Letter to the Editor: So Much for Democracy
Writer expresses views about this week's school board meeting.
Over the clear and eloquently articulated objections of an ardent group of concerned residents, the Millburn Board of Education disenfranchised the community in a defiant vote to not only extend their own terms by nearly nine months, but to unilaterally rescind the rights of Millburn-Short Hills residents to vote on the annual school budget.
The vast majority of those that spoke asked the BOE to allow the community to vote on this measure by adding a referendum to November’s election ballot. After all, the strongest argument for moving the vote to November is to increase voter participation in school board elections. To disregard the will of the voters in making this decision unilaterally is not only the height of hypocrisy, but also demonstrates a callous disregard for those members of the public who cared enough about this issue to show up on Monday night and speak out.
The shock reverberating though the crowd as the vote was taken was visceral. Sadly, many were not surprised as we once again witnessed the school board discounting public comments. Though never has this disregard been so flagrant. Board President Michael Birnberg actually stated that he believed those who spoke were not truly representative of the community. And though he admitted public sentiment was 7 or 8 to 1 in favor, he said because these individuals often spoke out at Board Meetings that their comments were somehow not worthy of consideration. Other board members nodded in agreement.
Those of us who do attend board meetings regularly have come to expect a level of arrogant disdain from a number of board members but we still had trouble comprehending what had transpired. The Board of Education continually claims they are open and receptive to public input. Monday night they simply and deliberately choose to ignore the strong, consistent, and thoughtful expressions of the will of the people.
The singular most shocking moment occurred as Dr. Mark Zucker expressed his ethical reservations about voting against community wishes. Yet he stated that as he is in the midst of teacher contract negotiations – negotiations that should have concluded a year ago – he needed the extra time the vote would provide him to complete these complex and delicate negotiations. He quite apologetically admitted that his 'yes' vote was based on his ability to extend his own term not the intrinsic merits of the resolution.
When the audience members shouted that he should therefore recuse himself from the vote, that he had admitted an ethical conflict, his response was that Sam Levy should then recuse himself as well. To which the audience responded resoundingly, "YES!" The inherent conflict of interest his vote represented quite clearly eluded him.
When the final vote was taken only Regina Truitt, Lise Chapman and Jean Pasternak stood up for the rights of our community and voted "no," emphatically backing up strong statements they made previously that evening as to why this resolution should not pass and should be left up to the voters to decide in November.
The remaining board members took away your right to oversee the expenditure of your property tax dollars while extending their own terms with law that is not subject to any modification for four years.
– Carolyn Most, Millburn
Bobby
10:38 am on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Ms. Most,
Your criticisms of the Millburn Schools are endless and tiresome.
How many budgets have not passed in the last 15 years? 1? Budgets are now restricted to a 2% increase by the state. People make up the majority of the budget. Even if the teachers were to agree to a 0% increase, their salaries would increase via seniority, earning masters degrees etc. Health care costs are going up.
It is likely to be a struggle to make a budget fit the 2% cap. If there were to be a vote, what would the difference be? 1.8% vs 2.0? Given the cap, there is not much to vote for or against regarding the budget anymore.
On the other hand, the separate school election costs money and school board election winners receive something like a pathetic 1,200 votes from 14,000 registered voters. An election is not very democratic when the participation rate is under 10%. If school board elections are held along with the general election, the participation rate will be MUCH higher, especially in years with presidential or gubernatorial contests.
You often criticize the board for the delay in negotiating a teacher contract. You do know that the teachers' first proposal was for a laughable 5% increase? You do know that we have a 2% cap on raising school taxes? The teachers will have to accept a contract that is less favorable than previous contracts. Most of us in the real world have not had things financial go our way the last few years.
LDSF
4:10 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
The vote for Nov General Election last year is 9430 out of 14,000 registered voters. It was 60%. School board is 10%. Democratic is a spirit in process. Obviously, it is a need to work on civic education, public commumications on strength the methodology, asking the question of why people don't vote and why public safety and community are in failure. Instead we forgone the spirit of democracy because of the pathetic numbers. Combined elections can be infomation overloaded to voters. While more voters may turn out to vote as uniformed voters, it is unrealistic to manipulate the efficiency of voters turnout. If the voters turnout is still not improved. That will be an risk on a "bypass". Many families will likely to struggles on making 2% tax cap dollars on salary, insurance cost and benefits. The trend of the insurance is self -purchase by employees. 2% is already ALOTS for some families and a lock up for consecutively 4 years is a pain. It is really a better safeguard to wait until Nov Election to make any decision that impact the entire community.
Well, Thanks bobby to explain the rationale.
LDSF
4:38 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Actually, I remember the school board voted was 13%.
Millerman
5:43 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
401 out of 520 disticts in NJ have voted to move the elections, so far. The deadline for the decision is on friday. Many more are expected to move to the November option.
"Over the clear and eloquently articulated objections of an ardent group of concerned residents"........ please ms most, enough already. Disagreeing with you does not make it wrong!
LDSF
8:21 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Freedom of Speech is a lie.
Zoinks
8:31 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Ms Most consistently thinks that any decision that goes against what she thinks is the proper decision is unconscionable. So none of this is any surprise. And I would suggest that Ms. Most take a basic course in the principles of a representative democracy, which is what the U.S. is.
Jane Marshall
11:07 pm on Wednesday, February 29, 2012
You are ignorant and use nothing but personal attacks to divert attention away from the facts and the truth. This Board represents no democracy only selfish interests. Don't like it when they are being called out? You are one of them.
LDSF
10:20 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Representatives are voted for by the people.
"On most major issues we've dealt with in the past 50 years, the public was more likely to be right -based on the judgment of history- than the legislatures or Congress." --George Gallup, Sr.
In the US, citizens have the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances. This is seen as desirable, because at worst it's inconvenient but at best can draw attention to real injustices. When the average constituent lobbies or petitions their elected officials, it's called participatory democracy.
A candidate for public office could potentially set their personal views aside for the sake of representing the views of their constituents. I believe this is in holding with the spirit of public service and representative democracy.
mom
10:35 am on Friday, February 24, 2012
Carolyn Most is right on the money with this letter. It would behoove those naysayers critcizing her to read the other letters posted (http://millburn.patch.com/articles/letter-to-the-editor-losing-the-right-to-vote). Members of the BOE acted shamefully at this meeting.