Incumbent candidates fail basic School Board knowledge test...

 

 

ANSWER KEY

1) Answer: 209
Houser, Taylor, and Adorno have been saying in their campaign literature that it’s “600,” however, Dean Allison, Barnegat School’s Business Administrator said in a letter dated 4/7/09 that, “The total number of computers purchased for the 2008-2009 school year were 209.”

2) Answer: $395,000
Houser, Taylor, and Adorno have been saying in their campaign literature that they reduced the 2008-2009 budget by $800,000. However, the town committee ordered the tax levy reduced when the budget failed and Dean Allison, Barnegat School’s Business Administrator said in a letter dated 4/9/09 that, “A reduction in the expenditure budget of $400,000 (actual implemented was $395,000).”

3) Answer: Houser and Taylor
Houser, Taylor, and Adorno have been saying in their campaign literature that Ihnken, Bilker, and Ford have been raising taxes when they’re not even on the Board. However, page 26 of Board minutes from 3/26/08 clearly shows the 2008-2009 vote for Dr. McMahon’s $51 million budget and Houser and Taylor voted “YES.”

4) Answer: Taylor
Houser, Taylor, and Adorno have been saying in their campaign literature that Ihnken, Bilker, and Ford gave Dr. McMahon his new contract. However, page 8 of Board minutes from 1/24/07 clearly shows Taylor voted “YES” for McMahon’s NEW contract. Houser had to abstain because his wife worked for Dr. McMahon, but Houser did tell the Asbury Park Press on 1/27/07 that this NEW contract is a “step in the right direction.”

PLEASE download the below flyer. Print it out, and pass it along to your friends and neighbors. THANK YOU!!

Who REALLY gave Dr. McMahon his “$327,000” contract in 2007? Here’s the TRUTH they don’t want you to know...

January 24, 2007: Board minutes and voting record.

Mr. Sarno: “I would like to make a Motion to rescind Dr. McMahon’s, the Superintendent, current contract and to issue a new contract as we discussed in closed session.”

Mr. Sarno: Yes
Mrs. Germano: Abstain
Mr. Houser: Abstain (see Important Note)
Mr. Bernstein: Yes
Mr. Kostka: Yes
Mrs. Taylor: Yes
Mrs. Lally: Yes
Mrs. Mitchell: Yes

IMPORTANT NOTE: Houser had to abstain because his wife worked for Dr. McMahon. However, Houser did comment in the Asbury Park Press on 1/26/07 that this NEW contract is a “step in the right direction.” So, if he could have voted “yes” or “no,” how do you think he would have voted for McMahon’s new contract (his wife’s boss)?

The truth is that Houser, Taylor, and their friends and supporters on the Board voted for Dr. McMahon’s “$327,000” contract. They opened McMahon’s contract and issued a NEW contract. And now Houser, Taylor, and Adorno want you to believe they had nothing to do with it. (Click here to see the Board Minutes from 1/24/07 for yourself.)

PLEASE download the below flyer. Print it out, and pass it along to your friends and neighbors. THANK YOU!!

Kids first--not politics. Here’s a sample of what we will do...

	Bring back Safety Aid Greeters. All were eliminated. We will bring back the Safety Aid Greeters without increasing the budget and think of new strategies to secure our schools. That’s where Gerald Ihnken’s 26 years of law enforcement experience will help. Gerald is the 3rd highest ranking officer in Wall Township and a graduate of the FBI Academy. He knows what we have to do to make the school safe for our children.
	Add security to Donahue School. This coming year, there will be no security guard or greeter at the school. This is too risky.
	Bring back kindergarten aids. Three were let go, and we believe they are vital--especially in a full-day kindergarten. We will bring them back without increasing the budget.
	Get Collins and Brackman back on track. Collins School and Brackman’s special education students have not made Annual Yearly Progress. That’s three failing years in a row for Collins. Kelly Ford has 10+ years experience as an educator, and she has a plan. As a Board member, she’ll be able to work with teachers and administrators because she understands today’s educational challenges.
	We have to spend smarter and be more efficient with our dollars. That’s where Scott Bilker can help. Scott has been helping consumers save thousands of dollars for more than 18 years with his books, website, and advice. That’s why The Wall Street Journal, Money, Consumer Reports, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, and Reader’s Digest have called Scott when they need financial advice for their readers.
	Facility usage should be free. Over the past few years, the Board has started charging community groups like the Mirage Players, and even our own students, to use facilities for events. We believe that our tax dollars have already paid for these buildings and should be available for approved activities at no additional cost.
	Teacher phones at high school. One third of the high school classrooms do not have phones! Teachers need a way to directly communicate with the office to ensure safety. We will get these phones without increasing the budget.
	Buy textbooks. The Board decided to lease textbooks. This will cost much more in the long run. The schools should own their books and buy more wisely.
	Technology education for the 21st century. Students need more exposure to today’s software platforms. That’s another area Scott Bilker can help. Before writing about consumer finance, Scott spent 11 years as an Electrical Engineer for Navy Lakehurst. As an NJIT graduate, he has a strong background in math, science, computers, and technology, as well as programming in PERL and Javascript and extensive use of Linux, OpenOffice and other open source projects.
	School Board meetings in all schools. The current Board holds all meetings at the High School with the Board on stage and public in the audience. Meetings should rotate between all district schools so the public can get a chance to visit and see the work that our students proudly display.

PLEASE download the below flyer. Print it out, and pass it along to your friends and neighbors. THANK YOU!!

Kids come first

My primary goal, along with my running mates Scott Bilker and Kelly Ford, if elected will be to insure that our children receive the quality education we all expected them to get. This is the reason why many of us have moved to Barnegat. It is a desirable town with an excellent school system. We want to keep it that way. We cannot and will not let the quality of education recede. Our educational standards must increase so our children will be competent when they leave our school system and enter college or the working world. We will insure that our schools provide guidance and direction to our children to help them with their venture into higher education.

We, along with hundreds of parents, have concerns about the safety of our children in our school system. The Safety Aide Greeters have recently been informed that they are going to lose their jobs at the end of this school year. These people are the first line of defense in the schools for our children. The cost savings in eliminating these positions is a matter of pennies compared to the budget as a whole. We need the greeters to be reinstated to their positions. To have the school security guard sit at the point of entry of the school will serve no purpose other than having an expensive "greeter" and really no security guard. The security guard should be free to roam the school and insure the security of our children. Remember, times are much different today than they were when we attended school. Years ago, security was not thought of and really was not necessary; however, recently due to changes in societal behavior, the safety and security of our children must be forethought.

We also have concerns about facility usage. It has come to our attention that youth athletic leagues, scouting organizations, senior citizen groups as well as other non-profit organizations that provide scholarships for graduating students from our school system are being charged some pretty steep fees to utilize the schools. For example, the Mirage players paid nothing to use Barnegat High School for their play two years ago, then they were charged a fee of $1,500 last year and this year they were told it will cost them an astronomical fee of $5,000! Now, what is going to happen to our scouting groups and youth athletic leagues? Will the fees charged by the Board of Education cause these organizations to dissolve? Will the registration fees charged by the youth organizations to offset facility use charges increase so much that parents cannot afford to register children? Will parents take their children to neighboring towns where registration fees may be more affordable? These are OUR schools and OUR youth athletic leagues. Scouting organizations and other non-profit organizations should be permitted to use school facilities without paying any fees as they have done in the past. We are already paying for these facilities with our taxes, why should we pay more?

Setting the record straight

I served on the Board from 2003 to 2006, so I know that it’s a difficult job. I understand that tough decisions are necessary. I only ask that our Board members are honest and fair with the public, both when serving on the Board and when campaigning.

I’m running for the Board this year because I’m tired of the deception and self-interests I’ve seen over the past few years both from the Board and in campaigns. For example, my opponents this year are saying that they had nothing to do with the former Superintendent’s contract and buyout negotiations. That’s false. In January 2007, with Houser and Taylor on the Board, former Superintendent Dr. McMahon’s contract was opened and a new contract created. In fact, Houser told the Asbury Park Press (1/26/07) that the new contract was a “step in the right direction.” Now, they’re saying that I negotiated that contract when I wasn’t even on the Board. Come on! Houser even bragged that he somehow saved money when he paid out $117,000 to McMahon (12/9/08 Board minutes). It’s all on record and in the papers.

They also said that they cut last year’s budget by $800,000. That’s another flat-out lie. Houser and Taylor, voted YES along with Mitchell, Splendorio, Davis, Germano, Kostka, Dorrow, and Lally for Dr. McMahon’s $50+ million budget. That budget was voted down and the town committee, not the Board of Education, ordered the budget to be reduced. The difference between the proposed budget and final budget was $395,000. Again, it’s all on record and Houser, Taylor, and Adorno are hoping people won’t look at the records.

But far worse is that they are trying to deceive parents by misrepresenting what they have done for the children. Much of their campaign this year is based on their claim that they “Purchased 600 new computers in 2008/2009.” Well, we asked Dean Allison, Barnegat Board of Education, Business Administrator/Board Secretary, and he said in a letter dated 4/7/09 that, “The total numbers of computers purchased for the 2008-2009 school year were 209.”

These deceptive tactics are why the Asbury Park Press (4/26/06) warned Barnegat that, “The three board members’ ethics are in doubt. Voters should closely watch their actions on the board and keep their last-minute tactics in mind when they’re up for re-election.”

I also have a problem when Board members employ their immediate family members. Incumbent Houser’s wife was recently was moved from part-time to full-time, while three kindergarten aids and nine safety aid greeters were eliminated. I’m not saying she doesn’t deserve that full-time position—I don’t know, I’m not on the Board. What I am saying is that it looks suspicious because there is a conflict of interest. My feeling is that it’s not fair to the Board, the public, and family members, to run for the Board when immediate family is employed by the Board. It may be okay from a legal standpoint, but the downside is that judgment is in question and the family member’s job will be in the spotlight.

Then there’s Adorno. Last year he snuck into the high school during a full school day to “test security.” My son was in school that day and I received that email about an “intruder.” My friends and neighbors were extremely worried to the point of tears and panic. Adorno said it was a “spur-of-the-minute idea” to do this. Well, I don’t believe that someone with that type of reckless judgment and impulsive behavior should be making decisions about our schools and tax dollars.

Now look at their budget. It seems okay from the outside, but it’s the same $50+ million budget that the last Superintendent proposed--and there are hidden fees. For example, the Board is charging our own students and community groups to use school facilities. The Mirage Players are being charged $5,485 to use the high school auditorium. I find this outrageous! The schools are built by our tax dollars and community groups should be able use these facilities for free. Another hidden cost in the budget is textbooks. To make the budget look smaller, the Board is leasing textbooks. Leasing textbooks will be far more expensive for taxpayers in the long run. It’s just like leasing a car, it’s less up front and per month, you don’t own it, and the car is never worth the lease buyout at the end, and that’s when they get you for the big money.

Increase achievement while saving money

I'm a Barnegat mom of children ages 3 and 5 and I have more than 10 years of experience in education. I decided to run for a seat on the Board of Education when I received a letter in the mail about Collins Elementary School being monitored by the state due to failing test scores of our special-education students. I looked on the state Web site and found Brackman Middle School is also now being monitored by the state for the same reason. Advertisement

My son is a part of the special-education population. I have spent the past two years working closely with experts in special education and literacy on improving this same problem in the district for which I work. We have seen a great deal of improvement and have managed to save money at the same time. This is the goal of any district: to increase student achievement and spend the taxpayer's money wisely.

I believe my experience will be an asset to my children's schools. The teachers in our district are some of the best I have seen. With the loss of several central administrators and the dissolution of the assistant superintendent position, our district has a challenging road ahead, but we will rise to the occasion.

In the past there has been hostility between board members My only allegiance is to the children in our schools. I'm asking residents to vote for me, and my running mates Scott Bilker and Gerald Ihnken. Bilker's experience in finance and Ihnken's leadership in law enforcement would be assets to the board. They also share my dedication to moving forward and working together to improve the Barnegat schools. Feel free to contact anytime by email at: Kelly@Barnegat2009.com

How did the school budget grow from $44 million in 2006 to $50+ million today? Here’s the TRUTH they don’t want you to know...

March 26, 2008: Superintendent Dr. McMahon proposes a $50+ million school budget. Here’s the voting record for that budget:

Mrs. Taylor: Yes
Mr. Splendorio: Yes
Mr. Kostka: Yes
Mr. Houser: Yes
Mrs. Germano: Yes
Mr. Dorow: Yes
Mr. Davis: Yes
Mrs. Lally: Yes
Mrs. Mitchell: Yes

The truth is that Houser, Taylor, and their friends and supporters on the Board RUBBER STAMPED every budget increase since being in office! And this year, with Adorno, they voted YES AGAIN for another $50+ million budget! (Click here to see the Board Minutes from 3/26/08 for yourself.)

PLEASE download the below flyer. Print it out, and pass it along to your friends and neighbors. THANK YOU!!

Incumbent Board members paid out “golden parachutes” with YOUR TAX DOLLARS! Here’s the TRUTH they want you to forget...

	April 2006: Incumbents Houser and Taylor get on Board.
	May 2006: Board hires Dr. Donahue as Assistant Superintendent with NEW contract effective on 7/1/06.
	January 2007: Board opens Superintendent Dr. McMahon’s contract AGAIN to change terms. Houser says in Asbury Park Press (1/26/07) that ANOTHER new contract is a,“step in the right direction.” Barnegat resident says the new contract is, “more smoke and mirrors.”
	April 2008: Incumbent Adorno gets on Board.
	July 2008: Administrators begin to resign.
	December 2008: Superintendent resigns and Assistant Superintendent notifies Board he will retire.
	December 2008: Board President Robert Houser BRAGS that HE somehow saved money by paying the Superintendent’s $117,000 parachute and Assistant Superintendent’s $54,000 parachute. (Board minutes, 12/9/08, page 13, at BarnegatSchools.com.)
	March 2009: Houser, Taylor, and Adorno claim in campaign flyers and ads they had nothing to do with these buyouts or contracts. Come on! Do they really think we’re all that stupid!

Don’t be fooled by incumbents Houser, Taylor, and Adorno. They will try to say they didn’t make these payoffs, BUT the PROOF is ON RECORD!

Their credibility is so bad that the Asbury Park Press WARNED Barnegat on 4/26/06 that, “The three board members’ ethics are in doubt. Voters should closely watch their actions on the board and keep their last-minute tactics in mind when they’re up for re-election.”

Incumbents Houser, Taylor, and Adorno had their chance and now everyone knows that we CANNOT afford another three years of their fiscal irresponsibility!

PLEASE download the below flyer. Print it out, and pass it along to your friends and neighbors. THANK YOU!!

Why should you vote for me? What do I have to offer as a board member?

I have over 10 years of experience in education with a background in how the brain learns. I have worked with members of the NJDOE, Middletown's board of education, and their central administrators in improving special education students' performance. I have played a significant role in increasing Middletown's advanced proficient scores. I know what a district should look like when it's running well, and I know red flags that reveal a school district needs some help. I have expertise in middle school, high school, and the most critical stage of learning--the K-2 years when a child learns how to read.

Being a mom with kids beginning their school life in Barnegat, you know you will have a child advocate who has a personal stake in making sure our kids have the best education at all levels. I believe in being available and approachable to answer questions and concerns: my email would be one click away to every parent of the district. And I can give you honest answers based on knowledge, experience, and research. Finally, I have no personal allegiances to any board members; my only allegiance is to all of our children in the Barnegat schools!

Candidate Bio Flyer

PLEASE download the below flyer. Print it out, and pass it along to your friends and neighbors. THANK YOU!!

Asbury Park Press WARNS BARNEGAT that: HOUSER TEAM “ETHICS ARE IN DOUBT”

The incumbent team of Houser, Taylor, and Adorno are running for re-election and WE MUST WATCH OUT for their lies and deception!

It’s so bad that the Asbury Park Press WARNED on 4/26/06 that, “The three board members’ ethics are in doubt. Voters should closely watch their actions on the board and keep their last-minute tactics in mind when they’re up for re-election.” The Asbury Park Press published this warning because the Houser Team distributed the below deceptive flyer on election day in 2006.

** BEWARE of their TRICKS **

Above: Infamous 2006 “P.T.A” Flyer from Houser, Taylor, and Sarno

1) They forged the school’s logo and “Get the Facts” letterhead to make the flyer appear like a genuine school communication.

2) Headline written to deceive stating that it’s a “Note” from “your P.T.A.”

3, 4, & 5) Everything contained in the body of the flyer was a lie--completely untrue statements conjured up to scare parents.

One year later (2007), Sarno resigns shortly after it was discovered that he lied about his college education.

In 2009, Houser and Taylor have replaced Sarno with Rafael Adorno. Just last year, Adorno was "FOUND GUILTY of trespassing on school property." (Asbury Park Press, 4/15/08)

By deceiving the public with this flyer, Robert Houser was able to slip into office by a slim margin of only 31 votes.

PLEASE download the below flyer. Print it out, and pass it along to your friends and neighbors. THANK YOU!!

Incumbents FAIL to "Lower Taxes" as promised

Incumbents Houser, Taylor, and Adorno will say whatever they think people want to hear to get elected, however, following through on their promises is another story.

They promised "Lower Taxes" and "Fiscal Responsibility for Barnegat," but they delivered $6.7 MILLION in TAX INCREASES for Barnegat! This year, they're campaigning with the slogan "Continued Reform." That's the promise--the reality will be "Continued Tax Increases"!

INCUMBENT TAX RECORD = FAILURE

Here's the equation:

3 years of Houser + 3 years of Taylor + 1 year of Adorno = $6.7 MILLION in TAX HIKES

Everyone knows that the ballots tell the truth because that's the tax levy we vote on. It's the amount of money Barnegat has to pay in taxes for our schools. The incumbents don't want you to remember the numbers. They don't want you to see the ballots. They don't want you to know the truth.

Here are the ballots. Here is the truth. Here is the PROOF!

 

The above 2006 ballot shows where we started BEFORE incumbents Houser, Taylor, and Adorno got control of your money.

 

The 2008 ballot PROVES that for two years, incumbents Houser and Taylor voted YES to pump UP the town school tax levy by nearly $5 MILLION!

Last week, on 3/16/09, School Board President Robert Houser announced that the tax levy is JUMPING to a record $26,447,701!

That’s UP $6.7 MILLION since Robert Houser slipped into office in 2006 by a slim margin of only 31 votes!

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IT'S TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE!

Gerald IHNKEN - 2A

Scott BILKER - 5A

Kelly FORD - 6A

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PLEASE download the below flyer. Print it out, and pass it along to your friends and neighbors. THANK YOU!!

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Message from Scott Bilker

My motivation to serve on the Board of Education is simple--I'm very proud of Barnegat, and I want to help increase the quality of education. I have NO relatives working in the schools! My only direct connection is that I have three children in the district--two in the high school and one in Brackman. My family has had a positive experience with teachers and administrators throughout the years here in Barnegat (K-11, so far). But here's the thing--I feel that Board and local politics, over the past few years, has overshadowed education. I see a town divided on how to run the schools and a tax burden that is increasing faster than inventory of homes for sale in our town! People are so fed up with our elected officials and increasing taxes that, last year, for the first time since 2001, the town rejected the school budget. The Board of Education needs to put forward a budget that the town can support--with failure to control taxes, this seems like an impossibility.

If that's not bad enough, our top administrators are fleeing from Barnegat. And when that happens, we have to pay EVEN MORE money to buy them out! This cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars!

What's worse is that they're being driven out because of the hostile political environment and micromanagement of the incumbent Board. Board President Robert Houser tried to explain why some of our brightest talent are leaving by saying, "people are looking to move on and of course they are looking to do what is best for their families."

What Robert Houser and the incumbents fail to understand is that there was a time when people wanted to COME to Barnegat because that was the BEST thing they could do for their families!

I am certain that with the help of my friends, Gerald Ihnken and Kelly Ford, we can create an environment in which our teachers and administrators will find to be their best choice. That is one of the many changes we want to accomplish. We are going to work for you, for your children, and for the community! Feel free to contact me anytime by email at: Scott@Barnegat2009.com

Message from Gerald Ihnken

As a Barnegat Township Board of Education member, I would strive to work together with all members of the board as a team toward maintaining stability of the district by insuring that the upper administration of our school system is intact and functional. I feel it’s very important for this district to move forward in a positive direction, escalating the quality of education for each child in Barnegat Township. In addition, we must also be fiscally-minded in leading the board in an effort to make Barnegat an affordable to place to live.

My family and I believe service to your community and volunteerism are extremely important values, which is why we not only actively participate in our community, but we strive to set examples for our children to do the same. My wife, Minita, has volunteered in the Cecil S. Collins School and the Russell O. Brackman School for many years, and I have given my time to the Barnegat-Waretown Little League for several years. I am a member of the Barnegat Bengals Booster Club and have also taken the time to participate in Career Day Presentations at the Russell O. Brackman School. Feel free to contact me anytime by email at: Gerald@Barnegat2009.com

Message from Kelly Ford

I view having a seat on the Barnegat Board of Education as a chance to bring positive change to a district facing instability due to the resignation/retirent of three key central administrators this past year. My experience as Literacy Coach and from working closely with Middletown’s central administrators and Board of Education has taught me how important it is to have a Board that fosters trust, communication, and growth in the school district. As an educator for over 10 years, I believe my educational background would be a valuable asset to the Barnegat Board of Education.

As a board member, I would help ensure that the district’s focus benefits and enhances every child’s educational experience, and that the budget reflects this as well. I would be a positive team player that focuses on working together harmoniously for the kids. Feel free to contact anytime by email at: Kelly@Barnegat2009.com

Welcome

In the coming weeks, we are going to present our case as to why you should choose to vote for us on April 21, 2009. Thanks for visiting our election blog!