Resident comments regarding currently proposed school bond referendum

Corinne Errico, Hartshorn

"As a former board member I want a bond proposal that I can support. My message to the the Millburn Board of Education is simple: Come back with a better plan."

Abby Kalan, Wyoming

"As a parent of three children who attended the Millburn schools K-12 and a former school board member, I cannot support a $40 million bond referendum that will create schools so large that academic excellence may be compromised. Although the school board has refused to present to the public any other solutions with cost projections, board members and citizens have a responsibility to consider and evaluate all of the alternatives that will result in a solution that not only houses our students, but also enhances their academic experience while meeting our community's economic constraints."

Hans Ephraimson, Glenwood

"WeLoveMillburn.com made me aware that our community is faced with an impending decision about how to guide our school system through this current population bubble. As a parent of 2 and soon to be 3 school aged children and a town resident of 15 years I always assumed the school board was in control of the situation and had the best interest of the community at heart. After having attended my first school board meeting ever and reading through the facts, I am faced with the reality that the school board's current proposal and supporting bond referendum are the wrong way to go. My eyes have been opened and unfortunately I now see that the faith I placed in our school board has historically not been warranted."

Mark and Danielle Speckhart, Deerfield

"We both grew up in town and now have two children who will shortly go to the Deerfield School. Nothing is more important to us than education but we like many others are really beginning to question whether or not the School Board has seriously considered or shared options that might be equally or more effective than those currently proposed. We have both signed the petition at WeLoveMillburn.com, because we strongly believe that the residents of this community deserve to see more than one option when it comes to something so critical to our educational system and to the financial strength of our town."

David Graziano, Hartshorn

"As a father of an incoming Kindergartner, my wife and I are products of these schools and returned here to raise our daughter. We are big believers in the Millburn system of schools, but we don't believe that 'super-sizing' an award-winning Middle school reflects the personal touch that has been a hallmark of our system... and early adolescence is the worst time to have kids in a less supervised environment. Before we take another incremenatal step, double our indebtedness for schools and make them less effective, I'd like to see other options and understand where this is leading. We deserve a better plan"

Mike Becker, Hartshorn

"We are 30 year residents of the Hartshorn area and empty nesters now, but our two grandchildren in town will attend Deerfield School. Is the town I love out of control? 60% of the residents either have children out of school or send their kids to private school. But with talk of a $40 million dollar school bond issue, a multi million dollar new town hall building, skyrocketing taxes, over 100 houses for sale today, now even the younger families are terribly concerned. We signed the petition at WeLoveMillburn.com to show us more options.

Jeffrey J. Diecidue, Hartshorn

"The school Board's proposed referendum is a classic instance of merely throwing more money at every so-called issue that arises in the school system, without first providing carefully laid out alternative plans and their attendant costs. We are being asked to shoulder the entire cost burden without previously promised state aid — adding another $40 million in debt, increasing our school-related debt load to over $80 million — which will cause our already high tax rates to soar, but which will not advance this school system's quality of education."

Liz O'Brien, Glenwood

"To me it is simply a matter of trust. The Board has demonstrated that they are quite capable of making big mistakes in their decision making with our tax dollars. At the outset, I do not trust that the demographic data that they have relied upon is accurate. I do not believe that a town with a finite housing stock can keep growing as they have predicted. The Board should be offering a flexible plan to address the peak population for the short term. The debt service and operational costs of their proposal will have a long term negative impact on the town without a commensurate educational benefit. I have children in elementary, middle and high school and I will not support the bond referendum as proposed."

Susan Putman, Glenwood

"Our schools desperately need upgrading. But, have we fully considered all of the options? If the majority of residents in our town felt that the board had FULLY considered all of the options available, they might be willing to listen to the story as to why we need this much money. But, given the BOE's arrogant attitude and the impression that they have WHATEVER funds they need for ANY given project they choose, people will not listen but choose to leave the town they love. If you love this town, make the BOE justify their decisions. Ask them the hard questions. See if they have any solid answers. It's your money they're spending."

Ralph Inglese, Hartshorn

"WeLoveMillburn.com made me aware of major financial decisions currently being made by the Board of Education to address crowding at the Middle School and High School. As a result, I attended the Board of Education meeting on May 23rd and was shocked at the Board's lack of consideration of alternatives that can be more flexible, less disruptive and less costly. I'm a parent of elementary and middle school students in town and I want to see those alternatives explored by the Board before I'm asked to vote on a $40 million bond referendum."

Edward and Louise Moos, Hartshorn

"As a 26 year resident of Millburn and a Senior Citizen I am very concerned about the $40 million bond referendum. I think it will raise taxes to the breaking point, and not be the best solution for the problem."

Tad Nacheff, Glenwood

"As a Glenwood parent, I am concerned about the Board's inflexible building plan. The Board has shown that they cannot forecast school building needs and I urge citizens to vote against the bond and to support WeLoveMillburn.com."

Daniel and Jennie Graves, Hartshorn

"We care very much about the township's schools but we also believe that the Board of Education needs to consider and share all the options with the community. WeLoveMillburn.com is an important source to increase awareness of the issues and ensure every voter's voice is heard both now and when a referendum comes up for a vote."

Alfred Mazzorana, Glenwood

"I've lived in Short Hills 24 years and I was a member of the Middle School-Long Range Planning Committee. Our committee's report directed the BOE to provide cost-effective alternative solutions to facility needs at our Middle School. The BOE has instead approved an expensive $40+ million one-solution plan with no backup plan should the referendum fail. Being a financial analyst for 26 years, I feel I can say with some degree of authority that this is a case of poor planning at its worst and does not bode well for either our taxpayers or students.

Coupled with this disappointment, I am further dismayed by the unprecedented drop in our schools' national standing. Millburn HS has dropped out of the top 100 schools in the nation — from number 63 to 147 — in national AP standing. We're now told these scores don't matter.

I welcomed the opportunity to submit my signature to the ‘WeLoveMillburn' website and decided not to support the BOE's current bond referendum as proposed because it provides no alternative cost-effective solutions. I encourage my neighbors and friends to review the issues, draw their own conclusions and consider doing the same in an effort to send a clear message to our BOE."

Doug Wetmore, Glenwood

"Our schools are a major factor why Millburn is a such desirable community in which to live, and in no small way contribute to our strong real estate values. We must address the issue of the growing student population, but the current School Board proposal is both costly and ill-conceived. I support WeLoveMillburn.com in its efforts to pursue all viable options to achieve our community's educational objectives in a less costly, pragmatic manner."

Charles Pope Day, Jr., Hartshorn

"The result of these continuing policies of misdirection and waste have been disastrous to our Township! A plethora of its loyal long-term residents are being forced to leave in frighteningly increasing numbers due to this confiscatory tax load. New short-term residents arrive to replace them, planning promptly to depart when their children "outgrow" our subsidized school system. Irresponsible levels of bonded debt continue to project huge fixed and irreducible costs on the system, substantially shrinking the discretionary envelope for needed improvements specifically directed to education."

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