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Friday, March 13, 2009

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

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