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Bob Houser	1,494	20.87%
- Gerald Ihnken	991	13.85%
- Elaine Taylor	1,435	20.05%
- Rafael Adorno Jr.	1,364	19.06%
- Scott Bilker	886	12.38%
- Kelly Ford	976	13.64%

Barnegat Question 1 Budget
Votes Processed - Polling Place/Percent	12/12 100.00%

	Vote Count	Percent
- Yes	1,325	54.55%
- No	1,104	45.45%
Total	2,429	100.00%

Houser 1A - Taylor 3A - Adorno 4A

Reform defined is the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt or unsatisfactory through actions invoking change and resulting in a better state.

Actions = Results = A Proven Record of Reform

Vote for continued reform TODAY! April 21, 2009

In the News....

Barnegat school budget makes cuts, buys items, keeps tax rate flat

By LEE PROCIDA

(Published: April 01, 2009 )

BARNEGAT TOWNSHIP - The Board of Education adopted its 2009-10 budget Tuesday night, keeping the tax rate stable at 0.849 cents per $100 of assessed value and slightly reducing overall operating costs.

The board previously said its goal would be to keep the tax rate flat in light of the recession, and the budget cuts program funding, instructional support, administration and operations. At the same time, it proposes to buy more than 400 new computers for computer labs in Russell O. Brackman Middle School and Barnegat Township High School, and new textbooks for kindergarten through fifth grade.

"It's a budget that meets the needs of this district," said interim Superintendent Robert Mahon, who presented the budget and answered questions from the public.

Some residents praised the board's work to keep the tax rate stable while funding necessary improvements.

"By increasing computers for the computer labs in the middle school and the high school, you're better preparing our students for the workforce," Karen Ray said.

Other residents criticized the board, saying it underfunded important programs and positions and put taxpayer sentiment before educational needs. "We don't want to just meet the expectations," Susan Gorman said. "That's like telling my children getting a 'C' is OK."

Board President Robert Houser said the board's hands were tied for many of the cuts, explaining that the county and state thought the district's administrative and support staff costs were too high, and the district had to make reductions there in order to have the budget approved.

"If there's an issue where we have to make changes to the budget for the benefit of your children, then we will do that," Houser said. "That's why we are here."

Barnegat Township school budget

Breakdown

Total budget

2008-09 $ 50,706,628

2009-10 $ 50,698,420

Tax rate per $100 of assessed value

2008-09 $0.849

2009-10 $0.849

Tax rate change by percent 0.0%

Amount to be raised by taxes

2008-09 $26,339,394

2009-10 $26,391,724

Tax bill for home assessed at $100,000$849

Get out and Vote Today!

polls open 2 - 9 pm

March 27, 2009

Barnegat hires new schools superintendent

He'll start at $145,000 per year

By JESSICA INFANTE
MANAHAWKIN BUREAU

AGE: 39.

EXPERIENCE: Four years as superintendent of Warren County's Great Meadows Regional School District, a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade system; previously served as assistant superintendent, principal and supervisor and taught fourth, fifth and sixth grades.

EDUCATION: University of Massachusetts Amherst, bachelor's degree in prelaw studies, minor in education; Kean University, two master's degrees: one in instruction and curriculum, the other in education and leadership; Walden University, doctoral degree in progress in education and leadership.

After a three-month search, the Board of Education hired Jason Bing-Schetelick as the district's new superintendent during a special meeting Thursday night.

"It's a very pleasurable evening for me to be able to say we have a new superintendent," interim Superintendent Robert J. Mahon said.

Bing-Schetelick, 39, currently is superintendent of Great Meadows Regional School District in Warren County, a position he has held for four years. In Barnegat he replaces Thomas C. McMahon, who resigned late last year to accept the superintendent position for Willingboro public schools.

The board began its search in December with a pool of 50 candidates, which was narrowed to 14, then three."It was a unanimous pick out of the (board's personnel) committee," board President Robert Houser said of Bing-Schetelick's selection.

Bing-Schetelick described the interview process as "the most effective, most efficient" he had experienced — and he would know. Bing-Schetelick quipped that he has held "pretty much every role you can name" during his 15-year career in education. He said he will move into the home he has owned in Lacey's Forked River section for nine years when he starts with the district full-time.

Bing-Schetelick's four-year contract promises him a starting salary of $145,000, with scheduled increases of 2.75 percent each year and capping out at $157,294.47 for the 2012-13 school year. This is a marked departure from McMahon's contract, which provided a base salary of approximately $226,000 during his final year with the district, when he also held the position of business administrator, Houser said.

"This is big for us," Houser said. "We're moving in the right direction."

Whereas McMahon's contract provided five weeks of vacation, Bing-Schetelick's offers three. Should he opt out of the district's medical benefits, he will receive compensation only for half the package's value. McMahon received the full value, Houser said. When Bing-Schetelick retires, his unused sick time is capped at $10,000.

"If you cost out the contract, it's over $120,000 (in) savings," Houser said.

Many well-wishers attended the meeting to welcome the new superintendent.

"We wish you much luck and success because your success equals our success," former board member Kimberly Lally said on behalf of the Barnegat Township Education Foundation.

Barnegat School Board Election 2009

"Continued Reform"