The following is a letter sent by school board candidate Veronica Mehno in response to a letter sent to the News by Catherine Foley and posted in the WWP Community Forum on communitynews.com.
In 2016 the School Board approved a whopping $372,000 in the budget for a Robotics Room for HSN. This item was presented by Mr. Aderhold on the last day of the budget presentation in March 2016.
As someone who takes pride in ensuring that our hard earn tax dollars are well spent I started asking questions. At the next BOE meeting the members of the robotics team put a last minute presentation for all the parents given the fact that I had questions the expense.
For example, why was the robotics room built at HSN where Mrs. Foley’s children go and where she and her husband coach the robotics team? There is always a good reason why things tend to happen in the schools (building) that Mrs. Foley’s children attend. This is a public school and the money should go to educate everybody, not only children “of those friendly to the Administration”.
Let me remind you that Robotics is a club, who just got also $22K in stipends for “3 assistant advisory” teachers who have ZERO experience, (this was part of the personnel agenda).
Regarding OPRA requests, it is my right to ask for the documents that I feel are necessary to ensure transparency — a small detail that Mrs. Foley left out. The Administration is not forthcoming with the information and they want to “cover their backs” when the question is a little edgy.
Is that my fault that the Administration is “unwilling” to provide open access to the taxpayers and, therefore, feel the need to consult with an attorney? In addition, I have questioned why there is an attorney present at every single BOE meeting that is costing the school over $18K a year.
Why does Mrs. Foley not address that issue? Under NJ law, OPRA students’ information cannot be requested. Therefore, we can once again see the false statements and misinformation Mrs. Foley wants to spread to the community. It is all about saving the status quo and not voting for change.
It is very clear that Mrs. Foley is misrepresenting all the information to keep the status quo without taking into consideration that there are 10,000 students in the district. Mrs. Foley cannot be taken seriously. It is time for a change and it is time to have all WWP students well-being in mind, not a select few.
Veronica Mehno
Mehno is a candidate for a West Windsor seat on the board of education
