P.O. Box 909 ● Trenton, NJ 08605-0909 ● Phone: 609.695.7600 ● Fax: 609.695.0413 ● Web: www.njsba.org/PI

Opinion Column

Get Involved in the Annual School Election

By Harry J. Delgado, President

New Jersey School Boards Association

There’s renewed interest in civic participation, and it’s reflected in the voting booth. In November 2008, the nation witnessed the greatest voter turnout in 40 years. As president of the New Jersey School Boards Association, I hope our reinvigorated citizenry continues to show its interest by voting in the Annual School Election on April 21.

Having served as a member of a local board of education for more than 13 years, I am often asked about the importance of the Annual School Election. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions.

What takes place in the Annual School Election? 

In more than 90 percent of school districts in New Jersey, voters select members of their local boards of education. Statewide, more than 1,500 positions will be on the ballot.

Voters in most of these districts will also act on a proposed operating budget for their schools. New Jersey is one of the few states that provides its citizens the opportunity to vote on school districts’ yearly spending plans.

Why is the Annual School Election so important?

The election gives voters the ability to make decisions that will have a significant impact on their community. For example, the people voters select to serve on their school board set the district’s educational goals and policies and provide oversight of district operations.

In the end, quality schools contribute to the quality of life in a community, making it more attractive to prospective homebuyers and business investors. Most important, quality schools give children in your community the tools they need to succeed.

How does the budget question work?

The budget vote is a simple yes-or-no question, essentially asking voters if they approve of spending a certain dollar amount in local taxes to run the school district for the coming year. School districts in New Jersey must keep their budgets within specific spending state-mandated caps.

School boards may present one or more additional budget questions asking voters for specific items to exceed the state’s caps on the “base” budget. Typically, these additional budget questions (sometimes called “second questions”) involve retaining or add teachers or aides; repairing playgrounds; converting kindergarten from part day to full day; and maintaining or expanding athletic programs, extracurricular activities s or field trips. Additional ballot questions are not common. Last year, only one of 20 school districts proposed second questions.

What happens if voters reject the base budget?

A simple majority vote is needed to approve the base budget. If approved, the proposed budget goes into effect. If voters reject the budget, they are technically asking the municipal governing body to review the spending plan. The municipality may cut the budget, or leave it as is.

Second questions, however, require approval of a 60-percent of participating votes. When additional budget questions are rejected, there is no review by the municipal governing body. The voters’ word is final.

What does the school board do?

School board members are unpaid officials who serve as the community’s representatives in setting the direction for the schools. The school board doesn’t run the district on a day-to-day basis. That’s the job of the superintendent. Instead, the school board ensures that the schools are well run. It does this by working with the superintendent to set goals, by evaluating the superintendent’s performance, and by providing accountability to the public.

School boards oversee the district’s budget, approve the curriculum, and represent the district in labor negotiations with the unions. School boards serve as the voice of the public in school district affairs, and they must communicate the needs of the school system to the public.

How do I learn about my district’s budget and school board candidates?

New Jersey voters in communities with school elections will receive a sample ballot that lists the candidates, information on the school district’s base budget, and any other questions that will appear on the April 21 ballot. By law, the school board must publish a summary of the proposed budget in local newspapers and hold a public hearing on the spending plan.

Citizens can often obtain more information through meet-the-candidate nights or candidate debates, often sponsored by civic groups and broadcast on local cable access television. Newspapers often print candidate profiles and write stories on the district’s proposed yearly budget.  

When and where do I vote?

State law requires polls to be open from at least 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the school election day, but most communities schedule additional voting hours. Contact your local board of education or county clerk for your town’s polling hours and locations, or refer to the sample ballot you receive in the mail. Information about voting by absentee ballot is available at the New Jersey School Boards Association’s online Voter Information Center at www.njsba.org/elections.

Harry J. Delgado is a member of the South Brunswick Board of Education.