To the Editor:
Board Alumni
Support Budget
I had the privilege of serving on the West Windsor-Plainsboro Board of Education from 2002-’08 and continue to closely follow the work of the Board and Administration and the accomplishments of our students and faculty. One cannot open a newspaper in Mercer or Middlesex counties without reading about the amazing achievements of the students in the WW-P school district, ranging from their academic achievements to their talents in the arts to their prowess on the athletic fields. Over the past seven years, these measures of accomplishment have continued to grow despite the board’s keeping the budget increases modest and below those of nearby high-achieving districts.##M:[more]##
The Board and Administration have developed a budget for the 2009-’10 school year that is once again fiscally responsible while protecting the core educational values and programs of the district. This year’s proposed budget increase of 1.6 percent is exceptionally modest and will result in only a 0.5 percent increase in the total tax levy for the townships. For Plainsboro, this translates to a tax rate that is identical to the tax rate in 2006, the year after the reassessment. Our district’s costs per pupil are $300 below the state average and well below those of Princeton and other peer districts; likewise, our district’s total administrator costs are $190,”000 below the state average.
During my last two years on the Board of Education, I had the pleasure to serve with both of the incumbents from Plainsboro who are running for re-election this year; Anjani Gharpure and Tony Fleres are talented, experienced board members who have brought much insight to their current committee assignments of Curriculum and Instruction, and Facilities and Administration, respectively. The learning curve for Board members is very steep. Anjani and Tony’s talent is especially needed at a time of transition for the district as two new assistant superintendents will be recruited to fill the positions with these same two areas of administrative oversight.
I urge Plainsboro voters to come out on Tuesday, April 21, to both approve the budget and re-elect Anjani Gharpure and Tony Fleres.
Patricia F. Bocarsly
Clydesdale Court, Plainsboro
School Budget Yields Excellent Return
Since September, we have seen many investments decline significantly in value. Yet there is one nearby that continues to yield an excellent return: the WW-P School District.
The district’s fiscal management of our tax dollars is excellent. This year’s district audit commended the district on the savings it accomplished by refinancing debt, the recovery of $4 million owed by the state, and prudent decisions in allocating funds. The district has earned a AAA financial rating, the highest possible — there are only 26 school districts in the U.S. with this rating!
As a result of a recent referendum, student enrollment has replaced the use of equalized real estate valuation to determine each township’s share of the budget. This year it means taxes in Plainsboro will increase slightly more than in West Windsor. But as the voters agreed, the idea of paying for the students actually being sent by each township is much easier to understand and seems fair to all.
Our district’s per-pupil costs is one of the lowest of the surrounding area schools, yet we have some of the highest academic scores in the state and excel in athletics and the arts as well.
Like everyone in this economy, I would like to see no tax increase. Yet I recognize the reality of contractual obligations, energy costs, and increasing enrollments. I believe the current Board has done an admirable job in keeping the budget increase to a minimum. Our return on investment is quite high — we are preparing the next generation extremely well, and our townships are excellent places to live in large part because of our schools.
I encourage everyone to join me in voting yes on the school budget.
Diane Hasling
Jacob Drive, West Windsor
Hasling is a former WW-P School Board member.
Yes, Six Times Over
As a small business owner, I am experiencing tough economic times like everyone else in the community. As a parent, I am thankful for the excellent education offered to my children by the school district. Considering the value offered by the school district I encourage all voters to support the school budget this year.
If you are not convinced about the value of the education offered by the school district, here are six additional reasons why this budget deserves your support.
1.) Our per pupil expense is less than neighboring districts and over $300 less than the state average.
2.) Most of the expense is directed to the classroom. While the district per pupil classroom and extracurricular costs are $350 above the state average; other costs are $650 below the state average.
3.) We have a very high students-to-administrator ratio; at least 28 percent higher than the state average. This results in total administrative costs that are $190,”000 below the state average.
4.) In spite of low budget increases, the district has consistently under-spent the budget, returning over $18 million dollars to tax payers over the last four years in the form of tax relief.
5.) Ours is one of only two districts in the state to receive a AAA bond rating from S & P. Defeat of the budget may result in loss of this AAA rating. Such a loss will cost taxpayers far more than any reduction offered by a defeated budget.
6.) A defeated budget will be reviewed by the new county superintendent using the current state standard for education: “adequacy.” How many of us are going to be happy that our children are receiving “adequate” education, not the “excellent” education we have come to expect from our district?
Meghana Tawde
Penrose Place, West Windsor
Re-Elect Incumbents
This year the WW-P school board has once again presented a reasonable budget for approval. The total budget increase is only 1.6 percent one of the lowest among all public entities in the area. This is in spite of expected increase in student population of about 1 percent. Due to sound fiscal management during previous years, the budget also returns over $6 million to taxpayers in the form of tax relief resulting in only 1/2 percent increase in total tax levy collected from both townships.
Due to change in the method for dividing taxes from assessed valuation to per pupil the tax rates in both townships have changed unpredictably during the past few years. However, for a Plainsboro taxpayer like me, the good news is that the tax rate for the coming school year of $1.45 will be exactly the same as it was in 2006. How can anyone in Plainsboro not support an excellent school system that has not changed my school property taxes over a three-year period?
Due to the same reasons both incumbents Tony Fleres and Anjani Gharpure deserve unqualified support from Plainsboro voters. Tony has been a part of the administration and facilities committee, which over saw construction of items approved under the referendum. As a parent with a daughter at South, I am glad that all referendum items were completed on time and within budget.
Anjani has been part of the finance and curriculum and instruction committees. As a parent I have seen steady improvement in education and opportunities offered to all students. The Columbia writing project and differentiated instruction initiatives undertaken by the district have paid dividends in terms of improved education for all kids not just those with exceptional abilities.
Sonali Atre
Poplar Drive, Plainsboro
Double Trouble? No
Your headline in the last issue, “Taxes: Double Trouble for WW and Plainsboro,” dealing with school property taxes is misleading. A truer picture is that as a Plainsboro taxpayer I will not see any increase in my school taxes since 2006.
In fact, next year’s school tax rate of $1.45 for Plainsboro taxpayers is exactly identical to what we paid in 2006. Both as a parent and taxpayer, I can’t expect more from an excellent school system. I have not experienced any increase in my tax rate over a three year time period while the school system keeps improving steadily.
Join me in supporting the budget and re-electing the incumbents Anjani Gharpure and Tony Fleres. Both of them have done an excellent job of keeping the tax rate flat during their tenure on the school board.
Vinay Desai
Hawthorn Drive, Plainsboro
From the Incumbents:
Put Experience to Work
We are writing as candidates running for re-election to the West Windsor-Plainsboro Board of Education and asking for the support of Plainsboro voters.
The WW-P schools face a number of challenges. They include maintaining a high quality educational environment in the face of financial constraints imposed by the need to minimize the tax burden on our residents and magnified by current economic conditions. We also must deal with a restructuring of our senior administrative staff as two of our assistant superintendents leave to become superintendents in neighboring towns.
Both of us were first elected to the Board of Education in 2006, and over the past three years have developed the experience needed to meet these challenges. Anjani Gharpure has spent two years on the board’s Finance Committee and is currently a member the committee responsible for maintaining our excellent curriculum. Anthony Fleres serves on the Administration and Facilities committee, which, among other responsibilities, has overseen the successful construction following the 2006 Building Referendum. In addition, as board members we have had to deal with issues in areas ranging from labor relations to special services.
We take our responsibility seriously and ask the voters of Plainsboro to continue to allow us to serve them and the children of our community. Thank you.
Anjani Gharpure
Blossom Hill Drive, Plainsboro
Anthony Fleres
Mifflin Court, Plainsboro
Is Cost Reasonable?
Very few people will dispute the high quality of education offered by the WW-P school district. By any measure, our district is in the top 1-2 percent in the nation. Our students not only score high on standardized tests, but excel in all competitions they participate in. We routinely win state and national contests against tough competitors. Our teachers are highly recognized by students and peers and our administrators are actively recruited by surrounding districts.
Given the current economic environment, the question then becomes whether or not we provide this excellent education at a reasonable cost. “Excellence at a lower cost” is not just a slogan for WW-P administration and school board. Back in 2001, the school board made a decision to lower our cost by 1 percent less than inflation plus growth in student population. The results since then speak for themselves. Our per student expense at $12,”457 is $319 less than the state average. What other service offers the best in the class quality for a cost below average?
We channel money to the classroom where it will be most beneficial to students. On per student basis, we have at least 28 percent fewer administrators than the state average. This results in our administrative expense being $190,”000 less than the state average.
In my eight years on the school board, this is by far the most difficult budget to put together. The board members face the same economic and career challenges as community residents. Therefore we have thought long and hard about what represents the values of these communities given the current tough economic times.
The budget we are presenting to you represents a 1.6 percent increase from last year. Most of the increase is absorbed by the expected 1 percent increase in student population. Due to sound fiscal discipline we are returning over $6 million in the form of tax relief. Therefore this 1.6 percent increase in the budget results in only half a percent increase in total tax levy collected from the two townships.
As representatives of the communities of West Windsor and Plainsboro, we are putting forth a budget that truly upholds the educational values of these two communities without putting an undue burden on the taxpayers. Difficult times often require difficult choices. During such times it is important to affirm our values for education which is fundamental to our future. As the presented budget for 2009-10 school year reinforces these values, we ask for your support. Please vote “Yes.”
Hemant Marathe
President, WW-P School Board
Hsueh for Mayor
Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh’s dedication, accomplishments, and qualifications are impressive.
Mayor Hsueh has obtained outside funding for many projects, including the Alexander and Old Trenton Road bridges, the Grovers Mill Pond restoration, and the senior center addition. Under Shing’s leadership, our township is one of only seven in New Jersey to maintain the highest credit rating, AAA.
Mayor Hsueh has a PhD in environmental engineering. He is a professional planner and a certified public manager. His career in the state government included directing the Water Supply Program and Brownfields Redevelopment Program which will be helpful as we clean up our brownfield sites. He serves on several state and private boards including the State Planning Commission and the Board of Directors of Robert Wood Johnson Health Care at Hamilton. He was an adjunct professor at Rutgers for 25 years, and the recipient of several professional and public service awards and honors.
Perhaps most impressive is Mayor Hsueh’s dedication to the quality of life in our community, and an open, democratic process in government.
I support Shing-Fu Hsueh (for Mayor) along with his strong team Linda Geevers and Kamal Khanna (for the Council). Please vote on Tuesday, May 12.
Jane Lifset
Woodbury Court, Princeton Jct.
Love that Sauce
Enjoyed your article on Jim Barbour and his FunniBonz barbecue sauce (The News, March 20). Love the stuff! Try it on a steak sandwich, it’s the closest to heaven you’ll ever get!
Jim Oliver
West Windsor
