Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • April 16, 2014 School election (continued from page 7) to expand our curriculum offerings at the secondary level. The board and administration have been especially focused on adding AP and honors electives to the curriculum. These efforts were rewarded when College Board named MP to the AP honor roll for expanding opportunity and improving performance for AP students. Despite budget constraints, the board has approved the use of online cur- riculum to meet the needs of our students. This type of work runs parallel with the goal of our students being college and career ready.” Triolo: “Decreasing enrollment is by no means a given. There are almost exactly the same number of stu- dents in our Jr/Sr high school in 2014 as in 2010. School enrollment also mirrors the population as a whole, with annual fluctuations that all schools have in boroughs with no major housing increases. In 2010 to 2011, the last year I could find accurate data on town population, Midland Park declined by only 0.6 percent, with the schools matching at 0.5 percent. We can grow enrollment when we get past the rhetoric and negativity and let everyone know how well our schools are actually doing. Our district has in fact increased our class offerings, and high school AP courses specifi- cally, at a tremendous rate. Students have the opportunity to take classes using a virtual classroom in other districts if there is a class that we do not offer. I look to continue to build on our success.” How would you propose to raise the funds to improve the physical plants, including the match for the promised building improvement state grant?(The state has offered Midland Park a $3.1 facilities improvement grant which must be matched with a 60 percent local contribution). Canellas: “I believe we should put forward the same repair plan (as in the 2013 referendum, as those items in need of repair have not changed) along with a minimally scaled back improvement plan. With state funding preapproved to the tune of about $3 million, which wasn’t available to us last time around, and all of the roof issues fixed via last year’s second question and the 2014 proposed budget, we should once again appeal to our community with a refer- endum to finance the remaining projects. I believe a lower overall price tag, state funding and enhanced community involvement will be the recipe for success. We need to invest in our infrastructure.” Thomas: “It is essential that the community pass a refer- endum. This passage will allow us to capitalize on the $3 million dollars from the state. These monies will promote physical plant improvements necessary at all schools. We will be able to revise our initial referendum as most of the roofing projects are complete. If a referendum is not passed, the $3 million dollars will go back to the state and may not be available in the future.” Meeks: “Living within our means is a lost art .All repairs should be prioritized and itemized. I will oppose the lavish spending on non-academic and non-safety related items that we’ve seen in past referendums. Buildings and grounds should be maintained on a yearly basis. I find it hard to believe that the money dedicated to buildings and grounds has in fact been used for buildings and grounds. It’s a tough case to make when tiles are falling on our students.” Triolo: “We need to find other grants, possible private fund raising, and design a referendum that will pass. To not sup- port this is to throw away almost $3 million that is frankly our money to begin with. By doing so we will have more families and more kids in Midland Park.” Canellas, a 10-year resident, has been on the board for six years. He is a Certified Public Accountant and cur- rently vice president of finance and operations for Home Box Office Sports. Thomas, a lifelong Midland Park resident and six year board member, is a student assistance counselor with the Randolph Township Schools. She is a former chairman of the Midland Park Municipal Alliance Committee. Meeks, a seven-year resident, is customer care represen- tative for Nice-Pak/PDI Products. He is a member of the Midland Park Board of Adjustment and Board of Recre- ation. Triolo, a 16-year resident, has been on the board for two years. He is self-employed as a manufacturer’s representa- tive in the automotive industry.