Midland Park April 15, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 7 Five residents are running for the four available seats on the Midland Park Board of Education, but only the twoyear unexpired term is contested. The election is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, with the polls open from 2 to 9 p.m. At that time voters will also decide the fate of the 2009-10 school budget. Vying for the unexpired term of trustee Joan Vandervliet, who resigned soon after being re-elected and died last month, are Michael Hahn and Maryalice Thomas-Hagerty. Hahn, a former board member, has been serving on the board as an appointed trustee since Vandervliet’s resignation. Thomas-Hagerty is making her first bid for elective office. The incumbent trustees, Paula Lein, Robert Schiffer and William Sullivan, are running unopposed. Hahn pointed out that while the board has been providing the best education possible for the children of the community, revenues are definitely down, including “flat state aid”, a reduction in tuition from the HIP/SHIP program and other out of district students. “In order to offset the reduction of revenues we have worked very hard to reduce our expenses for the 2009-2010 budget to not directly affect the education we provide to our students,” Hahn said. “A sample of the reductions/cuts In Home Unexpired term is only contested seat on board from the budget are: 20 percent reduction in administration positions; 15 percent reduction in supplies; No capital improvements budgeted; and $20K savings in transportation costs achieved by re-acquiring outsourced bus routes.” Hahn works for a national technology solutions provider and is active in the town recreation programs as a basketball and softball coach. A parishioner of Church of the Nativity, he is a member of the High School PTA, Performing Arts Parents (PAPS) and the Booster’s Association. Thomas-Hagerty called the proposed 2009-10 budget “outstanding,” and was the only candidate to address directly the Villadom Times’ question of what retrenchment options she would recommend that would not have a direct impact on the students’ education: “Our goals and mission statement are to have our students meet their education goals in conjunction with the NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards. … We need to keep our academic programs strong so as we can help students develop their full potential and allow them to be competitive in the 21st century. With that, it pains me to suggest cuts that would not have a direct effect on students’ education. I would probably consider cuts in extra curricular activities. Midland Park is operating on a bones budget as it is. We don’t have the luxury of cutting things like courtesy and late busing. We don’t have the luxury of cutting a 3rd section of a desired AP course, when we only have one section and it needs to remain,” she said. “Another area of painful cuts is within the physical plant. If you look carefully, our schools could benefit from additional maintenance - some genuine sprucing, repairing and cleaning. However, beyond safety and security maintenance, maintenance would have to be curtailed. “Lastly, before cutting student academic programs, I would probably consider reducing the amount of staff development provided by the district. I would encourage our board to look to development that would not incur travel, substitutes or other significant fees,” she concluded. Thomas-Hagerty holds a doctorate from Seton Hall University and is a student assistance counselor with the Randolph Township Schools in Morris County. A lifelong borough resident and Midland Park High School graduate, she is currently the chairperson of the Midland Park Municipal Alliance Committee, and the corresponding secretary for the MP Junior Football Cheerleading Association. She is member of the Midland Park EPTA and high school PTA, the Church of the Presentation in Upper Saddle River, (continued on page 21) PERSONAL TRAINING • Flexible Scheduling • Nutrition Guidance • Sports Specific Training • Men, Women, Children & Couples With Brad PIEKARSKY & ASSOCIATES, LLC Attorneys at Law • • • • • Municipal Court Superior Court Special Civil Court Small Business Representation Real Estate BK BOOKKEEPING & PAYROLL SERVICE, LLC Lose 20 lbs in 10 Weeks Insured Degreed & Certified For Free Consultation call: TONE UP/LOSE FAT/ FEEL GREAT Call for a free consultation 201-560-5000  QUICKBOOKS PRO SPECIALISTS Servicing All Small Businesses Phone: 973-423-0303 Fax: 973-423-3131 bkbookpay@optonline.net Annmarie Breeman • Nancy Kough  201-925-0381 191 Godwin Ave, Ste. 9, Wyckoff, NJ 07481 4-15-09 pat/janine