this SSP thing.
Jose Deer
1:15 pm on Monday, May 30, 2011
why do you call children spoiled brats....because they have a house in seaside park?.....your bias and jealousy are showing right thru you......you are disgusting
skizma
6:02 am on Tuesday, May 31, 2011
SSP really does NOT pay to go to TR? That' s just illegal.....no one can go to another district for free. The districts have tuition amounts they set and charge for out of district students. What is up with that?
Denise Van Sant
11:55 am on Monday, May 30, 2011
June & Skizma - my guess is you live in the same house - nut house that is. Neither of you is able to engage in reasonable discourse over this issue. You can not even tolerate the argument that it is a long trip for those kids and that the people paying the taxes should have some say in where their kids go to school. Your comments are riddled with personal insults and nastiness toward anyone that disagrees.
I understand we need the money that the Seaside residents pay - that is quite obvious however, you really need to think about these issues with a little bit of objectivity. June , you didn't even get my joke about "it's for the kids". That's the line we always here from the teachers & school board members when we are asked to pass a budget. It really isn't "for the kids". It is for the bloated bureaucracy and waste that embodies our public school system.
If either of you are teachers, I'm even more worried about our schools.
Seaside River
5:41 pm on Monday, May 30, 2011
If Seaside Park residents would just follow the law as every other town - we wouldn't be having this upsetting discussion.
SSP residents are spoiled brats - not the children. The adults are the ones with the law suits, not the kids. You knew the school district your children would go to when you bought your house and now you want it changed because it's not convenient for you. Pick your fight with the state for funding and do what every other town does and GO TO YOUR OWN SCHOOL DISTRICT.
skizma
6:02 pm on Monday, May 30, 2011
absolutely.
Jose Deer
7:00 pm on Monday, May 30, 2011
Seaside Park DID follow the LAW....they voted NO for the school budget and then voted for CUTS in the bloated school budget......there isatleast another $2 million in cuts that need to be made (hopefully in 2012).....they followed the law, even though it was stacked up against them and you are just not happy with the outcome
June
5:52 pm on Monday, May 30, 2011
I worry about you Denise and the pea brain you are working with shows how much the salt air has affected you. . You are clueless and purely need a reality check,for sure if you are pretenting to be an adult omg you missed the boat. Don't waste your time go look for the sand feas they are more your level.
Sure hope you enjoy getting your witchy feathers ruffuled. it made my day Thanks Skizma for your imput
skizma
6:02 pm on Monday, May 30, 2011
OK Denise, then you must also then agree with school vouchers as well as school choice. I totally, 100% agree with school choice. We have family living in another state that has public school choice. Any school - your children can go to. I totally agree about SSP's travel....ridiculous. But I didn't make the laws. Saying NO to the budget does NOT address the problem, or change where SSP kids go to school, or the issue or the funding etc., on and on. SSP has a long battle at hand. Something has to change. NJ is behind the times with its funding out of realestate. It just doesn't work. NJ is stuck in a rut.....
Gretta
7:50 pm on Monday, May 30, 2011
SSP does not follow the law. They voted no on a school budget that their kids don't even go to - why are you able to vote for that school if you do not attend? You go to Toms River.
The spoiled brats are the adults. Your selfishness has hurt thousands of students - TR and Central students suffer because of your greed. How does SSP get away with this? They do not vote on TR budgets, there is no Board member from SSP at our board meetings. Why can't you follow the law like every other town in NJ?
Jose Deer
8:28 pm on Monday, May 30, 2011
you cannot be serious....perhaps because they have the highest property taxes in the district , they derserve a little say in how their money is wasted
skizma
6:05 am on Tuesday, May 31, 2011
OMG....you hit the nail on the head. They should now have NO vote in Central's budget since they don't even go to that district! Gees this is more annoying than it should be. WHO the HECK (other word would be preferred) is ALLOWING this? Gees....Sorry Jose....they also have the highest income to pay for those houses....gees, quit trying to get everything your way. Pay like the rest of everyone else does. You want to leave and DO leave, for free, you loose your say. Highest property taxes......highest priced home and highest income to go along......
Gretta
8:58 pm on Monday, May 30, 2011
Now we FINALLY agree Deer. You should absolutely have a say in their money and how it is wasted BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE SSP STUDENTS SCHOOL IS - Central Regional. Not Toms River - you do not vote on my school budget.
So why are you coming to my school for FREE? Please answer why you are the ONLY town in the WHOLE state of NJ that is allowed to go any other public school you feel like?
Jose Deer
10:21 pm on Monday, May 30, 2011
you shouldnt have followed the superintendant like the sheep you all in TR apparently are.....so much nepotism it will make your head spin and yet no one does/did a thing about it....even put his name up in big letters on the arena......WOW !!....and then you allow the old board to remain and move the assistant super right into the top spot....and after all of this, you all still pass the school budget.........talk about foolish
Stop worrying about seaside park so much, actually why are you (and others here) worrying about seaside park
skizma
6:06 am on Tuesday, May 31, 2011
You are absolutely right Gretta! absolutely.....
Seaside River
9:25 pm on Monday, May 30, 2011
The feds or the state should investigate this.
skizma
6:10 am on Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Well Jose...the budget defeated by approx 100 votes. Get rid of the SSP votes, for and probably all against, and it would have passed. That's it. They are saying NO to a school budget they don't even use, they are saying NO because they want to get OUT of the district. That NO budget vote doesn't get them out of the district. They wreak havoc on everyone else. It's like the two year old who doesn't like the way the game is going and flips the whole thing upside down. Spoiled. They spoil everything for everyone else. That's why.
Gretta
8:22 pm on Tuesday, May 31, 2011
TR BOE or Patch please investigate this. Even Jose Deer, the SSP resident admits we(TR) should not worry about Seaside Park - so why is TR? Get these students out of our schools and back into their own district - or another town's district. Enough already.