Midland Park April 24. 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Sixty-two percent approve roof replacement proposal Midland Park voters last week overwhelmingly supported a board of education proposal for a one-time expenditure of $995,075 to fix the roofs at all three of the borough’s school buildings. The annual school budget was approved as well, and three incumbent trustees, running unopposed, were reelected to new three-year terms. The roof question received 1,009 yes votes and 570 no votes, a 62 percent majority. A super majority of at least 60 percent was needed for approval. “On behalf of the board, I want to thank all the voters who took the time to vote in the school election. I am happy the budget passed, and very happy we overcame the super majority and passed the second question,” said board President William Sullivan. “The board was concerned about getting the 60 percent majority, but the people in Midland Park showed support for the schools. I am happy we can now get the roofs fixed and will be even happier if they come in under budget,” Sullivan added. With 34 percent of the borough’s 4,840 registered voters casting ballots, the 2013-14 school budget received 961 yes votes and 666 no votes. Ten absentee ballots were cast. The $20,290,010 school budget is up $409,593, a 2.06 increase from the current budget. Within this amount, however, the capital outlay portion has been reduced by $569,859, shifting expenditures from capital to current expenses. The $18,271,356 to be raised by taxation is going up $349,907, a 1.95 percent increase, which is below the 2 percent cap imposed by the state. Taxes on a house assessed at $392,000, the borough’s average, will go up $134.23 per year for the school budget portion only. The roof project will cost the average house an additional $352.96 a year in taxes. Plans call to finish all necessary roof work at Godwin and Highland schools and complete an additional 19,000 sq. ft. of roof at Midland Park High School. The high school has a total of 100,000 sq. ft. of flat roof surface, and 43,000 sq. ft. will still remain to be done after this work is completed. Sullivan said the work would be done this summer. Brian McCourt was high vote getter with 1,010 votes in his bid for a second term. Rich Formicola, also seeking a second term, received 1,003 votes. Sandra Criscenzo, a six-year member and currently the board’s vice president, garnered 965 votes. Midland Park school and law enforcement officials conducted a surprise safety drill at Midland Park High School last week which involved local and county officials and resources, including the use of K-9 units. The pre-panned undertaking is part of an ongoing effort to make sure the schools offer a secure learning environment for students, according to Police Detective John Gibbons, who coordinated the joint operation. “This cooperative and proactive initiative is aimed at Surprise safety drill held at MPHS maintaining a safe and secure school environment for all members of our school community,” said Principal Nick Capuano in a letter sent to parents following the drill. “Today’s activities were cooperatively planned and implemented; so too will all future educational, preventative, and enforcement efforts. It is the intention of all facets of our school community – students, teachers, parents, law enforcement, and school district personnel – to maintain (continued on page 9)