Vote ‘Yes’ on the Schools’ Referendum

The following was submitted to Patch by Sea Breeze resident Stephen Folkard.

LACEY, NJ — Full disclosure: I am a retiree and Sea Breeze resident of more than 11 years, with three grandchildren in the Lacey Township School system, and I am offering my point-of-view on the upcoming referendum in the hope of persuading you to vote in favor.

I am bewildered by the yellow signs that have appeared around town urging ‘No more $ for BOE’ as if the board is somehow pocketing tax dollars intended for schools. I am also disheartened by the volume of misinformation on social media. The Board’s responsibility is to adopt a budget that provides a ‘thorough and efficient education’ as required by state law, and facilities planning is included within their remit. Board members are unpaid and elected by the town’s citizenry, serving as intermediaries between the town and the district, and they are recommending a ‘Yes’ vote on the referendum.

The referendum asks voters to reconsider Question 1 of last March’ referendum. The funds will be used for urgently needed new roofs and HVAC repairs at the districts’ six schools. A total of $ 28.8 million will be raised via new bonds that will replace retiring bonds. The net budgetary impact to the town will be zero and the state will contribute a share of the capital investment and the ongoing debt service. Students and teachers are presently being asked to cope with leaking roofs and, in some buildings, classrooms without air conditioning and heating. This should be unacceptable to everyone and voting ‘Yes’ should be a no-brainer.

Arguments over the referendum, of course, preview another year of community anguish over the annual school budget. Last year’s budget asked many sacrifices of the school community: school bussing was cancelled for most students and teachers are being asked to deal with unwieldy classes: my 3rd grade grandson is in a classroom of over 30 students. Anybody trying to navigate Western Boulevard at 8am or 2.15pm has experienced the traffic congestion and danger to pedestrian students caused by the withdrawal of bussing.

School conditions do not seem to be ‘thorough or efficient’ and compare unfavorably with those enjoyed by our children and grandchildren in earlier times and in other parts of the state. Complainers want to blame ‘overpaid faculty’ but Lacey Schools’ salary bill per student is below the state average and a typical teacher earns about $ 80,000 per annum, with starting salaries less than $ 60,000, which does not seem overly generous.

Speakers at school board meetings often express concern for seniors and families on fixed incomes but these groups are often cushioned by state programs such as the Senior Freeze and Anchor programs. Yes, we should have concern for less-well-off members of the community but the remedies do not lie with the school district.

No one, of course, likes property tax increases but I believe that with transparency, dialogue, and a shared commitment to our youth we can make Lacey a community we can all be proud of. Well-regarded school systems help support property values.

Education is not a luxury; it is the cornerstone of a thriving, resilient municipality and we should stand united in support of our schools, the children of the town and their educators.

Yours truly,

Stephen Folkard