Millburn advocacy group points out the dilemma
residents face in deciding how to vote in the September 26th
$21 million School Bond Referendum.

Our community has been presented with a dilemma between a need to address crowding on the one hand, and construction that is costly, late, and possibly unnecessary on the other hand. The "all or nothing approach" makes things difficult for voters and for our group. But in spite of this dilemma, our organization, WeLoveMillburn, reminds all residents of Millburn to vote on this important issue.

Millburn, NJ — September 12, 2006 — Many residents feel compelled to vote Yes for the September 26th School Bond Referendum because “we’ve got to do something."

Many other residents will vote No against the bond because they believe "we're addressing a temporary student enrollment problem with a permanent solution that can be solved less expensively and on a more timely basis."

School administrators tell us our schools need more space and we want to give our educational professionals the benefit of the doubt.

But some information does raise questions as to the need for this large a referendum at this time without the benefit of a better-developed, long-term, strategic plan for the sake of the children and the community.

WeLoveMillburn, recognizes that there are two sides of the argument and believes it is in the best interest of the community to present the facts we do have so voters can make a decision on Tuesday September 26th at the polls.

Therefore, next week on the WeLoveMillburn.com website and also published in a full page message Thursday in the local newspaper, the organization will give the facts that are available "for" and "against" the bond.

But even before WeLoveMillburn publishes the available facts, here is the main reason to vote "for" the new bond: It could be cheaper to build now than to try to add another addition later. For example, if a second floor had been added on to the previous Middle School addition, there would have been less space pressure today. Building now can be an insurance policy against the possibility of rising enrollment in the future. Because projecting future enrollment growth is inexact, voters may wish to trust that our Board and Administration are doing the right thing.

Here is the main reason to vote "against" the new bond: If increased enrollment is a temporary problem, history teaches that the Administration will not reduce spending when enrollment declines, debt service cost escalates, the number of employees increases and the student/teacher ratio declines. Spending has been high already without a corresponding benefit to our children’s education. Educational excellence is and has been our District’s standard, but such excellence can be maintained with less construction and lower spending.

As difficult as this decision will be, based on the facts in hand, it is important that all residents vote. The polls will be open Tuesday, September 26th from 7am until 9pm.

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Previous press release on same topic.

 

Millburn advocacy group defers making recommendation
on $21 million School Bond Referendum.

Members of WeLoveMillburn state they need more time to study the answers provided to their three questions posed to the Millburn Board of Education and the School District Administration on July 10th.

Millburn, NJ — August 14, 2006 — While the advocacy group thanks Superintendent of Millburn Schools Richard Brodow for providing his perspective and ideas in addressing the questions, his answers highlighted a number of new issues requiring further diligence by the group.

Ralph Inglese, President of WeLoveMillburn said, "we believe the three questions posed by our organization and the responses offered by Superintendent Brodow are a critical step in having the community go into the upcoming bond referendum with its eyes open."

WeLoveMillburn members were surprised by Superintendent Brodow's disclosure, for the first time, that

1. the High School and Middle School will require the use of modular classrooms to house children during construction, and



2. the realistic possibility that an elementary school may need to be closed when enrollments decline as birth rate trends and the Administration's own enrollment projections suggest.

"Discussing the possibility of modular construction and school closings, as well as ways to control the budget if enrollment declines, should have been addressed by the administration well in advance of the bond referendum and may not have even been mentioned at all if not for the insistence of the community," states WeLoveMillburn Chairman Mike Becker.

In addition, Superintendent Brodow's response lacks appropriate benchmarks or measurable standards against which the community can hold the Board and Administration accountable in the future. Although WeLoveMillburn is pleased to see an effort to specify minimum class sizes, the group believes the Board of Education should codify these numbers into district policy. Further, Superintendent Brodow's response provides no specifics as to student-teacher ratios or administrator-teacher ratios that the District will seek to maintain.

WeLoveMillburn understands and takes seriously the assessment in the Superintendent's January 5, 2006 report that enrollment numbers over the next three years at the Middle School and High Schools will increase by up to 60 and 220 students, respectively, and that these increases arguably require additional classroom capacity during the next several years. However, WeLoveMillburn continues to assess the duration of these enrollment increases in light of declining birth rate trends. WeLoveMillburn also continues to consider whether building 10 classrooms at the Middle School and 15 classrooms at the High School are the most efficient and least-disruptive alternatives available for addressing these predicted enrollment increases.

We encourage members of the community to read Superintendent Brodow's response to the group's questions, to attend the next Board of Education meeting on August 22nd and to ask follow-up questions. We believe that the Administration and the Board must act expeditiously and urgently to make further disclosures and analyses well in advance of the September 26 Bond Referendum so that all members of the community can have a fuller understanding of the proposals being made.

Previous press release on same topic.

Millburn, N.J. advocacy group keeps up pressure
on the School Board and Administration
regarding September school bond referendum.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Richard Brodow agreed, at a regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting held July 18th, to give the community thoughtful responses to 3 key questions posed by members of WeLoveMillburn.com on or before August 15th.

Millburn, NJ — July 18, 2006 — WeLoveMillburn.com, a local advocacy group, feels their 3 basic questions on accountability and planning need to be addressed now. They feel the questions are so important that, if the answers were satisfactory, everyone in the community would support the proposed $21 million construction bond scheduled for a vote September 26th.

Because this advocacy group was very involved in the defeat of last years $41 million school construction bond, the Administration and Board officials appear to be taking their questions quite seriously.

President of WeLoveMillburn.com Ralph Inglese stood up at the July 18th Board meeting and emphasized the importance of the 3 questions and requested a response by August 15th so that the community could review the answers before the next scheduled Board of Education meeting on August 22nd.

Superintendent of Schools Richard Brodow agreed to "put something together" by August 15th that could "form a basis" for further discussion, or a "working document." Brodow stated that although he could not bind the district over a several-year period, he would suggest general guidelines and recommendations for dealing with potentially declining enrollments and various teacher-student and administration-to-student ratios, but advised that such items would require Board of Education action. Brodow also said he would provide some concrete proposals for dealing with conditions at the Middle and High Schools during construction.

After the meeting, Ralph Inglese stated, "We are delighted that, for the benefit of the entire community and particularly the children, Dr. Brodow has agreed to make these questions a priority and to provide detailed responses to these key questions on or before August 15th. Addressing these critical issues is long overdue and we are looking forward to evaluating his responses along with the rest of the community."

For reference, below are the actual questions sent to Dr. Brodow and all members of the Board of Education on July 11th.

Immediate needs – question #1

Given that the proposed construction will not be completed until 2009, what are the Board’s and Administration’s specific plans for managing the crowding it claims will exist during the next three years at the Elementary, Middle and High Schools?

Accountability – question #2

Will the Board hold itself and the Administration accountable by ensuring that budgetary costs, now and in the future, will be based on measurable, objective criteria and benchmarks including: minimum class sizes, a fixed student/teacher ratio and a fixed student/administrator ratio?

Long term plan – question #3

Because student enrollment is likely to decline over the next several years as current birth rate trends suggest, will the Board and Administration publish now their specific future plans for the buildings in which the community is being asked to invest in including: closing schools as the Board did in the 1970’s and 1980’s, maintaining empty classrooms or schools, leasing out excess space, or using the excess space for new electives or to reduce class sizes?

In conclusion, Chairman of WeLoveMillburn.com Mike Becker states: "If the Board of Education gives good through answers to these 3 questions August 15th, everyone in town would vote YES in the September 26th School Bond Referendum".

WeLoveMillburn, Inc. is a non-profit, grassroots, informational organization made up of involved residents. This mission, as we have stated on our website at WeLoveMillburn.com, is to help all residents to be better informed about the issues that affect our community. We do this in a positive spirit of informing one another about what is happening, what is not happening and what is possible. We are all neighbors and this is our town.

For more information, please contact info@WeLoveMillburn.com or visit the website at www.WeLoveMillburn.com. 973-376 6705.

Millburn, New Jersey advocacy group insists on
more accountability and planning regarding
upcoming school bond referendum.

Members of WeLoveMillburn.com state: "If the Board of Education could give good answers to these 3 questions, everyone in town should vote YES in the September 26th School Bond Referendum".

Millburn, NJ — July 10, 2006 — Everyone in the community would support the proposed $21 million construction bond scheduled for a vote in September if the Board of Education and Administration were to ensure adherence to a fiscally responsible plan both now and in the future. One reason voters rejected the $40 million bond last December was because it was not fiscally responsible. Let’s not repeat the mistakes of the past. Below are the 3 questions we all need answers to.

Immediate needs – question #1

Given that the proposed construction will not be completed until 2009, what are the Board’s and Administration’s specific plans for managing the crowding it claims will exist during the next three years at the Elementary, Middle and High Schools?

Accountability – question #2

Will the Board hold itself and the Administration accountable by ensuring that budgetary costs, now and in the future, will be based on measurable, objective criteria and benchmarks including: minimum class sizes, a fixed student/teacher ratio and a fixed student/administrator ratio?

Long term plan – question #3

Because student enrollment is likely to decline over the next several years as current birth rate trends suggest, will the Board and Administration publish now their specific future plans for the buildings in which the community is being asked to invest in including: closing schools as the Board did in the 1970’s and 1980’s, maintaining empty classrooms or schools, leasing out excess space, or using the excess space for new electives or to reduce class sizes?

Conclusion

For the sake of the entire community, and particularly its children, WeLoveMillburn.com urges the Board and Administration to ensure fiscal responsibility now and in the future by answering these 3 questions.

WeLoveMillburn.com
July 5, 2006

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WeLoveMillburn, Inc. is a non-profit, grassroots, informational organization made up of involved residents. This mission, as we have stated on our website at WeLoveMillburn.com, is to help all residents to be better informed about the issues that affect our community. We do this in a positive spirit of informing one another about what is happening, what is not happening and what is possible. We are all neighbors and this is our town.

For more information, please contact info@WeLoveMillburn.com or visit the website at www.WeLoveMillburn.com.

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