district highlights - Barnegat Township School District

voting on a Motion that will allow the Administration and the Board to have full access to the
policy company’s website to review all policies and immediately have access to the current
Board policies in case an Administrator needed the policy immediately for a school issue. We
think this is very important and this is really modern technology and it will really improve the
school system for us.
In regard to any supposed claimed vendetta in regard to a budget cut of $500,000, the
Committees for the Board of Education and the Township Committee looked at the issues raised
by the public. It was a clear case of making a clear fiscal decision on all fourteen items that we
were cutting that concerned, you, the public. In regard to the supposed possible $3.2 million that
was thrown out by the people, apparently they are not really concerned with affecting the quality
of education of the children. That number was raised in regard to the cost of busing in the
summer camps. That is what the state says is the issues and of course you all know what we did,
we voted to keep the summer camps by charging a nominal fee.
In regard to cutting any busing, we as a Board realized that we could not cut bussing without first
making sure that all the students were safe. This was an issue brought up in shared services
during the budget by the Township, but again we wanted to make sure the children would be
safe. So, we have had discussions with the Shared Services Committee, the Board of Education
and the Township and we will be having a discussion as a Board of Education on having a study
done on busing. So, any statements made by anyone about cutting the $3 million from budget or
making any additional budget cuts is only being done for political purposes, they are not for the
betterment of the children. Any additional cuts would have affected the quality of education of
our students. We, as a Board, clearly stated that we would not cut anything that would have
negatively affected the quality of education for students and we stuck to that statement.
In the next few months we will be setting up a Public Representation Committee to meet with the
public and get your input on issues regarding the school district and what we can do collectively
to make our school district the best that it can be.
In accordance with Board of Education policy, each participant must be recognized by the
preceding officer and must preface their comments by an announcement of their name, address
and group affiliation if appropriate. Your anticipated courtesy to the members of the public and
the Board is appreciated.
May I have a Motion to open the meeting to public comment?
Moved by Mrs. Sarno and seconded by Mrs. Becker
Mr. Falkowski: First by Mrs. Sarno and Second by Mrs. Becker. All in favor, aye. None
opposed.
Mr. Houser: Motion carried.
Barnegat Township Board of Education Minutes - June 10, 2008 17