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Opportunity Lost on a Divided Community
The September 26th BOE meeting began with a sense
of deep division within our community and ended with
that division even wider. I am sure I was not the only
person who left the meeting with a deep sense of despair.
How could such a simple issue cause such consternation?
The
division centers on the incredibly stubborn position
taken by Superintendent of Schools Richard Brodow and
his blunt refusal to provide alternative options to
his $40.2 million 'all or none' bond referendum.
The referendum is tentatively scheduled for voter approval
in December.
Despair because…
-
I watched as the two opposing
groups went at it all evening with absolutely no resolution
or consummation
of the issues;
-
I watched as Brodow forfeited a grand
opportunity to work as conciliator and bring the two
factions together
but instead chose to sit and watch as the situation
deteriorated;
-
I have now learned that filming of
the children at the middle school and high school,
which
is intended
as an emotional promotional tool to be aired on
the Internet, was facilitated with Brodow's
personal approval. Shortly after his arrival in Millburn
he
implemented a similar, emotion-based program to
garner votes — namely, the 'Remember the Children'
banners.
-
Mr.
Brodow is crediting the Long Range Planning Committees
with coming up with the proposed construction program
and distancing himself from it.
At the meeting, Brodow
had a golden opportunity to bring the factious groups
together — providing greater
assurances that the referendum or whatever program
the community was free to choose, would pass and
elevating his credibility within the community
in the process.
I hope I am wrong, but that opportunity appears
all but lost.
Alfred Mazzorana
37 Hobart Ave.
October 6, 2005
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