Contested Race for Red Bank Board of Education

Red Bank voters will go to the polls on April 27 to elect four members to the Board of Education and approve or reject a $12.2 million tax levy 2011-2012 school budget.

Seeking election for a three-year term are incumbents Janet H. Jones, of Newman Springs Road, Peter Noble of Spring Street, Ernest Anemone, of Riverside Avenue, and newcomer, Allen Palma, of Chapin Avenue. Seeking an unexpired two-year term is Suzanne Viscomi, of Arthur Place.

There are two schools in the Red Bank District, the Red Bank Primary School and the Red Bank Middle School.

Patch asked two questions of the candidates: What makes the Red Bank School District great and what was left undone in the current school year and priorities for the 2011-2012 school year?

Anemone, 31, put the question another way. "What's not good about the Red Bank District?"

Anemone said he is very proud of the Red Bank district, and its academic accomplishments over the years.

"I have an immense sense of pride regarding the Red Bank Board of Education," Anemone said.

He noted that the district is an innovator in educational curriculum throughout the state.

"We are innovators in curriculum and there is not a second of class time that our students are not learning something through AVID--Advancement via Individual Determination," he said.

He noted Superintendent of Schools Laura Morana worked very hard on AVID, to bring it to the district.

"The success of this program (AVID) never ceases to amaze me, and this is what makes this a great district," he said.

On what has been left undone for the current school year and priorities for 2011-2012, Anemone said that with the "current budget it was difficult to fully support all of the initiatives we would have liked to put into place," he said.

If voters approve the more than $19 million 2011-12 school budget there might be more revenue for educational purposes.

Anemone said "with the focus on the best interests of the kids of Red Bank, and some creative problem solving I am confident we will have even more to be proud of in the upcoming school year."

Jones, 64, that the district's mission statement: Quality Learning by All Whatever it Takes and that everyone--teachers, administrators, students and parents are committed to that mission statement.

"We have people at all levels in the district who are focused and are committed to the same mission statement," she said.

Jones added that another reason that makes the school district great is that the "pre-school program is nationally recognized.

On what has been left undone in the current school year and priorities for 2011-12, Jones said that she hopes voter will approve the school budget.

"I want the budget to pass so that we can continue on the path to excellence," she said.

Palma said what makes the district great is its teachers.

"The district finds excellent teachers. Over the years I have been impressed with all of my children's teachers. They genuinely express interest in my children and the communicate any concerns about them directly to me and my wife," Palma said.

On what has been left undone in the current school year, Palma said "although the school board was able to propose a budget that does not cut back on teachers, more needs to be done to find more funding sources, have more fundraisers and save more money on expenditures in these tough economic times, so we can keep our wonderful teachers," Palma said.

Noble did not return repeated phone calls to Patch.

Viscomi, 34, who is seeking the two-year unexpired term also said the district's mission statement helped make the district great.

"This shows how much this administration is tapping into the different resources to live up to their mission statement: Quality Learning By All Whatever it Takes," she said.

Viscomi said an example of how the district is living up to its mission statement is a partnership with Princeton and Rutgers Universities.

She noted that even a local church - St. Anthony’s - and a civic organization the Red Bank Rotary Club are resources that help to live up to the district's mission statement.

"The district is balancing limited resources--state and federal with the goal of assuring that each child has an opportunity for a quality education," she said.

On what has been left undone for the current school year and priorities for 2011-12, Viscomi said that repairs and maintenance to the two schools and the board office has to be made during the 2011-12 school year.

She said that repairs and maintenance issues have neglected and this is the year that these issues must be undertaken.

"A lot of repairs and maintenance to the two schools and the board office itself has been pushed back to keep money in the classroom," she said.

In the future, meaning the 2011-12 school year, these repairs will be an imperative issue and will need to be dealt with," she said.