Schools

BOE To Discuss Budget, Elections and Fields of Dreams

School board president says he wants to hear from the public on controversial issues being considered.

Student awards, the new schools budget and an idea to change the date of the school board election are on the agenda for Thursday night's meeting. The gathering takes place at 7 p.m. at .

After awards are presented to the High's student athletes, the real business will begin with a report from the BOE's Finance Committee, according to Board President Frank Calabria.

"The Finance Committee is coming in with some recommendations regarding the next budget," he said. "One is on energy. They're looking at ways to save money and coming up with a program. [Board Co-Vice President] Frank Neglia will be talking about that. They're trying to come up with an appropriate budget that will meet cap."

Find out what's happening in Parsippanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Calabria said he is really interested to see what debate arises over a discussion of a .

Currently, school board elections are held in April and they do not involve political parties. That would change if the polling were to move to November. Additionally, if the date changes to November, residents would lose the right to vote up or down a schools budget that is within the state's mandated two percent cap on property tax increases.

Find out what's happening in Parsippanywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I was a kid who came to Parsippany a long time ago, and it became my place, my home. And I was lucky enough to be  able to get involved by getting on a school board," he recalled. "Moving the election to November could and probably will make it a little more political. People are telling me that if the date moves, guys like me won't be able to get elected and serve. That could be true. That's not bad or good, it's just the way it is."

He said he sees a positive side to changing the election date. 

"It gives the school board an opportunity to put their money where their mouth is," the president explained. "They have to come in with a good board and be accountable, as they should be."

Calabria said he is still forming his own opinion on the matter and that he looks forward to hearing other points of view, positive and negative, at the Thursday night meeting.

The BOE president said he also expects to hear more about the . That's the plan being promoted by area youth sports groups and Mayor James Barberio as a creative way to fund recreational improvements at the High and at . The $4.5 million dollar project would install turf fields at each of the schools, along with refurbished track ovals, modernized lighting and fencing.

The FOD project is seen by many sports parents and other residents as a great and necessary way to improve sports facilities in the town. However, there are residents who, while seeing the need for the improvements, are concerned over an idea to fund the plan using Open Space Trust Fund monies. s.

The funding relates to another concern that Calabria said is one giving a number of board members pause. 

Township Attorney John Inglesino stated that in order for Open Space Trust Fund monies to be used, the town has to have some sort of ownership interest in the high school fields, which belong to the school district. That would mean that the BOE would have to agree to cede 51 percent of its control over the fields to the municipality.

"That is a tough thing to swallow for some people," said Calabria. "I know people want this to go through right away, but we need to take time to consider it thoroughly. There could be serious repercussions, and it's my belief that we need to take our time.

"I'm also hearing from residents who are concerned about the lights they want to install," he added. "Let's hear all the points of view and then we can make the best decision, a responsible decision. I don't want to get manipulated into doing this for political reasons."

The public, of course, will have the opportunity to chime in on these or any other subjects during the Thursday meeting.

 

 

 


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here