School Board Elections Changed to November

In a move that will save the township about $16,500, there will no longer be a school board election in April in Jefferson Township. Instead, it will be moved to November and be held on the same day as the general election. Along with that, voters will no longer have the opportunity to vote on the school budget as long as it stays within the 2% cap that the state has imposed.

Governor Chris Christie signed a bill in January that gave school boards and towns the option to make this change, but gave each district only until Feb. 17 to make the decision.

The unanimously voted to change the election date at Wednesday night’s township council meeting after hearing commentary from members of the Board of Education present at the meeting.

“I’m completely in favor of this change because the way things are right now, we get very little input on what is basically a $60 million enterprise,” said member Frank Cuccio. “This election really shapes the direction of our schools, and we get very little participation.”

“I think this move will really encourage the school board to keep the budget within the 2% cap. They will have to think twice before going over that number,” said school board member Bob Feldmann.

The township council also felt the proposal was a good one.

“When I first heard that this was going to happen, a little voice in my head asked, ‘why did you wait so long’,” said council president Rick Yocum. “The whole system has not been good for voter participation.

“I also think that often, people wouldn’t voice their opinions on the budget at school board meetings because they just figured they could speak out at the voting booth by voting against the budget. I think that now people will be forced to voice their opinions more at meetings and become more involved in the process,” he added.

What do you think of the move? How do you feel about not being able to vote on the budget if it stays within the 2% cap? Tell us in the comments.