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CONTACT:        Frank Belluscio (fbelluscio@njsba.org)                                                     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                        Mike Yaple (myaple@njsba.org)
                        (609) 278-5202

NJSBA President Urges Citizens to Vote on April 17

Facts and figures about the Annual School Election

TRENTON, April 12, 2007 – The president of the New Jersey School Boards Association today urged residents to take part in the Annual School Election on Tuesday, April 17. Statewide, voters in 553 school districts will select school board candidates to fill 1,627 vacancies.

These are crucial decisions, coming in a difficult year, said Kevin E. Ciak, NJSBA president. Citizen input is vital.

Ciak explained the vital role that school boards play in education:

• The board of education sets educational goals, and it charges the school administrators with meeting those goals.
• The board sets policies that dictate how the school district will operate regarding issues as curriculum, instruction and student discipline.
• It negotiates employee contracts, and must approve the hiring of teachers, administrators and other staff.
• The board also approves the school districts budget that is presented to local voters.

Proposed budgets In addition to selecting candidates, voters will decide whether to support the school districts operating budget for the year. New Jersey is one of the few states that gives communities the opportunity to vote on their school districts annual spending plan.

The school budget serves as a roadmap to guide the district in providing the programs and services that meet the boards educational goals, said Ciak. The budget covers everything from textbooks to teacher salaries, maintenance to transportation..

Voter information To participate in the Annual School Election, a citizen must be a registered voter in his or her municipality. Voters who wish to vote by absentee ballot have until 3 p.m. on April 16 to request one in person at the office of the county clerk.

Polling times By law, polls must be open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on April 17. Most school districts, however, schedule additional voting hours.

All voterswhether or not they have children or grandchildren in schoolhave a stake in the outcome of the Annual School Election, said Ciak. Not only does the school budget affect property taxes, but a strong school program also enhances the quality of life in a community. It can make a town more attractive to prospective homebuyers and potential business investors. Most important, a strong school system gives children opportunities they need to succeed.

Kevin E. Ciak, president of the New Jersey School Boards Association, has served as a member of the Sayreville Board of Education for 13 years.

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The New Jersey School Boards Association, a federation of district boards of education, advocates the interests of school districts, trains local school board members, and provides resources for the advancement of public education.