April 16, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 7 Midland Park Four vie for three seats on Wednesday’s school election Next week’s school board election in Midland Park will feature four candidates vying for the three available three-year seats. The three incumbents, James Canellas, Maryalice Thomas Hagerty, and Peter Triolo, are being challenged by newcomer John Meeks. The election will be held on Wednesday, April 23 from 2 to 9 p.m. Villadom Times asked the candidates the following questions in order to inform readers about their positions. Their responses follow: How do you propose to improve and even maintain our district’s educational offerings given decreasing enroll- ments, restricted budget caps and other financial con- straints? Canellas: “In our district, the enrollment at this level (junior/senior high school) has remained relatively flat over the past five years while our course offerings have increased, especially in the last two years where we have added nine electives and AP courses and reintroduced 7th and 8th grade honors classes in math and English. We are also being as creative as possible in searching out other opportunities (low cost) to increase our program offer- ings. For example, the developing Share and Grow Learn- ing Partnership with Waldwick High School which will hopefully avail both Midland Park and Waldwick students the opportunity to attend classes not offered at their home high school, at a partner school. There is no reason why this program could not be expanded to include other area high schools and even more classes. In addition, I believe we should further explore on-line classes or possibly vir- tual classroom environments. Program offerings can be expanded in the current economic climate – it just takes a little more ingenuity, creativity and collaboration.” Meeks: ”I will focus our resources on teaching our children the skills that will help them succeed while opting out of the unproven, untested and costly Common Core standards. I will seriously investigate the benefits of a send/receive rela- tionship for our high school students. I would require all department heads to submit budgets with reduced spending in order to lessen the burden of financial constraints. We need to do better. The status quo is not good enough.” Thomas: “MPHS enrollment (7-12) has been consistent for the past five years. At the same time we have been able (continued on page 8) Gathering Fellowship to meet at VFW “Experiencing the goodness of God and sharing it with others.” This is the heart of The Gathering Fellowship, a group of Christians pastored by Greg Vadala who gather together on Sundays at 10 a.m. in the VFW Hall at 28 Faner Road in Midland Park. In their belief that, “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28), they pursue Him and have found His promise to be true. They have found Him to be not only a God of mercy and grace, but a rewarder of those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). Whether you are wondering if God exists, had found Him but no longer see His hand on your life or wish to know Him in a deeper sense, you are invited to experience God with The Gathering Fellowship. They will be glad to share with you how God both reveals Himself and relates to those who seek Him. Visit them on the web at www. thegatheringfellowshipnj.org.