Budget Passes; Cuccio, Smith and Poulas Win Seats

Jefferson voters easily approved a school budget Wednesday that will not raise the township’s taxes, and that school officials say keeps vital programs in tact.

The vote of 1277-857 (according to unofficial tallies) secures the approval of the $35,716,268 budget, which results in a tax rate of $1.28 per $100 of assessed valuation for calendar year 2011, no increase from 2010-2011. For a home assessed at the municipal average of $319,862, that means a familiar yearly bill of about $4,094 (not counting municipal and county taxes, which are set separately).

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Superintendent of Schools Kathaleen Fuchs has stated that, as long as the school budget was passed this year, no positions would be cut in the school district. In fact, four positions will be added as per state mandates. New classes, including American Sign Language, Advanced Placement Psychology, and Family and Consumer Science will be added to the curriculum. Roof repairs at the middle school and new windows for the Milton School are also included in this budget.

“We are absolutely thrilled that the budget has passed,” Fuchs said Wednesday night.

“We’d like to thank the community for their support, because this is really for the children of Jefferson,” said school board president Cynthia Scott.

, and won seats on the Board of Education, with unofficial totals of 878, 811 and 723 respectively.

Other candidates, in order of votes, were as follows:

• Melissa Heyboer-Senatore: 638
• Mark Krisinski: 508
• Kristine Blaha: 504
• Stacie Corrao: 397
• Richard Alheidt: 311
• Kerri J. Batche: 260
• James Hine: 151
• Paul Hartle: 148

“I am very happy, but this isn’t a one-man show,” Cuccio said. “I hope all the other candidates will continue to bring their great ideas to the table. I am especially thrilled that the budget passed.”

Cuccio is an attorney who was a member of the Board of Education from 2003 to 2006. He served on the negotiation and finance committees, and was vice president of the board.

“It was an interesting race from this side of the table,” Smith said. “I’m usually on the other side.”

Smith is a 33-year Jefferson resident who is employed as assistant superintendent for business at the Essex County Vocational School.

“I am thrilled to be serving with Mr. Cuccio and Mr. Smith, and I am so excited that the budget passed,” said Poulas. “We are a great community with a great school system, and I look forward to serving.”

Poulas is a teacher in the Kinnelon school district.