West Windsor Needs Proactive Planning##M:[more]##
To properly plan, either for a Princeton Junction village center or for Route 571, it takes money to purchase the time of professionals, money that West Windsor never budgets. Since West Windsor relies on developers to pay for its planning, the only planning that ever occurs is piecemeal and relates solely to a specific piece in the overall puzzle, a specific building say in a village center, but not the village center itself.
Developers guess what the Planning Board wants since the board plays its hand close to its vest, a powerful position indeed, but an unproductive one. Without a plan, the vision of a village center remains an illusion. A vision yes, but one that will never actually be built. Just talk. And it has been this way for many years, well before the current administration.
At the April 4 meeting of the Princeton Junction Neighborhoods’ Coalition, it became clear to some that we will need to work very hard to be part of the municipal planning for Route 571 since it costs the town money to have engineers work with the community and the administration does not wish to spend this money — preferring instead the short-term goal of saving the taxpayers this money, also an important goal.
With money from the county, West Windsor will finally be on the way to an improved Route 571 through Princeton Junction. But as we heard at the March 16 Planning Board meeting, our township planner said that issues associated with road widths are complicated by the fact that there is no design for village center style buildings along the road. So as it stands now, we are first designing the road but not the village through which it runs, kind of like the land version of a “River Runs Through It.”
This is backwards planning: reactive not proactive and is unfortunately in synch with the township’s sudden action on Route 571 within days of the recent death of one of our neighbors from the Gables, though the county had requested action in September, six months ago.
If West Windsor were proactive and spent the money to do a real plan that involved community input, the developers who build elements of that plan would be thankful since their costs of getting approvals would go down, leaving lots of money on the table that would normally go to lawyers and engineers who attend endless Planning Board meetings.
Just speak to the folks proposing the awkward design for the Chase Bank on Route 571; they just want to know what will work. This money could then be used to bury overhead telephone and electric wires among other beautification initiatives. The approval process would go down from years to months as time and money are not wasted.
This should not be confused with the Mazer study now underway to determine whether Princeton Junction would qualify as a redevelopment zone, since even if we qualify we still need to do the plan. The Mazer study is only a study to determine who pays for the study. But in a town that loves to study, a study for a study should be no surprise.
And we are not talking about a lot of money in a budget of well over $20 million. In fact, we are talking about one-fourth of the cost of the planned $500,”000 expansion of the senior center, which is in the budget. Why is this in the budget and the other not in a town headed for a large surplus? Could it be a measure of perceived voting strength?
If West Windsor budgeted for real planning, the way most towns do, it could then get re-paid by developers who buy into the plan, kind of like the way developers pay for transportation improvements now, and West Windsor’s outlay would be re-paid many times over in a true public-private partnership — not just the words “public-private partnership.”
Both candidates for mayor in West Windsor are extremely competent and should dedicate themselves to such proactive planning. Sure we need vision, but we also need action. We need leadership that believes in making visions real. And we need a Planning Board that meets more than once a month.
Farrell Delman
Bear Brook Road, West Windsor
Yes to the Budget
I support this year’s school budget. Over 60 percent of the property taxes we pay go to our school system. This year’s proposed school budget is $136,”243,”777 vs. $129,”783,”990 last year. Many residents have been seriously questioning whether the board members and the administration are doing enough to minimize the waste and improve the efficiency and whether our children are getting the maximum value.
The efficiency improvement is a continuous process and it is not an easy one-step transition. Yet there may be cases when a major surgery may be needed to eliminate certain problems. It is easy to follow the old traditional way rather than bringing some new bold changes. I believe that the board has started addressing the issues in a moderate way. I give them credit for that. That probably has helped to reduce the rate of increase. Cost control is not just a senior citizen issue, every taxpayer wants to make sure their taxes are spent prudently.
The school board president has made a pledge “to continue serious proactive efforts to identify possible cost savings in every possible area, including consultants, head counts, capital budget expenses, and others, and will enforce this in every possible area with high priority and innovative approaches.”
I trust him. I hope the new team will join him on this pledge. In every organization there is room for improvement. Improving efficiency could realize cost savings as well as improve the quality of education.
The future belongs to the efficient. April 19 is the school board election. Polls open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Your vote will make a difference.
Ram Ramachandran, Ph.D.
Jefferson Park
The writer is a 35-year West Windsor resident.
School Budget? Reasonable Plan
Preparing a school district budget is not an easy task for the nine members of the Board of Education. Working with the administration, it is our responsibility to review district expenditures and propose a reasonable spending plan for the following school year. We study enrollment figures, student to teacher ratios, class size, program offerings, capital projects, and a myriad of other areas to create a budget that serves the needs of the students of the district without placing an unfair burden on the taxpayers.
Over the past four months, the Board of Education has analyzed expenditures, developed enrollment projections, and discussed budget guidelines. Through this process, the board has reviewed the importance of maintaining school facilities and providing comparable opportunities for all students in K-through-12.
I believe we have succeeded in all these areas and the 2005-2006 budget reflects an increase of 4.6 percent, or $5.9 million, over last year’s budget, which is under the state-mandated cap.
There are some specific items in the budget I would like to highlight. Growing enrollment is affecting the high school population, and the proposed budget includes three additional teaching positions at the high school level as well as two additional guidance counselors. With stable enrollment at the middle level, we have no new positions in Grades 6 to 8, and at the elementary level, we have reassigned staff to meet the number of students expected in the next school year.
In the budget, we allow for increases in tuition costs for special education and the addition of two special education teachers. In this area, we have controlled costs with an expansion of our in-district special needs program for kindergarten students and middle school program. Bringing our students back into their “home” district allows us to serve them better as well as manage tuition expenses.
In the budget, we are able to control energy costs through a program of maintenance and review. We foresee an increase in transportation costs as we add more routes for our growing number of students.
In the current year, we allocated funds for track repair, tennis court renovation, and greenhouse replacement at High School South. In the 2005-’06 budget, we have made a concerted effort to increase funding for capital projects. This budget allows for $1.5 million, up from $1.2 million, for capital projects, including a roof at Community Middle School, gym floor and parking lot repairs at Wicoff Elementary School, carpet replacement at various schools, maintenance of the track and tennis courts at High School North, and pool repair, exterior door replacement, and renovation of space at High School South.
We know you care about education. More than just money and taxes, the school budget is a reflection of community goals and values. The West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District continues to provide an outstanding education for students. The district has achieved a county, state, and national reputation for excellence. Please mark your calendar for Tuesday, April 19, and be sure to vote on the 2005-2006 school budget.
Hemant Marathe
President, Board of Education, West Windsor
Pat Bocarsly
Vice-President, Plainsboro
Village Grand Supports WW-P Budget
On April 11th the Executive Board of the Village Grande Civic Association voted its support of the 2005-2006 WWP School budget. This is the third year in a row that such a positive vote has been recommended to all residents.
We support quality education at a reasonable cost. We also look to an even greater level of communication and cooperation with both the school board and the administration in formulating future school budgets.
Executive Board
Village Grande Civic Association
Hasling’s Views
In the upcoming School Board election, West Windsor voters are faced with choosing two board members from among three qualified candidates. I am writing to express my support for Randall Tucker and Richard Kaye, the two candidates I have come to know over the last several years.
I have known Randy Tucker since he and his family moved to our neighborhood in West Windsor over 10 years ago. Randy is an intelligent, open-minded, thoughtful individual, someone who will do his best to learn all sides of an issue and make informed, fair decisions.
His background in engineering operations and management provides him with a deep understanding of finance and facilities, two important issues in the district right now. His company has also participated in mentorship programs with their area high school, which provides a possible model for increasing community-school partnerships within our district.
Randy has volunteered in the community in many ways in the last decade, including school and sports activities with his two children, giving him a broad knowledge of both the people and the concerns in the district. Randy recognizes the commitment involved in being a member of the School Board and is willing to make that investment of his time in order to give back to the district for the benefits his family is receiving from our schools.
I had the opportunity to get to know Richard Kaye through my term on the School Board. He often attends board meetings and shares his insights on various curricular as well as budget issues. Richard agreed to serve on the Strategic Planning Core Team and was a tremendous asset to that group — several times he was able to help everyone reflect on the points under discussion through his commentary and then to help the team move forward in the decision making. I expect that he will bring that same talent to the board.
Richard also provides a valuable balance in perspective to the board, as his professional experience was in education, as a teacher and a principal, and he now lives in Village Grande and is quite aware of the fiscal impact of the school budget on our community.
Under the continued leadership of our superintendent, Robert Loretan, with the full support of the board, we have a very fair budget that takes into account the needs of our older buildings as well as the financial constraints faced by taxpayers.
I encourage the citizens of West Windsor to show their support for the work of our district leaders and our excellent schools by voting in record numbers on April 19.
Diane Hasling
12 Jacob Drive, West Windsor
The writer served on the WW-P School Board from 2001 to 2004.
For the Candidates
I am happy to write a letter in support of Richard Kaye, a West Windsor candidate to the WW-P school board. Richard has over 39 years of experience in public schools as a teacher and principal. For over 25 years, he served as a principal of both middle school and high school in neighboring South Brunswick school district.
Richard brings with him his extensive experience in planning and implementing school construction projects, building a school-community partnership, and implementing building and district budgets.
Since moving to West Windsor, Richard has been active in the school community. He has worked as a volunteer advisor to district schools. He was an invaluable member of the core team that created the WW-P strategic plan. His role on the core team provides Richard with valuable insights as the district implements the strategic plan over the coming years.
Over the past few years, Richard has been an effective spokesperson for the school budget in the adult community. He believes in public schools and understands the realities of school budgets. As a school board member, he will be an effective advocate for children while maintaining fiscal discipline.
I hope you will join me in voting for Richard Kaye on April 19th.
Meghana Tawde
2 Penrose Lane, West Windsor
I was delighted to learn that Richard Kaye, a gentleman with an outstanding educational background, is a candidate for the West Windsor-Plainsboro Board of Education.
As a gifted teacher, former principal and educational consultant, Mr. Kaye will bring extraordinary experience to this position.
Because of his prior involvement as co-chairperson of the New Jersey State Department of Education Study of Adolescent Education and a member of the New Jersey State Department of Education Board of Examiners, Mr. Kaye is familiar with state education policy and protocol.
Richard Kaye’s extensive educational experience will serve our community well as West Windsor-Plainsboro continues to provide the highest quality public education in the area.
I have come to know Richard as an active participant and leader in our community. He continually demonstrates the ability to be fair-minded and open to compromise. He is able to identify a need and assess a solution as he supports new endeavors. Perhaps his greatest strength is his gift for bringing people together.
Although Richard does not have a child in the West Windsor-Plainsboro schools, he is a New Jersey parent whose child was educated in the public school sector. He knows first hand the value of a strong educational system.
On behalf of Richard Kaye and those of us who know him, I urge the people of West Windsor-Plainsboro to elect him to our school board.
Denise Canner
7 Grande Boulevard,
West Windsor
We are writing to support Randall Tucker for the upcoming School Board election in West Windsor.
Randall Tucker would bring great experience to that board in key areas to be considered by the board: facilities and financial management. Our district faces challenges in both budget and the need to address aging buildings. As the director of engineering for Johnson & Johnson’s Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics, Mr. Tucker has extensive experience prioritizing an extensive list of capital improvement projects and finding the best value from engineers and architects.
Randall Tucker has a long history of volunteer service to our community, from Little League T-ball/softball/baseball, Pop Warner football, PTSA, and the Recreation department. His family has hosted a Fresh Air Fund child for several years.
We can personally vouch for Randall Tucker’s character. He is calm and open-minded, a good listener who will carefully consider many sides of an issue before determining a thoughtful, fair decision.
We are fortunate to have such a qualified candidate to be willing to serve on our School Board.
Tom and Loretta Cooper
5 Arnold Drive,
Princeton Junction
In my mind there is one truly outstanding candidate in the upcoming West Windsor-Plainsboro Board of Education election. Richard Kaye’s long career as educator, principal, educational consultant, and recipient of many awards makes his experience invaluable to our school district. As a resident of West Windsor he has aided our district as a member of the Core Team in crafting of the Strategic Planning Document. Richard Kaye has also developed and implemented many building and district budgets.
In addition to his many accomplishments in the field of education Richard Kaye has proven himself to be fair-minded and caring to the individual, be it student, parent, or fellow resident of West Windsor-Plainsboro.
Let us all vote on April 19 for quality leadership for our school district. Vote for Richard Kaye.
Rona Altman
West Windsor
Fire Volunteers Need Your Help
The West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company, now in its 84th year of service, invites you to participate in an ongoing partnership between our dedicated volunteers and residents. Our annual fund drive begins this April. Your financial support is a critical factor in helping us save lives and protect your property.
Please watch your mailbox for an important mailing that will provide an informative brochure about our volunteer service and a return envelope for your generous contribution. The donations we receive from our annual fund drive directly support the care of our firehouse on South Mill Road, which has been home to our department since 1953. It is an aging building that requires ongoing maintenance.
The West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company, nestled in the historic village of Dutch Neck, is one of two volunteer fire fighting organizations that serve the township.
In addition to assisting us with the goals of maintaining our best standards of public safety, your donation also helps to stabilize municipal taxes. By providing for the financial needs of our firehouse through our annual drive, municipal funding is directed solely toward the purchase and care of our fire fighting equipment. Our volunteers, who risk their own lives to maintain the safety of the township, can do their jobs with the best possible apparatus and tools so that you will benefit from the highest level of protection.
The West Windsor Volunteer Fire Company is a non-profit organization dedicated to saving the lives and property of West Windsor residents. Thank you, once again, for your support.
Chief Michael Leahy
WW Volunteer Fire Company
Crafters’ Thanks
On March 19th the Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) of WW-P High School North hosted its sixth annual major fundraiser in the form of a craft show. The event was once again a success thanks to the efforts of many parent, teacher, and student volunteers. The food concession for this fundraiser was operated and shared by the Northern Knights Cheerleaders, their parent booster club, and the PTSA.
As the craft show food chair, I would like to publicly thank and acknowledge the generosity and support of the following vendors: McCaffrey’s (West Windsor), Wegmans (Nassau Park), Bagel Street (Plainsboro), Dunkin Donuts (Windsor Green), Superfresh (Plainsboro), Acme (Princeton Junction) and Steak & Hoagie (Plainsboro). These vendors have provided food/drink donations, discounts and gift cards to support our efforts over the past six years.
Please acknowledge and patronize these vendors as their contributions and consideration of our fundraising efforts have been substantial. Thank you again to all of these vendors for their continuous generosity and significant contributions to the enlightenment of our children. Your donation was greatly appreciated.
Elvina Pettus
PTSA Craft Show Food Chair
Dutch Neck ‘Walk of Fame’ Project
The Dutch Neck Elementary School’s PTA has launched the Walk of Fame campaign to build a garden pathway leading from the visitors parking lot to the arboretum and amphitheater. For the next several weeks, the PTA will be selling bricks engraved with the purchaser’s name and/or personal message to finance the installation of the path. The engraved bricks will then be permanently incorporated into the walkway.
The garden pathway is part of an ongoing land beautification/usage project started several years ago by Principal Scott Feder and children’s author/environmentalist Lynne Cherry.
Says Principal Feder: “When Ms. Cherry came to Dutch Neck as part of our visiting authors program, we spoke of the wonderful grounds we have around the school and what a great site this would be to create an outdoor learning space. We brainstormed on topics such as planting, reforesting, and integrating science and math in nature’s classroom. Since then, we’ve formed a garden committee and have had two planting phases, resulting in saplings decorating a once empty grass lot.”
The Walk of Fame campaign is the next step in this project. The path that this campaign funds will wind its way through the trees to the amphitheater, a set of risers forming a semi-circle sheltered by evergreen shrubs. There is currently no clear access to the amphitheater, and its lack of usage is evident by the state of disrepair. Barbara Nabial, Dutch Neck School’s PTA president, said that a group of Eagle Scouts would be taking on the task of repairing the neglected risers. Once the path and amphitheater repair are completed, many activities are foreseen, including concerts and graduations.
In its present state, the space is being used as an outdoor classroom. Earlier this year, students built blue planting boxes and proceeded to conduct their science projects on plants outdoors. Plans are underway to hold Earth Day celebrations here. As Feder says: “There are so many possibilities for education in this natural learning space. Having lessons shown in the world around you make them easier to understand.”
This is a great opportunity to show support of Dutch Neck Elementary School and recognize alumni. If you would like to become a proud sponsor of the Walk of Fame by purchasing an engraved brick, please contact me at 609-275-6877. Each brick costs $35, and the engraved statement is limited to three lines with 16 characters on each line.
Angie Crichton
Scam Alert
A South Jersey Tax Office was notified by a senior citizen taxpayer that they were contacted by phone recently from someone requesting information regarding their Homestead Rebate.
The caller claimed he was from the State’s Homestead Rebate Program and the message was as follows: “If you are (homeowner’s name) press 1, now enter your social security number.”
No one from the State’s Homestead Rebate Program is calling senior citizens requesting information. Do not give out your social security number. Please notify the West Windsor Police if you receive this call. The Department of Taxation has also been made aware of the situation.
N.J. Tax Collectors
and Treasurers Association
