The school board elections in Medford will be held in November at the same time as the general elections.
The board of education voted to make the change at its last meeting. The elections were previously held in April.
Bryan McGair, assistant superintendent for finance and support services, said the resolution was adopted in step with a law recently signed by Gov. Christie which allows local school districts to pass a resolution to move its election of board members to the November general election.
The law also states there is no need for a public vote on a school budget if it is at or below the 2 percent cap mandated by the state.
This year, three full-term seats are up grabs, plus one unexpired seat.
“This truly enables a board of education to develop a long-term budgeting process,” McGair said. “I believe we should have a three to five year budget plan.
“As long as we’re at or below state mandated cap, that means the board can progress with an approval of the budget with an approval from the state department of education and move forward in a budget planning cycle that we know would not be inhibited for a defeat of the budgets.”
McGair said the board is “very frugal in its nature and very competent in the budgeting process,” and feels this is going to allow the board to budget long-term, set goals, set priorities and move forward with them.
“Overall, our schools do a wonderful job — and I think in large part, our community does believe that. But yes, the tax burden has gotten very, very significant,” he said. “We think it’s going to take some of that discontent and anger that is generated through the archaic process that has gone on for years, and years, and years.”
In other business, date violence was discussed at the school board meeting.
Medford Superintendent of Schools Joseph DelRossi said the K-8 district is not an area where there is much of a problem with date violence.
While the issue is addressed at the high school level, children in middle school are just starting to form relationships.
“I think that the legislation and the policy and procedures that we’ve developed are good proactive measures; however, there is not a need here in Medford for us to hang our hat on,” DelRossi said, noting the district already intervenes when cases of bullying, harassment or general misconduct arise.
“We address those issues in a timely manner,” he said. “This is not a really big change for us.”
The superintendent said he sees the need for date violence awareness at the high school level across the state in part because high school relationships are more complex, especially when dealing with young adults.
DelRossi said usually legislation is created as a reaction to something that has happened.
“Something happens somewhere in the state — and a legislator thinks he has to do something,” he said. “I don’t think districts like ours need to be painted with a broad brush.
“These are issues we’ve been dealing with appropriately over an extended period of time.”
DelRossi said the principal, assistant principals and counselors are all involved when a student misbehaves.
He said kids treating each other with respect is the hardest thing to instill in students and that the district reinforces the golden rule concept that everyone has differences and one has to respect those differences.
“I don’t think we’re going to see much of a change because these are issues that we deal with effectively and in a timely manner,” DelRossi said.
