Public School Update

The official reorganization meeting of the Englewood Board of Education (BOE) was held on April 25^th. Lazaro Carvajal was voted President of the Board and Larry Lubin Vice President.

One hundred thirty-six employees were laid off at the recommendation of Superintendent Dr. John Greico. The Englewood Public Schools now employ about 343 people.

During the meeting of May 14^th we learned disappointing news. The state pledged only $3 million for the Academies @ Englewood and the school district, instead of the $25 million Dr. Grieco and the Board of Education had expected. After months of negotiations with the State Department of Education Commissioner William Librera, it is clear the state has little interest or funds available for our school system. We were very surprised to learn that a funding arrangement between the city and the school district will replace the money that should have come from the state. It is our understanding that the city will lend $3 million to the school district out of the budget surplus. The city will offer a bond issue for an additional $2,400,000 to raise more funds for the school district. The school district will contribute $600,000 out of the budget surplus. For months all we heard was that the Academies would be funded by the state, or would not open. Alternatives were never discussed at the public board meetings before May 14^th. Now most of the burden is falling on the city taxpayers.

One hundred twenty-seven acceptance letters were mailed out on May 15th to fifty-eight students from Englewood and sixty-nine students from out of district who have been approved for the Academies@Englewood. Because it is very late in the year for the students who have been approved for the academies, it is plausible they have commitments to other schools. At this time we don’t believe the first class will have the number of students accepted. Seventy-one of the students approved are female and fifty-six are male. The ethnic breakdown of these students is 32 Asians, 31 African American, 31 Caucasians and 33 Hispanics. (Source: Dr. Grieco)

The good news is that the trustees also voted to ask the state to lift the injunction that has embittered relations between Englewood, Tenafly and Englewood Cliffs for almost 17 years. This lawsuit cost taxpayers millions and millions of dollars in useless lawsuits -- monies that should have gone to the classrooms. We believe that past school boards spent more money in lawyers than the $3 million pledge by the Department of Education and the $1 million by the County.

No one knows where the funding for the academies for the next 5 years will come from. Dr. Greico is hopeful that he will receive the state and federal funds to continue the academes. Otherwise the burden for Englewood homeowners and taxpayers will be enormous, since we do not have substantial new ratables to support it.

The Board of Education may consider going back to court and argue that the state funding is inadequate for the academies. Going back to court would be unwise. The decision of the Supreme Court in Trenton gave the ultimate responsibility to the Department of Education (DOE), but the judges were clear that they were not going to specify an amount of money. The DOE must decide appropriate funding. No administrative judge will order the state to pay a higher dollar amount that the DOE’s decision to give $3 million for one year. A new lawsuit will bring no fruit and will waste more time and money.

The Board also plans a referendum for December 2002 - January 2003 to address additional capital cost. At this time we don’t know how many millions the board will ask for.

The only way you can express your opinion and help our School Board make good decisions is by voting. It is important when the date of the referendum is known you are prepared to vote. If you are planning to be away in December or January please get an application for an absentee ballot. Don't miss your right to vote.

The turnout in the last school election showed that many homeowners do not realize the importance of voting on school issues. Whether your children are in college, private or parochial schools or even if you have no children in your household, when it is time to vote on school issues your vote counts. The outcome of the school election affects our children, our taxes, our property values and our quality of life.

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