Midland Park April 14, 2010 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 3 Brian McCourt of Woodside Avenue is waging a writein campaign for a seat on the Midland Park Board of Education in next week’s election. Only two candidates filed for the three available seats, leaving the third spot to be filled at the polls through the write-in process. “That is good to hear. Brian is a good person. He will be a good addition to the board,” said board President Rich Venditti about McCourt’s candidacy. Venditti chose not to seek reelection this year after 12 years on the board. Trustee Wayne Roberts is also stepping down after completing his first term. Incumbent Sandra Criscenzo and newcomer Rich Formicola are the two candidates on the ballot. Also on the ballot will be the board’s operating budget of $18,570,806, of which $16,818,459 must be raised through taxation. Taxes on a house assessed at $300,000, the borough’s average, will be $6,005, an increase of $242 for school purposes only. The district saw a drop of $1,150,000 in state aid for next year, which prompted members of the Midland Park Education Association to agree to a salary freeze for the 2010-11 school year. A lifelong Midland Park resident and a graduate of Midland Park High School, McCourt is vice president and con- McCourt to run as write-in candidate in school election trolled for Spencer Savings Bank in Elmwood Park. Long active in sports, he is a past president of Midland Park Softball Association, served five years as vice president of the Midland Park Soccer Association and has coached softball, basketball and soccer for the in-town and travel programs. An avid runner who can often be seen in town and in neighboring towns, he has participated in about 25 marathons over the past 25 years. He and his wife, Janet, have three daughters, a college student, a junior at Midland Park High School, and a kindergartener. McCourt, who sought appointment to a vacant seat in 2008, said he did not file this year because he felt that his job responsibilities might have interfered and thought it was best to see if other qualified people would file. “Now that no one has filed, I believe that I can make time to serve. Also the information about the state aids cuts came after the filing deadline, which has also influenced my decision. I agree that cutting expenses is necessary, but the most important issue going forward is to maintain the integrity of our children’s education,” he said in a prepared statement. “I believe at this time fiscal responsibility of the schools’ expenses should be the most important area of concern, and the next couple of years are going to be very important. I have 25 years of experience in the banking, accounting and finance areas, which I believe is a very strong attribute in what a board member has to offer,” he said. Criscenzo is seeking her second full term on the board. A nine-year borough resident, she holds BA and MA degrees from Kean University and is an elementary school teacher with the Livingston School System and a clinical faculty member at Montclair State University. She is active in the elementary and high school PTAs, the Performing Arts Parents Association and the Boosters Club. She is a Brownie leader and a past cheerleading coach. She and her husband, Vincent, have two daughters, one in sixth grade and a 10th grader at Midland Park High School. “Dealing with the severe budget cuts imposed by New Jersey’s Governor is the main issue Midland Park and all New Jersey Public Schools are confronting this year. We have been forced to make critical decisions regarding our school district in a very short time period. 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