Schools

Poll: Should Warren Schools Move Voting to November?

But doing so would effectively mean no voting on school budgets.

At Tuesday's Warren Township Board of Education meeting, school officials are hoping to hear from residents about the recently-enacted law allowing districts to move voting for school board members to November.

The law actually allows for districts to opt to move voting to the general election, and to separately eliminate voting on the school budget if the budget falls below the 2 percent tax cap. But because of the complications voting on the budget in November would cause, coming in the fifth month of the school year, it's a safe bet no district would opt to have the budget vote then (many also note it would probably be harder to pass a school budget in the middle of a general election, with more voters turning out). 

The law allows for three scenarios for moving the election to the fall: the school board can request it, the Township Committee could request it, or a petition of voters could rquest it.

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And if the election is moved to November, the law says it has to stay there for at least four years.

School board members terms would be tied to the calendar year, and any members whose terms expire in April of a year when the vote moves would have their terms extended to Dec. 31.

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So, while at first blush, it seems an obvious choice, but school board members are concerned about the implications of the move. At last week's Watchung Hills Regional board meeting, held just hours after the law was signed, members noted how difficult accounting and planning for any funding above the 2 percent tax cap would be (in the event, say, benefit costs suddenly jumped or a major school project came up).

And perhaps the most compelling argument came from board member Peter Fallon, who said he didn't want to be the elected official telling voters they can't vote on the school budget anymore.

So what do you think? Take our poll—and be sure to head to the Warren Township Board of Education meeting at 7 p.m. at Angelo L. Tomaso School to give your thoughts to the board.


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