I want to thank all the people of the town who came out and showed their support. I will promise to keep to my word and be a voice for the people. I will always be available to anyone if needed. Thank you again and I look foward to the next three years.

Here's to change!!

Please don't be foolish remember all change is not growth, as all movement is not forward.

Congratulations to Ms. Golderer and the other winners in the BoE election. The good folks of Parsippany clearly expressed the desire of wanting their voices to be heard and their views represented. This continues the trend that started in last year's mid-term elections and bodes well for New Jersey, in 2011 and America, in 2012. We are all proud of you.

I have gone to the BOE and asked that the following information be presented in chart form when they send out the mailing each year with the budget information prior to the annual school budget vote.
1) overall budget for the last 5 years, 2) student enrollment count in the Parsippany School system for the last 5 years, 3) cost per student in the system for the past 5 years. I hope the new Board will make this information available. I was told at the last meeting that I attended, that it would be posted on the BOE website. I have yet to find the info there, but frankly in the interest of transparency and how well the BOE is managing the precious resources that the hard working taxpayers of Parsippany give them, I believe this is a minimal request for information which should be generally available! Len Deo

Congratulations to all three! I'm please to know that change will eventually occur for the benefit of our children and the township of Parsippany. I'm hopeful that the change will wake up the BOE and our 3 new members will bring to the table, what we need, a fresh voice and hearing ears of the people!

Len, you'd think this would a no-brainer! Perhaps the board prefers poorly informed customers.

Len,
Here are two excellent web-based tools for finding the statistics about the school system:
www.njspotlight.com/reportcard2010 (enrollment, class size,test scores, expense and revenue information)
and
www.state.nj.us/education (link to school report cards)

Congratulations to the winners!

Congratulations to the 3 new BOE members. Let's hope that they listen to the taxpayers of Parsippany instead of the way the BOE members in there now totally disregarded us. Mr. Choffo is just the first to go. I hope the new members reign in Mr. Mancuso and work for all the people of Parsippany.

Ok, the schools got their money, now hopefully with Strumolo and the three new members they can shake the weeds and get the rest of the snakes out.

George Blair

What kind of change are we talking about here? Our schools still are ranked very high in terms of performance in New Jersey.

Change in the way the BOE conducts itself. The Seitz contract -- whether you believe he should have gotten a raise or not -- was handled extremely poorly. Mancuso should have engaged the public when it became clear that an overwhelming majority of residents were opposed to the contract being given simply to circumvent the impending cap. The BOE needs to do what is best for the district, if they truly felt the Seitz contract was the best course of action, OK, but be open with the people of the town that elected you. There were a number of decisions made by Mancuso without the knowledge of the full BOE, and also people don't take time to attend BOE meetings to watch the Board go into closed session to talk about key issues. Then when people ask logical questions about how decisions are being made, they don't want to hear, well it's in litigation we can't talk about it. Either Mancuso was hiding some things the whole time, or he just really wanted to make it look that way.

The fact that Choffo lost by such a large margin when incumbents generally do well in BOE elections tells you all you need to know about how poorly they conducted themselves.

Well said Leo.

George

That's exactly what I mean about change. Obama ran on Hope and Change and I hope that we have a change in 2012. Gas prices are higher, we are engaged in battles all over the globe and our national debt is larger than ever.
When someone spends so much money on an election for a volunteer position I start to worry about their motives. I hope that the education in Parsippany continues to move in the right direction. We need our children to be well educated in this country. They are our future leaders.

I would like to see the hard working Paraprofessionals in our schools get their contract. It's been an ongoing battle with the BOE. Too many years! Yes, years. Almost all of these Paraprofessionals live and pay taxes and vote in Parsippany. I think their voices were heard loud & clear in lieu of the three new BOE winners. My sincere congratulations.
Again, Paraprofessionals work within all levels of our school system. They work closely with teachers & students at all levels. They are full-time employees with no benefits, no vacation days, no personal days, no increase in 4 years. But Dr. Sietz at the top of the food change got his contract signed prematurely. Something is very wrong here.
With hopefulness that the right thing will be done....To our three new BOE members you will be graced with this situation soon enough. Please don't let Mr. Mancuso persuade to keep knocking down the contract for the Paraprofessionals.

To all the good bloggers on Patch. I do not know what should be done with any group of employee's contract. I do know that the money agreed to by the current BOE for both Wendolowski and Seitz is a disgrace, since those are funds that WE will have to be paying for all the years of their retirements. If Seitz had any character at all, he would have not engineered the mess we have been fighting over for the last six months. He is a man who is first and foremost for himself.
Mancuso. in his huge ego need to be the "Boss" and be liked by Seitz and others, threw the taxpayers of Parsippany under the bus, along with his strong supporter Andy Choffo and all the other "little" people working in the Parsippany school system.
Now the BOE has to negotiate with the "little" people who have seen the selfish way the Seitz contract was handled. We can't afford more taxes, but the union and non-union employees have a fair arguement, don't they? I do not know how this will be resolved, but I do know that the taxpayers will probably get it in the neck again.
We need new management at the BOE NOW! We also need a new Law Firm. The current one did not do the job of protecting the taxpayers but saw it's job as representing the needs of the BOE President. That charter needs to change. We need new rules to allow the public to be properly heard and a change in how BOE committee members are appointed and changed. The day of autocratic rule by dummies needs to end.
Hank Heller

Yes, Hank Heller I agree with you 100%.
And it is sad that the taxpayers will probably "get it in the neck again".
The "little" people need to be allowed to speak at BOE meetings. Not shut down by an extremely rude BOE president.
Hank, your last paragraph sums it all up perfectly. Thank you for sharing your insight.

Something new to be concerned about:
high-rise development in Parsippany-Troy Hills.... check out 4/26 article by Natalie Davis:
Planning Board Debates Revitalizing Parsippany Road Building.

Six story building on a two-lane already crowded road?

Any thoughts on who the new board president might be? I have a feeling we are going to see a new board President.

I think Mr. Strumolo would straighten things out.

With the pending swearing in of newly elected BOE members, there is surely going to be a shuffling of the deck and a couple of jokers will be dealt out. Mr Strumolo would make a good leader for the new wave that has been elected by the people by such a wide margin. Ms. Orthwein would make a great VP, if she is willing to step into the game and stop hedging her bets. Knowing Mike as I do , I know he won't stand on the sidelines with his mouth agape and his hands in his pockets. He'll come out tight jawed and swinging with both fist for what's best for the kids and the people's voting money.Sure some items will have to be cut and they should be.

Given the humiliating margin of defeat suffered by the forces of status quo - as represented by the former (has a nice ring to it) incumbent Commissioner, it seems only logical that the entire Parsippany BoE leadership begs to be revised. The people have spoken and now they must - and will - be heard. For those members who were so haughty in their defiance of the will of We, the People, hopefully you have learned that hubris breeds nemesis.

Just out of curiosity, what extra powers/responsibilities does the Board President have that other BOE members don't?

He can appoint and take away committee members. He can block motions. He is responsible to giving the board's orders to the superintendent of schools.

"ellen"
The reason that Strumolo has a great following with the voters of Parsippany is that he really cares about the students and taxpayers of Parsippany. Unlike the followers of Mancuso, who blindly walked off the cliff in support of arrogance, disrespect for citizens opinions, hidden agendas and lack of transparency, Mike Strumolo and Bob Crawford fought long and hard for the PEOPLE.
You point to "good business for the Board"... How can you ask such questions of the people of Parsippany when they have just repudiated your entire thesis as well as each and every member of Mancuso's entourage?? Choffo came is 6th with just a smattering of votes.
It's time to vote for a new BOE president. Has the voting public not made it abundantly clear that neither Mancuso, Neglia, Orme or Calabria can be the new BOE President or Vice-President?
It is clear that you are a part of the Mancuso machine. It is clear to me that you have begun to attack Strumolo again so you can engineer a vote for his "family" of syncophants. If the current BOE members vote any of the Mancusoites into a position of power, they are opening the BOE for another year of public turmoil, anger and disrespect by the voters. We, the People have spoken at the polling places. Now it is time to see if the current BOE has ears (and brains). Choffo as a representative of Mancuso's management was smashed. You/he will not be allowed to hijack our BOE again without paying a fearsome price.
Hank Heller

The fact of the matter is we do not elect the board president the board does. Yes I doubt that Mancuso will be elected again but the board may elect Mrs. Orme or Dr. Calabria or Mr. Neglia. I have known one board member a very long time. This individual has told that they would do things differently then Mancuso would. This individual has always been honest and straight with me so there is no doubt in my mind they were telling the truth.

The truth is that Strumolo has fallen asleep at board meetings. Sometimes you would hear him snoring.
His has taken cell phone calls during the meetings. Last summer he was dress so poorly that if he was a high school student he would have been sent home for violating the dress code policy. He has a record of voting no on the entire superintendent bulletin regardless of what it includes. Don't be a fool he is not in this for the children. He is our worst nightmare A TYPICAL POLITICIAN. Hank are you in his pockets too!

"nancy"
You sound so much like "ellen". Are you one and the same or do you just attempt to insult people in the same childish manner?
Mr. Strumolo runs a 24 hour business. If he has a real business need to check his cell phone messages, what is wrong with that? And if he has a business need to accept a call because he has a business emergency, what is wrong with that? Much of his business has to do with car wrecks and police calls. I have seen other members of the BOE check their Blackberry's, but no one seems to have noticed. Regarding "snoring", I have been to most of the BOE meetings since 11/10 and I have not seen anyone snoring. Yes, he did stop voting for the superintendent's bulletin, but he had a reason for that. You should ask him why he decided not to vote for the bulletin.
If you don't like Strumolo that is your choice. I do like him because I believe he IS for the children, as evidenced by the fact that when he ran for BOE he was the highest vote-getter. And now, that Mancuso's team has been repudiated by the voters you want to attack him on baloney issues, not facts. Well, I'm not buying in to your junk. He may be YOUR worst nightmare. I would take 10 Strumolos before I would have 1 Mancuso. If you have some evidence of me being in anyone's pocket, I suggest you tell me that to my face, instead of hiding in the shadows.
Hank Heller

Man when I asked who you thought would be board president I did not really think it would cause so much turmoil. The fact of the matter is I think Mr. Strumolo has to much going on with his life to be board president. Some people are just not cut out for the job. I get angry very easily so if I was on the board being President would not be good for me. So from the looks there will be controversy if Mr. Mancuso or Mr. Strumolo are President. So that we can start off this year on a high note I want somebody other then one of them two to be board president.

Mrs. Sclafani
I did not say that Mr. Strumolo should hold the position of President of the BOE. I do say that if he did, he would be a good President because I have found him to be smart, courageous and caring of the students and the taxpayers. I have not found Mancuso, Neglia, Orme nor Calabria to care about the taxpayers at all. None of those mentioned above did anything to stop Mancuso from abusing the taxpaying public who attended many of the meetings. None of them stopped Mancuso from changing the rules of speech during the past 6 months. None of them stopped Mancuso from forcing committee participation and withdrawal from being the sole pervue of the Board President. None of them ever suggested a meeting to discuss the views of the voting public before immediately imposing their decision on Board direction. Only Crawford and Strumolo stood up for the students and the taxpayers. That is why I strongly believe that neither Neglia, Orm nor Calabria are fit to be the next BOE President.
My comment about Board selection is only because I believe that since the Mancuso supporters of the past are not at all likely to grow character and courage in only the space of a week or two. I believe they will disappoint the voters again and again. Seitz and Wendolowski seems to have held them all in thrall. The people of Parsippany need and deserve new leadership that has shown courage.
If you don't like Strumolo's dress at least say that, not baloney.
Hank Heller

I also don't think Mr. Strumolo would make a good BOE president, at least not in my view of things. Finding out why he votes against the Superintendent's budget (can you share that, Mr. Heller? I'm pretty curious) might change my mind, but I wasn't a big fan of his candidates, which by proxy makes me not such a big fan of him. That being said, I don't know who else I'd want to be in the position; I completely disagreed with the Seitz contract and way it was handled, so Mancuso, Orme, Neglia and Calabria are out; I'm not a big fan of the new members (not to mention a first year probably isn't a good choice for President), so Golderer, Martin and Shamsudin are out. That leaves Orthwein, who I guess will be casting the deciding vote.

As has been said, this discussion is moot since it isn't up to us, but it is something to wonder about.

Matt
Your analysis is fair except that I think you will be very surprised by some of "Mr. Strumolo's candidates". I have gotten to know them a little, and I am more pleased as time goes on. Regarding Mike Strumolo, let me say this. I never knew him berfore the BOE debacle except for a meeting I had with him about 10 years ago. He works very hard in a cold, dank and unforgiving business. Yes, he has more hair on his face than many would find inviting. Yes, he has mostly come to meetings straight from work in "rough" clothes. But he has come to fight for the benefit of our kids and our taxpayers. He does not make a salary. He earns whatever he does by the sweat of his brow. Matt, you are a young man and I am far from that, but I offer you a thought for the night...God save me from reluctant warriors. Strumolo is not my neighbor nor cousin, but he is a warrior fighting for what HE believes is right. I will take that type of representative anytime over the Savile Row dressed employee who neither risks much nor stands up much for the sake of his/her constituents. Mancuso sold us all out to Seitz and Wendolowski. Neglia, Orme, Calabria and Choffo were his rubber-stamps. Choffo has paid the price. Neglia, Orme are next, I think. Whomever follows Mancuso's pattern will pay the price because you, me and most of the other voters of Parsippany are not willing to lay down and close our eyes anymore.
Hank Heller

I hope you don't think I meant "Mr. Strumolo's candidates" in a negative way; I meant it as, well, more of a declarative statement than anything. No negative connotation intended. I hope they do surprise me, since the BOE succeeding means the students succeeding and the taxpayers happy.

No, Matt, I did not take your comment negatively. I am respectful of your comments. I think that some of our neighbors lay disrespect on Strumolo because he is a "working man" and not an "executive". In fact, my respect for Strumolo is based upon what I believe is really important. He owns his own business for many years. He pays taxes and employs local people who respect him. He does well when he puts energy and thinking into his business opportunities and challenges. That is the American way. If you think back, Abraham Lincoln also had hair on his face and came from a "rough-hewn" background. And many of our early citizens had much to say about his less than elegant presentation. Yet, today, Lincoln is often thought to have been our most effective President. As a young person, I am just suggesting to you that you look at the whole man, not just the exterior. I have looked at the whole man, and I think we are lucky to have him. If you want more clarity as to what I mean, you can email me at hnhone@aol.com. Frankly, I do not care if Strumolo is made BOE President. I do care, hugely, if Neglia, Orme or Calabria is anointed BOE President. Regarding Othwein, I am uncertain about her, since she swayed in a very wishy-washy fashion on the issues that I thought were really important. I am eager to support people of character and courage. Among the "older" members of the BOE, we do not have much to choose from, with the exception of Mike Strumolo.
Hank Heller

Hank, Are you really that ignorant to think that I am Ellen because I also disagree with your rhetoric? I don't know her but I do agree with some of what she has written. If Strumolo cared about the education of our children then he should take the time to read the bulletin. A good board member should put his personal agendas to the side and make clean and sound judgements. Really you are labeling Strumolo a "working man"! He owns the station. I am sure many of his customers pay cash. Cash tells no tales right! Many people work hard in many types of employment. I don't judge a book by it's cover but I have talked to him. He is rude and abnoxious. According to what you write, you are judging the other board members for the careers that they have chosen regardless of how hard they had to work to get where they are today.

"nancy"
You say that Strumolo has not read the bulletin. I do not know that. Please don't tell me about "good board members". I have seen what "good board members" have done over the past few years to the taxpayers of Parsippany. They enriched Wendolowski's retirement substantially and got repaid for their "goodness" by having her retire the next year. They have now done the same for Seitz. Their "goodness" has given Seitz over $700K in extra retirement funds at OUR expense. And you, "ellen" and Mrs. Sclafani want to establish that Strumolo is the bad guy here? You are entitled to your opinion.
Your agenda is to smear Strumolo. Whatever is said in his favor, for whatever reason, is unacceptable to you. "He owns the station..,Cash tells no tales..." YOU are unfair. If you want to make baseless accusations at least have the character to write your name on your comment. I know you and "ellen" will never do that. It is much easier to anonymously throw dirt on people and take no personal risks. My comment about his work is only to show why his dress may be different than others on the BOE. Dress tells nothing about character and content. Only action does.
If you think he is "rude and abnoxious" don't vote for him. I have found him to be the most straightforward of the current "old" BOE members. It is interesting that he has the highest positive VOTER response as shown by the fact that Martin, Golderer and Shamsudin CREAMED Mancuso's candidates.
Hank Heller

Mr. Heller - "Your agenda is to smear Strumolo." How is anything that Ellen or I have said an agenda to smear Strumolo? We have said nothing but the truth which can be backed up if you choose to listen to the tapes of the BOE meetings. Actually, you were probably at those meetings - not quite sure how you could have missed this... "Whatever is said in his favor, for whatever reason, is unacceptable to you." And you have such tolerance for opposing viewpoints? Kind of like the "pot and the kettle", don't you think? And please stop with this "Ellen" and "Nancy" thing - it's funny how when you addressed Parsippany Parent on another stream that his/her name was not in quotes - oh, but then whoever "Parsippany Parent" is agreed with your point of view.....

Mrs. Sclafani
I have cut and pasted "ellen"s", "nancy's" and your comments all written above. If this is not smearing, I have no idea what is!
“ellen”
"I am curious if you think "a good leader" answers his cell phone ... meetings? Comes without reading his packet? Votes no to donations....PTAs? Doesn't know the correct way to make motion? Rants on and on about an issue and when asked to make a motion to get the change he wants, he backs down and drops the issue (until the next meeting of course)? Attacks based on personal feelings instead of good business for the board?"
Mrs. Sclafani
"Mr. Strumolo is not fit to be board president"
“nancy”
"The truth is that Strumolo has fallen asleep at board meetings. Sometimes you would hear him snoring.
His has taken cell phone calls during the meetings. Last summer he was dress so poorly that if he was a high school student he would have been sent home for violating the dress code policy. He has a record of voting no on the entire superintendent bulletin regardless of what it includes. Don't be a fool he is not in this for the children. He is our worst nightmare A TYPICAL POLITICIAN. Hank are you in his pockets too!"
“nancy”
"Really you are labeling Strumolo a "working man"! He owns the station. I am sure many of his customers pay cash. Cash tells no tales right! Many people work hard in many types of employment. I don't judge a book by it's cover but I have talked to him. He is rude and abnoxious."
Hank Heller

Hey is the parsippany audiotrium located near the gym? It is been a long time since Ive been there and do not want to get lost.

Mrs. Sclafani,
Everything that I have written about Mancuso, Choffo, Neglia, Orme and Calabria are fact. Do we need to go through Mancuso's behavior toward the voters again? Do we need to argue that the other 4 did or did not rubber-stamp each of Mancuso's actions? Regarding a smear of Mancuso, please mention ONE exaggeration that I have made. C'mon, this is silly, especially in light of the recent BOE vote. The people saw, heard and spoke. Why are we still arguing this nonsense?
If you want to vote Strumolo off the BOE, do it! If you want to recall him, do it! I do not believe that Neglia or Orme will be able to return to the BOE after their terms are up. I believe that Strumolo will be able to return for as long as his strength holds out. Time will tell the story on all of this.
Regarding "ellen" and "nancy" and Parsippany Parent, here you are finally right! I respect what Parsippany Parent had to say and I disrespect the partisan approach of the forementioned. Sorry to have to say, my pot is fairly clean and your kettle is fairly black, based upon who and what you have been supporting. BTW, I don't care that you dislike Strumolo and Crawford. I don't even care that you constantly whitewash Mancuso and friends through all their transgressions. You support blindly whatever they do and you fight against any who see things differently. We might have similar illnesses escept that I do not support ANYTHING blindly. See you tonight!;-)
Hank Heller

The BOE meets soon, I know nothing I or anyone can say will sway a vote one way or the other but,as Mr. Heller has stated, >"DON"T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT'S COVER"< I've known Mr. Strumolo longer than most people in this town. Yes he is a personal friend of mine, and as long as I've known him I know everyday he gets up puts his boots on and ties them tight, because he knows he's in for a tough day. He is not one to back down from a problem. he'll face it head on and come up with some answers. I've asked him many times, Mike, why the Hell do you do it, He answered me very simply , Quin, because someone has too. Stand up for the kids education and try to stop this pissing away of monies that can be better used for their education.He's been a Student Advisor for many years in the school system hiring many young people to work for him in the Job Studies program. He doesn't live in a lollipop world thinking Mommy & Daddy are going to foot the bill and make sure Johnny & Susie have the best of everything. All kids aren't cut out to be Doctors & Lawyers, with lilly white clean hands. He has taken many kids on and trained them and toughened them up for the REAL WORLD He will step up to this job becuase he feels there is no one willing to go toe to toe with the rest of the BOE. He is concerned for the future of these kids. Mike Strumolo my friend!

Quin,
I have only met you a few times, but one day I hope to earn the right to call you "friend" too. What you have just written about Mike Strumolo is a much better accolade than I could possibly have written. I am glad that my instincts about people coincide with your personal experience of many years. Mike Strumolo is a lucky man to have earned your respect. He has earned mine too.
Hank

I do not find Mr. Strumolo "rude & obnoxious". After speaking with him on occasion he seems straightforward, sincere, and a man of good strong morals. I have to agree with Mr. Heller lambasting Mr. Stumolo is quite evident in what I have read in the above comments. I do believe Mr. Heller has his facts straight when mentioning the likes of Mancuso, Choffo, Neglia, Orme, & Calabria. No one can fight these facts. The taxpayers of PT are not idiots. Even though I have seen many of them treated that way at BOE meetings run by Mr. Mancuso.

It is so obvious that Hank Heller is a hypocrite. He only see his side and is shortsighted. He has nothing to lose. He has no children in the schools. His only interest is to watch his wallet. The parents better step up and pay attention to what this BOE's new agenda might be. I can only hope that Dr. Calabria can keep our children as well educated as Mr Mancuso has. I fully trust Dr. Calabria to do his very best for our children. He is a kind and honest gentleman.

Yes Dr. Calabria is a great guy. I also think his two vice presidents idea was also a good idea.

Hank you should join that committee Mr. Strumolo was talking about. I am sure you are one of the people he had in mind.

Steve,
Thanks for your nice words.
I don't know what Mr. Stumolo and Dr. Calabria had in mind. If this is a group selected by the various factions on a "one for you, one for me" basis, it will never work because meaningful and respectful change won't happen. We saw the effect of that process play out last night during the public portion of the meeting. Both contributors are good people, I believe, but if it is a game of "I throw my trump card on top of your trump card" forget change and forget progress. If it were a work group selected based upon intellect and honesty to really help solve the problems of the BOE it might have a chance to help the community come together. If the purpose is to put the public to "sleep" so the BOE can have peace while it continues on with somewhat milder methods than have been used in the recent past, it won't work.
Dr. Calabria made a good beginning, based upon his self-effacing demeanor and basic "niceness". He, you and I know that that will only take us so far. He must know that 2 Vice Presidents are not a lawful answer to the current problem of leadership. He will have to make some hard and smart decisions soon. We cannot all be satisfied with just a kindly leader because the VOTERS have spoken so LOUDLY. If actions like the Seitz contract debacle where to occur again with Calabria "niceness" instead of Mancuso heavy-handedness, the result would still be the same. Rebellion by the voters, which is what we have.
Hank Heller

Nothing so obstinately stands in the way of all sorts of progress as pride of opinion. While nothing is so foolish and baseless.

Nancy, you imply that the incoming board members are more concerned with their wallets than the educational system. I assume you mean less spending, less taxes. I have to think the trio is aware that any money-saving actions that weaken the school district would be terribly misguided in the long-term. A less desirable school system weakens home values which at the end of the day would hit everyone's finances a lot harder.

Leo, I agree. I do not favor higher taxes on anyone. We pay far too much already. Our home values have already fallen in recent years. I believe that the BOE's policy of tax and spend has ended with the passing of a good budget this year.