VOTEROXBURY.COM

Ron Lucas and Student Activity Fees

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 21:11:00 +0000

It never ceases to amaze me what some politicians will say to get elected.
For example, take Roxbury school board member Ron Lucas. This past spring, he and his slate of CARE candidates mirrored a position held by the slate of TEAM candidates. Mr. Lucas agreed with TEAM that the Roxbury school board should eliminate a policy that forces parents to pay $150.00 per child who participates in activities beyond the core curriculum.

At the last Roxbury school board meeting, school board member Maureen Castriotta and I proposed a resolution that would eliminate the user fees. Two of the three CARE candidates kept their promise and voted with us, but Ron Lucas changed his mind and voted no. When the tally was counted, there was not enough support to eliminate the policy and the motion failed.

Ron Lucas would like you to believe that his vote was based on fiscal responsibility. But you have to ask why his running mates voted with us to eliminate the fees and he did not?

Mr. Lucas has publicly admitted that he has an ethical conflict with the union and thus cannot vote on certain issues that pertain to union member compensation. These union members make tens of thousands of dollars in stipends from their additional employment with after school activities. Could it be that local union members persuaded his vote?

I believe that user fees are just another form of taxation that siphon money from parents who are already financially strapped. The $150,000 per year that is generated from this user fee scam is not used for tax relief. Instead, the proceeds are used to close an alleged budget shortfall, partially created when the district decided to increase administrative costs and create a new central office position, the director of human resources, which cost taxpayers approximately $150,000 per year in salary and benefits. Prior to the creation of this new position, the existing assistant superintendent was responsible for both curriculum and human resource matters.

I encourage Roxbury parents, students and taxpayers to attend the July 25th Roxbury board of education meeting. At this meeting, I promise to once again propose a resolution to eliminate the school district’s pay to participate fee scam. It my hope that school board member Ron Lucas will see the error of his ways and vote on the side of parents, students and taxpayers, rather than those who continue to profit off the system. For details regarding the meeting please visit http://www.roxbury.org/ .

April 27th - Join us for our TEAM Victory Celebration!

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:08:00 +0000

Good afternoon TEAM supporters! The last few days have been pretty intense, but I am confident we are going to take all three Roxbury School Board seats tonight.

The IHOP Fundraiser
First, let me apologize to those of you who attended the IHOP fundraiser. As it turns out, IHOP was threatened with a series of threatening phone calls early this week, if they decided to continue with the TEAM fundraiser. Although it has not yet been confirmed who made the horrific threats to the employees of this family establishment, IHOP thought it would be best to cancel the event out of concern for the safety of it’s workers and patrons. This was a truly unfortunate act of reckless behavior on the part of some. This dangerous stunt gives us a clear picture as to the extent the union endorsed candidate supporters will go to keep control of power and money. Again, I apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your continued support.

TEAM Signs
As you might have noticed many of our TEAM signs have been removed or stolen from the Route 46 and Route 10 intersections. It appears the CARE supporters do not want to allow the residents of Roxbury to see the message both sides have to offer the voters of Roxbury. As always, please be careful when traveling the Roxbury roadways today. We do not want to see anyone get hurt by oncoming traffic while attempting to steal a campaign sign.

VOTE TODAY
Polls are open until 9pm tonight. Please make sure to vote 1, 3 and 4 – Morreale, Heard and Verge – and Vote NO to the school budget. By voting NO, citizens of Roxbury will force an independent set of eyes to review the school budget to further examine why there continues to be millions of dollars in surplus in each year’s school budget. Also, by voting 1,3 and 4 – Morreale, Heard and Verge, the new majority of the school board will finally be able to put forth fiscally responsible budgets that support children and taxpayers, not the unions.

Join us tonight for the Roxbury TEAM Victory Party
Please attend our TEAM Victory Party at the Mezza Notte Restaurant at the Quality Inn, 1691 Route 46 West, Ledgewood, NJ 07852. The party starts at 8pm, however please feel free to show up early and check out the great dinner menu at the Mezza Notte. The victory party will include light appetizers and a cash bar. Please join us to celebrate a victory for the Roxbury students and taxpayers by electing Morreale, Heard and Verge!
On to Victory!

Chris
PS… If anyone knows who made the two 8’ x 4’ plywood vote NO signs on Hillside Ave, I would love to buy you a drink tonight!

JOIN US FOR A ROXBURY TEAM EVENT

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 17:51:00 +0000

MONDAY - FREE SCREENING OF THE HIT DOCUMENTARY THE CARTEL

Monday, April 25th from 7pm to 9:30pm

Presented by the New Jersey Taxpayers’ Association

Roxbury Public Library, 13 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ 07876

TUESDAY - IHOP FUNDRAISER

Tuesday, April 26th from 7am to 10pm

Kenvil IHOP will donate 20% of supporters’ sales to Roxbury TEAM

Please contact us for a flyer to give to the cashier

WEDNESDAY - ROXBURY SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS

VOTE TEAM Candidates 1, 3 and 4 – Morreale, Heard and Verge

Wednesday, April 27th from 7am to 9pm

WEDNESDAY - JOIN US FOR THE ROXBURY TEAM VICTORY CELEBRATION

Wednesday, April 27th starting at 8PM

Mezza Notte Restaurant at the Quality Inn

1691 Route 46 West, Ledgewood, NJ 07852

If your child participates in Roxbury sports or clubs, you may be in receipt of one of the many misleading emails from the Roxbury School Board CARE candidates. They suggest that I and others are in favor of eliminating after sports, clubs and all after school activities. One of the candidates, Jim Monahan, has even suggested that “School Board member Chris Rogers wishes to see kids with nothing to do after 2:30pm in the afternoon.” This statement is absolutely false. Mr. Monahan, you should be ashamed of yourself for perpetuating these false statements.
Further, the voters of Roxbury should be aware that Mr. Monahan, if elected, would be barred from participation in some of the most important decisions the Roxbury School Board faces, since he has an immediate family member and NJEA member who works for the school district. The slate of candidates called CARE have been endorsed by NJEA employees. Do we really need 3 more school board members who cannot vote on major issues due to their conflicts of interest with the teacher’s union?

On Wednesday April 27th the voters of Roxbury have a chance to take our schools back from the unions and put education back in to the hands of taxpayers, students and parents. I am proud to endorse candidates Morreale, Heard and Verge - ballot positions 1, 3 and 4. Marcus Morreale is a forensic CPA and college professor. Craig Heard is a successful entrepreneur and past president of the Roxbury School Board. Linda Verge is a mother and long term resident of Roxbury. Neither Morreale, Heard nor Verge have conflicts of interest with the NJEA. The will fight for children and taxpayers… not the unions.

Shame on you Mr. Monaghan!

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 02:29:00 +0000

ATTENTION VOTERS: DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN!

RUMORS AND EMAIL CHAINS

If you are a parent of a Roxbury student and your child participates in Roxbury sports or clubs, you may be in receipt of one of the many misleading emails I have read this week. These emails have been signed and circulated by many of those who profit from stipends negotiated with the Roxbury School Board. They suggest that I and others are in favor of eliminating after sports, clubs and all after school activities.

Although I am not up for election this year, a slate of candidates who go by the name of CARE, continue to repeat these rumors in tandem with those who profit from the education blob. One of the CARE candidates, Jim Monahan has even suggested that “School Board member Chris Rogers wishes to see kids with nothing to do at 2:30pm in the afternoon.”

Mr. Monahan, you should be ashamed of yourself for perpetuating these false statements. Your time would be better spent if you ran on your ideas to make the system better, rather than trying to distort my efforts and successes on the Roxbury school board.

To set the record straight, I have taken a very hard line at trying to control costs that specifically do not impact the classroom or after school activities. I have always pledged that I will never vote to have core and extracurricular programming eliminated from our district. For Mr. Monahan to suggest that I would like to see football and hockey eliminated insults the intelligence of the voters or Roxbury who know the real facts. Anyone wishing to scrutinize my voting record should know that I have many times questioned the excessive amounts of some stipends awarded by the district, but I have never suggested that we eliminate one single program. I challenge Mr. Monahan to prove otherwise.

If you have been following the local politics of the Roxbury School Board, you are already aware that those who continue to profit from the educational blob, implement a yearly strategy to threaten and scare parents into thinking maximum pain cuts will be imminent unless they vote in favor of a fiscally bloated school budget. Last year, it was even suggested that we may have to cut kindergarten. A blatant lie that obviously never came to fruition even after the school budget failed at the polls. Hopefully, with the addition of three honest and non conflicted school board members, the strategy of my school board colleagues to fear monger, will finally be put to an end.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

A real factual issue that should give pause to all Roxbury residents is the growing number of Roxbury School Board members who have conflicts of interest. Similar to current board member Carol Scheneck, Mr. Monahan has an immediate family member who currently works for the Roxbury school district.

On the surface, there is nothing illegal about Mr. Monahan’s conflict with the board he wishes to be a member of. However, Roxbury School Board member Carol Scheneck’s voting record has shown us that her conflicted status excludes her from participating is many of the major decisions the Roxbury School Board will be faced with this year.

For example, Mr. Monahan would be barred from participating in the upcoming teacher’s union negotiations as he has a family member who is part of the NJEA bargaining unit. Actually, a sizable portion of the Roxbury School Board including Carol Scheneck, Theresea D’agostino and Jennifer Marchese cannot participate in the teacher’s union negotiations due to their conflicted status. Do we really want to allow more school board members who cannot participate in this critical process?

Another example is the upcoming administrator’s union negotiations. This year’s school board president John Moschella will not be part of the administration negotiation team as he is a retired Roxbury administrator who collects a pension for his years of employment with the Roxbury District. Yes. School board president John Moschella used to sit at the bargaining table, but as an employee. Again, Carol Scheneck and Mr. Monahan would not be able to serve as members of the administrator’s union either, as some are direct supervisors of their siblings.

Yet another example would include the evaluation of our new school superintendent and new school business administrator. Again, just like Carol Scheneck, Monahan would not be allowed to participate in either of these processes, as they are within the direct line of supervision of their immediate family members. When it comes to Mr. Monahan, it seems to be one conflict after another.

Lastly, the CARE slate of candidates including Monahan, Lucas and Ramage were recently endorsed by an employee of the local field office for the NJEA.
The New Jersey Department of Education suggests that school board candidates who are endorsed by the NJEA should not participate in NJEA negotiations for at least one year after the endorsement has been made. The problem is that the Roxbury School Board is negotiating the NJEA contract right now.

Frankly, if all three CARE candidates were to win seats on the Roxbury School Board, we may not have enough non conflicted school board members who are able to serve on the negotiations committee. Considering the last contract signed with the NJEA which was close to a 20% increase over four years, I can’t understand why any resident of Roxbury would want to take a chance of allowing the NJEA to infiltrate the Roxbury School Board any more than it already is.

THE RIGHT CANDIDATES

Roxbury TEAM candidate Marcus Morreale is a forensic CPA and college professor. Mr. Morreale has no conflicts of interest with the NJEA.

Roxbury TEAM candidate Craig Heard is a successful entrepreneur and past president of the Roxbury School Board. Mr. Heard has no conflicts of interest with the NJEA.

Roxbury TEAM candidate Linda Verge is a mother and long term resident of Roxbury. Mrs. Verge has no conflicts of interest with the NJEA.

This will be the most important school board election of this decade. Together with current school board member Maureen Castriotta and myself, the three Roxbury TEAM candidates http://www.roxburyteam.org/ can achieve a majority of the Roxbury School Board focused on fiscal responsibility and transparency in our dealings. We can increase the dismal statistic that only 49% of the school budget makes it to the classroom. We can hold our administration accountable in achieving excellence by raising the bar of our grading system, not by lowing it. We can finally present a fiscally sound and educationally comprehensive budget that holds the line on tax increases.

On Wednesday April 27th the voters of Roxbury have a chance to take our schools back from the unions and put education back in to the hands of taxpayers, students and parents. Please vote Morreale, Heard and Verge - ballot positions 1, 3 and 4.

On to victory!

Chris Rogers

The Cartel - Presented by the New Jersey Taxpayers' Association

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 02:03:00 +0000

Our Mission: To promote reform of the tax burden imposed upon New Jersey taxpayers

The New Jersey Taxpayers’ Association invites you to join us

for a local screening of the award winning documentary

THE CARTEL

Education + politics = $

A documentary by

BOB BOWDON

Thursday, April 21^st from 5pm to 7:30pm

Presented by the New Jersey Taxpayers’ Association

Morris County Public Library – Large Meeting Room, 30 East Hanover Ave, Whippany NJ 07981

Monday, April 25^th from 7pm to 9:30pm

Presented by the New Jersey Taxpayers’ Association

Roxbury Public Library – 103 Main Street, Succasunna, NJ 07876

Tuesday, April 26^th from 7pm to 9:30pm

Presented by the New Jersey Taxpayers’ Association

Kinnelon Public Library - 132 Kinnelon Road, Kinnelon, NJ 07405

For more information please contact The New Jersey Taxpayers’ Association

at 973 975 8383 or visit our website at www.njtaxes.org

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 01:41:00 +0000

Bob Ingle - Gannett News

If you haven’t seen Bob Bowdon’s award-winning documentary “The Cartel” here is a chance to see it for free. On Monday, April 25th, The New Jersey Taxpayers’ Association is hosting a free showing at the Roxbury Public Library, 103 Main Street, Succasunna.

“We would like to give voters accurate information concerning the upcoming school board elections.” said Chris Rogers, Vice President of the statewide organization. “There is a great deal of false information being spread out there. Hopefully the documentary can answer questions as to why our school taxes keep going up while services continue to be cut.” Rogers is also a school board member in Roxbury.

The movie is a look at dysfunctional school systems and features a lot of the abuses we talk about here. If you can’t make that one, additional free screenings will be held Thursday, April 21st from 5pm to 7:30pm at the Morris County Public Library 30 East Hanover Ave, Whippany; Tuesday, April 26th from 7pm to 9:30pm at the Kinnelon Public Library, Kinnelon.

Press Release: Roxbury TEAM school board candidates set agenda

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 01:54:00 +0000

Taxpayer Education Association Members - March 20, 2011

Contact: Craig Heard for further information 973-219-4542

Craig Heard, Marcus Morreale and Linda Verge, the three candidates running for the Roxbury Board of Education under the Roxbury TEAM banner, are determined to bring needed change and most importantly, a fresh perspective to the board.

The central theme of Roxbury TEAM is to provide the best possible education at the most reasonable cost. An excellent public education system enhances property values and is a benefit to society. At the same time, it must be understood that resources, especially in a poor economy, are finite. Striking a balance between those two factors are key.

The TEAM candidates will do that.

First and foremost is a pledge to put children first by reallocating money to the classroom. Currently, only 49 percent of school district funds reach the classroom in Roxbury. In nearby Randolph, it's 55 percent. TEAM plans to start redirecting funds by increasing high school teaching periods from five to six a day to attain greater student achievement. (TEAM does not plan to increase the length of the school day, only the number of teaching periods) TEAM will also find savings by streamlining administrative positions, which includes the elimination of one of two assistant superintendent positions. And during this time of rising property taxes and high unemployment, TEAM proposes an across the board two-year wage freeze for district employees.

We will also look for savings through new technology. Some districts and businesses have reduced power costs substantially by switching to solar energy. We will actively solicit all available grants and work with all relevant groups, teachers, administrators, students and booster clubs to develop innovative ways to reduce expenses and to improve education. Shared services with both other districts and the municipality will be a priority.

TEAM supports such state and federal education reform efforts as merit pay for teachers, reviewing tenure and increased employee contributions to health and pension benefits.

With such cost-saving measures in place or on the way, TEAM is confident that it will be able to rescind "pay to play" fees for parents, which we find discriminatory and to restore middle school sports.

Transparency is paramount for any public board and for far too long; the Roxbury school board has failed that test. TEAM intends to change that. We propose putting all financial transactions including the budget, bills, contracts etc. on the district's web site, which mirrors a pending state law proposed by state Sen. Joe Pennacchio, R-Morris. We also will post details about curriculum, class size and a table of organization for district employees. Board committee meetings are now closed; we will open them. We will also look into putting school board meetings on cable television and we will do away with the current requirement that speakers "sign-in" and identify their topic before speaking at a board meeting.

On election day, April 27, 2011, you can find the TEAM candidates on the ballot positions at: 1-Marcus Morreale 3-Craig Heard 4-Linda Verge

The Roxbury TEAM Board of Education Candidates

Craig P. Heard has an extensive background in public service and education.

Heard is a former member of the Roxbury Board of Education and a past president (1997-1999). He also served seven years as a trustee of the County College of Morris and six years on the Board of Governors of Fairleigh Dickinson University, where he also has been a guest lecturer. Additionally, Heard served on the board of directors of Anna Marie College in Massachusetts and on the board of trustees of the Community Foundation of New Jersey.

Professionally, Heard is president/CEO of Gateway Outdoor Advertising in Hackettstown. Founded in Pittsburgh, in 1937, Gateway has offices in 13 cities in the US. Heard has a B.S. in accounting and a M.B.A. in finance and taxation, both from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

He has won numerous awards, including the Pinnacle Award from FDU for service to the community and the university, a citation from then New York Gov. Mario Cuomo for his support of anti-drug programs, a citation from the state PBA for his support of local police, and a certificate of appreciation from then U.S. Education Secretary William Bennett for his contributions to education. Heard also received an honorary membership for life by the PTA of New Jersey for both his and his wife's support of Roxbury school children. Heard, 64, and his wife have lived in Roxbury Township for 28 years. They have three children, all of whom graduated from Roxbury High School.

Linda Verge has been committed to community service for the last 25 years. A lifelong resident of the township, Verge, 43, is a graduate of Roxbury High School, County College of Morris and Upsala College in East Orange, from where she earned a B.S. degree in psychology.

Verge owns General Repairs and has been a substitute teacher in the Roxbury district for more than 10 years. Her ties to Roxbury schools are deep. Both her parents, Alice and Richard Frantz, worked in the district as a librarian and history teacher, respectively. Verge serves as Sunday school superintendent of her church, Mt. Fern United Methodist Church in Randolph. She also is a member of the Cornish Heritage Society and has served 22 years as a Morris County Republican Committeewoman.

Verge's family has lived in Roxbury for six generations. She and her husband have two children who attend Roxbury schools.

Marcus G. Morreale has the fiscal expertise to help oversee Roxbury Board of Education finances.

Morreale has been an entrepreneur for almost 20 years in commercial and industrial construction and engineering services. He is a Certified Public Accountant as well as a Certified Fraud Examiner. He holds a B.B.A. in business administration from Niagara University and an MBA from the University of Miami. He also has broad education experience, holding licenses as a Certified School Administrator and as a School Business Administrator.

Morreale is currently an adjunct professor at Berkeley College, Centenary College, and Warren County Community College. His combined background in finance and education makes him an ideal candidate.

Morreale, 48, has lived in the township for 25 years. He has two children who attended Roxbury schools.

What are you hiding Mr. Moschella?

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 14:56:00 +0000

Roxbury School Board president John Moschella recently stated in a press interview, “To email a list is not the way we do things.”

Really, Mr. Moschella? Why not?

The requirement of government entities to fulfill information requests for members of the public is a staple of democracy. Of course, there should always be certain exemptions for an employee’s or a student’s personal information, but otherwise, government entities should open their records and allow transparency in all of their financial and operational dealings. If they don’t, you have to wonder what are they hiding?

In Roxbury, when fulfilling public records requests, so much time and money is wasted on the process. School board president John Moschella recently admitted that he has authorized $50-60 thousand dollars to be spent on legal fees to fight members of the public and certain school board members from viewing public information. Instead, why not just release the information and save the taxpayers from incurring these costs?

I am of the opinion that when members of the public trust their local governments, information requests are minimal. However, when the public does not trust those who are supposed to serve the public’s interests, more and more requests for information are made in search of waste, fraud and abuse of power.

To contrast our two local government entities in Roxbury, I have found that the Roxbury Town Council has always provided any data and documents that have been requested of them. Our town council appears to have nothing to hide.

On the other hand, what does it say when several members of the Roxbury Board of Education are denied access to certain information relating to the board on which they serve? We are then forced to make requests for information as a member of the public via the Open Public Records Act. Didn’t the public elect members of the Roxbury School Board to do their due diligence by researching the financial and operational resolutions we vote on?

In addition, why is a member of the public or a member of the school board forced to drive to the school board office during the school day to review the information requested? Doesn’t it save time, money and effort for all parties to email the documents to the requestor? When using electronic methods there are no coping costs, no postage fees and our administrators can fulfill this piece of their job description at a time of their choosing.

In the end, I believe we need to ask why John Moschella requires members of the public and certain school board members to jump through hoops to research business before the board. This only alienates the public from the process, while forcing some school board members to vote no on resolutions due to lack of information. But on a more serious note, it also makes you wonder what school board president John Moschella is trying to hide.

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:54:00 +0000

Cartoonist Bob Bonham explains the problem with public education best. In his cartoon titled "Public Schools", a mother and her daughter stand in front of the principal, who is seated behind his desk. The principal looks at the mother with a grin and a sigh of relief, as if he has finally gotten his point through to her. The caption above the mother's head reads, "Oh, I see now. The "public" part just means you get my money..."

Sadly, in New Jersey's public schools, this mother's realization is not just a fictional cartoon. It is a very real example of how some school officials view their relationship with parents and taxpayers. The questions currently being asked by the public are many, yet honest answers from our school officials are not usually forthcoming.

As a school board members in Roxbury Township, we would like to pose our own question to our school board colleagues across the state. Why shouldn't the public be informed of the details regarding public school employee contract negotiations? We are spending the public's money, aren't we? So, why shouldn't the public be trusted with the facts, details and status of all public employee contract negotiations?

We am not suggesting just the occasional update, "We are meeting with the union next week". Instead, we would like to see the written proposals from both sides posted on the district's website for all residents to read, question and criticize. We feel it is important that all taxpayers have the information they need and deserve, so they can ask informed questions of their elected officials and school administrators, regarding how tax dollars are being spent.

Many say this idea of open government is just a subtle attempt to try and break the unions. Others say that the "good faith" negotiations process would be compromised by allowing the public to participate. While other have even stated that the process would get even "messier" if the public were allowed hear truthful answers to their questions about union contracts.

In our opinion this is Hogwash! The presence of transparency can only strengthen the process. Public interaction can only serve to help both sides come to an agreement, by seeing that each side is acting in a fair, honest and responsible manner. Transparency would also allow the public to give their input prior to a deal being confirmed.

Unfortunately, this did not happen during the 2009 Roxbury teacher's union contract settlement. That four year contract, which angered many residents in my home town, gave a partially retroactive 20% increase to the local teachers union. This example alone should have proven that "secret" negotiations are not in the public's best interests.

Just a few short years ago, the Millstone School District did their best to allow all of their residents to review the union and school board contract proposals during negotiations. We are glad to hear that the Mount Olive School District is also talking about doing what is best for the public, by advocating open and transparent negotiations of public school contracts this year. It is our hope that the district we represent, Roxbury Township, as well as many other school districts and municipalities across the state, will take note and do what is in the best interests of the taxpayers.

Maureen Castriotta and Chris Rogers

Roxbury School Board Members

DISCLAIMER

This statement and its content are not authorized by the Roxbury Township Board of Education. Furthermore, we are speaking on our own behalf and not that of the Roxbury Township Board of Education.

Thank you TEAM - Roxbury Taxpayers Education Association Members

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 04:17:00 +0000

I would like to thank the members of TEAM (the Roxbury Taxpayers Education Association) http://www.roxburyteam.org/ for paying a fine of $500.00 to the New Jersey School Ethics Commission on my behalf. The fine was imposed upon me for filing what the ethics commission deemed to be frivolous administrative complaint against Roxbury school board member Greg Somjen.

After having gone through this process, I now see how the so called "ethics" commission used just as much objectivity when hearing the complaint, as Mr. Somjen and his other indirect business entities would have used if they had reviewed the case themselves.

The fact that the New Jersey School Board Ethics Commission could not accept the premise that the school board auditor does in fact have a financial oversight over a vendor hired by a school district or vice versa is absurd. This matter certainly shows the greater problem that New Jersey taxpayers are faced with: If a school board auditor is not overseeing the financial well being of a district, then who is?

Also, to say that I have cost the taxpayer any money during this process is a lie. I have not and will not ever vote to spend any taxpayer money on attorney fees for representation at an administrative hearing such as this. The members of the Roxbury school board know full well that legal representation is not required during an administrative hearing. In addition, one would think a true frivolous complaint would have required no legal defense what-so-ever, yet Mr. Somjen insisted that he retain a well connected son of an ex-commissioner of education to represent him.

Further, the School Board Ethics Commission is made up of other NJ school board members, administrators and political appointments, not a judge or a jury in a court of law. This was hardly a group that could be objective to the facts of the hearing.

When you know the real facts, it starts to make sense how property taxes can be so high, when these are the people who are supposed to be protecting the financial interests of the taxpayer?

Many Roxbury residents have told me that they could not understand how Mr. Somjen’s vote to hire the auditor was in fact not a conflict. They have shared with me their belief that the system is “rigged” and there is nothing that I, nor anyone else can do about it.

I disagree. We must continue to do everything within our power to stop elected officials and their family members, who directly or indirectly profit off the system, from redefining what ethical behavior should be. Again, I thank the members of TEAM for supporting me and others who continue to champion this effort.

Chris Rogers
Roxbury School Board Member

Roxbury Taxpayer Education Association Members (TEAM) kick off event on July 16th

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 03:29:00 +0000

I would like to thank former Roxbury School Board President Craig Heard and the rest of the TEAM members for forming a new local watchdog group which, among other things, plans to focus on fiscal responsibility in our township’s schools and will demand greater accountability of our elected school board members.

I would also like to thank Mr. Heard and his wife Madeline for hosting an event to raise money to offset legal bills for the retaliation censure imposed upon Roxbury School Board Maureen Castriotta for her visit to the Roxbury High School to observe the recent student walk out. The walk out was clearly against school board policy, but instead of taking action against those who allowed and encouraged it to take place, the Roxbury School Board decided to take action against Maureen in an 8-2 censure vote.
Maureen has fought for the best education possible for our children at a cost that they taxpayers can afford for over a decade, and now she needs our help!

You are invited to the Roxbury Taxpayer Education Association Members (TEAM) kick off event on July 16th at the home of Craig and Madeline Heard, 2 Alcott Way, Succasunna. The event will be held from 7-9pm. The suggested donation for the event is $25.00 per person. Checks can be made out to Friends of Maureen Castriotta. I do hope you can join us.

Invited guests include Governor Chris Christie as well as local, county and state political leaders.

If you cannot make the event, but you are still interested in joining TEAM or you would like to make a contribution to the Friends of Maureen Castriotta legal defense fund, please contact TEAM’s leader Craig Heard at 908 684 8122 or email him at cheard@gatewayoutdoor.com

If you know someone who might be interested in attending the event or joining TEAM, please feel free to forward this invite to them. I look forward to seeing you on the 16th!

Chris Rogers
Roxbury School Board Member

Retaliation on the Roxbury School Board

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Sun, 23 May 2010 23:55:00 +0000

For over a decade Maureen Castriotta, as a parent, resident and taxpayer of Roxbury Township, and most recently as a school board member of the Roxbury Board of Education, continues to understand the responsibility of all school board members. How can we provide our children with the best education possible, at a cost that the taxpayers can afford?

She has given countless hours of her time as a volunteer not only on the Roxbury School Board, but also with other community volunteer groups such as the Roxbury Municipal Alliance Committee, the Committee for the Memorial Day Parade and the Kenville VFW.

You might ask what has she asked for in return? The answer is simple. She has asked for nothing while continuing to volunteer her time for the greater good and not for any personal gain.

She does not have any family members who have gained employment as a result of her being a board member, she is not an ex administrator collecting a golden parachute pension, she is not a member of the NJEA trying to stack the school board for negotiation purposes, and she does not have ownership of a company which profits from the education system. In my opinion, these would be real and valid reasons that would call for censure. Instead, the majority of this board is simply using its power to retaliate by calling for a censure of Maureen Castriotta.

Maureen has expressed our shared desire for this school board to investigate the possible violation of its own policies during the recent student walk out. In my opinion, it is clear that there is enough evidence to suggest that there are some who have used our children as pawns to further their own agendas and pocketbooks. This issue will not come to a conclusion until the real matter at hand has been investigated and those who have chosen not act in the best interests of our children have been dealt with.

Last week, our town council listened to the expert advice of several prominent financial experts who volunteered their time to review our school budget. These financial experts had nothing to gain by being as candid and truthful as they were regarding their conclusion of the fiscal mismanagement of the Roxbury School Board. When addressing the transparency of our school budget, one of the CPA’s even went as far as saying, “Sunlight does not shine on the Roxbury budget.” Our town council then made bold recommendations to cut over 1.3 million dollars of administrative and operational fat that would not impact the classroom education of our children.

I find there to be no coincidence that certain members of this school board are now retaliating against those who have an opinion of dissent and those who dare to share those opinions publicly.

Please show your support for Maureen Castriotta by speaking your mind at the next Roxbury School Board meeting on Monday, May 24th at 8pm, or by emailing the members of the Roxbury School Board. School board member’s email addresses can be found on the school district’s website at www.roxbury.org.

Video regarding the student walk out:

http://voteroxbury.blogspot.com/2010/05/high-school-walkout-news-clip.html

Article regarding the possible censure:

http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20100522/COMMUNITIES/305220003/Roxbury-board-might-censure-member-for-criticism-of-officials

Chris Rogers

HIgh School Walkout News Clip

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Tue, 04 May 2010 01:45:00 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N65X1hxzTk&feature=player_embedded

VOTE NO! Tuesday, April 20th

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 20:15:00 +0000

Well, here we go again. Thanks to an 8-to-2 vote by the Roxbury school board, the proposed school budget will increase Roxbury residents' property taxes by yet another 4 percent, but sadly, our students will not benefit from the extra dollars.

Why? Because the majority rule in the Roxbury school system has made "shared sacrifice" verboten.

Despite the fact that our school district's financial system and productivity are collapsing under the weight of a depressed economy, overspending and excessive employee salaries and benefits, never once has this blunted the demands of the administrators and teachers union or strengthened the resolve of the school board to put on the brakes.

The very ones who are crying that Roxbury's school district is on the "brink of educational destruction" have now been given a second chance to help rectify their own part in bringing our schools to this precipice, but once again, their own self-interests have taken priority over working for the collective good of our school system and community.

Thus far, the Roxbury teachers union has not made any concessions to help alleviate the school district's financial burden. The teachers will get their 4.7 percent salary increase and not have to pay a penny toward their health insurance premiums.
And then we have our multiple layers of administrators, supervisors and directors. Although most have agreed to a wage freeze, there will be no cuts in their hefty salaries, or sensible elimination of administrative positions despite the demand by the public to do so.

The school board is supposed to ensure the tax dollars spent go to places where they are most needed to improve student achievement, so how can they justify continual increased spending for the existing administrative positions without any data proving this results in direct positive gains for our students?
In our opinion, egos, greed and arrogance have displaced the purpose we seek to pursue in education. The end result is the students, parents and taxpayers will be bearing the brunt of a school budget that will raise property taxes while eliminating teachers, programs and electives, and force the implementation of pay-to-play for sports and extracurricular activities.

As school board members, we voted "No" on this school budget. Now it's up to you to make your voices heard and assume ownership of your school system.

Cast your "No" vote on Tuesday and stop the madness.

Maureen Castriotta and Chris Rogers are members of the Roxbury Board of Education. The opinions expressed are their own.

The facts about your property taxes

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 20:04:00 +0000

To the Editor:

During his recent appearance on NJ 101.5 FM radio, Gov. Christie emphatically stated "it's absolutely untrue" that a school board has to raise property taxes because the state froze aid in the amount of their excess surplus and said people should not stand for a school board that makes this claim. What were really driving increases in school budgets, the Governor continued, were negotiated contracts like the one in the Marlboro school district where teachers received annual 4.5% salary increases for the next 5 years with zero contributions to health benefits.

We're here to tell the good people of the state that, in our opinion, Gov. Christie knows exactly what he's talking about and needs your support. Let's look at the facts in Roxbury where the school board is indeed blaming the state for the anticipated increase in property taxes. Fact: Roxbury teachers were handed a retroactive 4.3% wage increase for '07-'08 and a 4.7% wage increase last year, this year, and the next with not having to pay a dime towards their health insurance premiums. This is thanks to the approval of an irresponsible contract by the majority of the school board including some of the unchallenged incumbents regaining their seats in the upcoming school election. With approximately 85% of the Roxbury school budget going into the pockets of it's employees, it's plain both the students and the taxpayers are paying handily for the action of the school board, not that of the Governor's.

Fact: School boards are by law allowed to craft an annual school budget with a 4% growth in the tax levy. Does anyone really believe the Roxbury school board wasn't going to follow their customary practice of going to cap whether the state froze excess surplus or not? Another fact: After the voters defeated the Roxbury school budget last year, the Superintendent and school board professed a $1 million budget cut would devastate the district. So instead of listening to the voter mandate to make cuts that would give the public real tax relief, the majority of the town council threw up their hands to the "school cartel" in a showdown well orchestrated by the school board and central office administration and cut only $500,000. The result? Not only did Roxbury school district end up retaining a 2% budget surplus of about $1.5 million, it amassed another $1 million plus in unused funds. In our view, Gov. Christie took back state aid because, frankly, the school board could not find ways to spend the taxpayer's money fast enough. Again, the blame can only be placed on the shoulders of your local government officials, not the Governor's.

So let's be clear, Gov. Christie’s recent cut to Roxbury school district's surplus funds will not raise property taxes any more than the district already intended to raise them. What Gov. Christie’s executive order will do is: 1) close the budget gap on state spending without new taxation and more importantly 2) force Roxbury and other school districts to limit spending on those items that we “want” but the taxpayers can no longer afford.

Without question, there needs to be a paradigm shift in the way Roxbury school board views future school spending. When it comes to it's budget, the school board needs to remember the difference between “want” and “need”. They must learn to cut items and positions that not only have seriously jeopardized the quality and stability of our children's education, but also puts the squeeze on the taxpayers. Everyone in the school district, including the Roxbury Education Association, needs to realize the well has run dry. The NJEA and its sub chapters cannot continue to hold school boards throughout New Jersey hostage. If the teachers union and school establishment's mantra, “it’s for the children”, is going to really mean something, then everyone is going to have to start giving rather than taking.

We urge Roxbury residents to rebuke the administration's and school board's usual scare tactics of threatening to cut items that will cause our kids and parents “maximum pain" and demand they work harder and smarter with the money they've been entrusted to oversee. Let's see budget cuts that will reduce entitlements and empire building rather than taking away from the classroom.

Lastly, New Jersey's new leader, Gov. Christie, is taking bold action to try and turn this state around. As NJ school board members and residents, we're thankful that someone has finally risen to the occasion and is willing to take on the special interests groups rather than bow down to them. We urge all NJ citizens to contact their legislators and tell them you expect them to take up the Governor's call to action and support legislation that will finally end the reign of indulgent, reckless spending of our tax dollars by school boards and help regain the solvency and respectability of our state and it's public education system.

Chris Rogers and Maureen Castriotta, Roxbury School Board Members

Please note: We're speaking on our own behalf and not that of the Roxbury Township Board of Education. The opinions we expressed are our own and do not represent those of the board, individual board members, or district employees.

Great Job, Debbie From Roxbury!

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:37:00 +0000

If you had a chance to listed to Governor Chris Christie's interview last night on 101.5, you probably heard Debbie from Roxbury's call to the Governor regarding a comment one of my school board colleagues made last year to those who "did not support the budget." Click here to listen

I won't continue to mention the board member's name, but I personally want to thank Debbie from Roxbury for continuing to shine a light on the actions taken by the Roxbury School Board.

Great job, Debbie from Roxbury!

Chris Rogers

Trying to Silence the Public in Rockaway

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:57:00 +0000

This past Tuesday, I visited the Rockaway School Board meeting in an effort to learn how other school districts are formulating their 2010-2011 school budgets.

Speaking during the public session of the meeting was frequent letter writer to the Daily Record and former Rockaway School Board member, Ted Doty, who offered his advice as to what current Rockaway school board members might be overlooking in the creation of their next budget.

I was disgusted by the way Rockaway school board president Michael Friedberger treated Mr. Doty. After closing the public session, Mr. Freidberger mocked Mr. Doty and then tried to prevent him from responding by telling him, “Mr. Doty, you are out of order. Do we need to call the police to remove you?” Mr. Doty quickly responded “Go ahead and call them!”

Good for you Ted! The president of the Rockaway school board should spend a little bit less time criticizing members of the public and a little more time listening to their ideas. In today’s financial mess, there is not one school district in New Jersey who should not take the time to consider a possible idea from a member of the public on how to achieve better education and cost savings.

Shall I remind you, Mr. Freidberger that you are elected to serve the people of Rockaway, not silence them.

Budget Meetings Public?

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:05:00 +0000

On Thursday, February 4th and Wednesday, February 10th, the Roxbury School Board will be having public presentations of the 2010-2011 school budget. I would like to strongly emphasize the word “public”.

There is one small problem. The contents of the budget have been deemed “confidential” by the school board.

Really. The school board is having public presentations, but the information being presented to the public is confidential?

I urge Roxbury residents to email Roxbury School Board president, John Moschella jmoschella@roxbury.org and Roxbury School Board finance committee chairperson, Carol Scheneck, cscheneck@roxbury.org, and demand that these budget documents be made available for all members of the public to see and question.

Until then, this government body has a long way to go before it can claim financial transparency.

Chris Rogers
Roxbury School Board Member

Roxbury School Board Elections - Petitions Due March 1st

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 02:12:00 +0000

From NJSBA.ORG - New Jersey's 2010 Annual School Election is currently scheduled to take place April 20, when approximately 1,500 school board seats will be on the ballot throughout the state. This year, the deadline for candidates to file nominating petitions is March 1.

However, Gov.-elect Christie and the incoming legislative leadership have expressed support for moving school board member elections to the November general election. At present, the existing April 20 school election date still stands.

For the convenience of school board secretaries and prospective candidates, NJSBA has posted its Candidate Kit online, which provides resources for anyone considering running for their local school board. NJSBA will not be providing printed kits at this time. NJSBA will notify school districts immediately of the prospects of any change in the date of the Annual School Election.

For more information, contact NJSBA's Communications Department at (609) 278-5202.

Please click below for more information and a School Board Candidate Kit

http://www.njsba.org/candidacy/index.html?w=299

The New Jersey School Ethics Commission

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:29:00 +0000

The School Ethics Act was created by the NJ state legislature for the following stated reason: (18A:12-22) "In our representative form of government it is essential that the conduct of members of local boards of education and local school administrators hold the respect and confidence of the people. These board members and administrators must avoid conduct which is in violation of their public trust or which creates a justifiable impression among the public that such trust is being violated."

In my opinion, this past Tuesday, the NJ School Ethics Commission did NOT act in manner that was pursuant to its stated purpose. This case (Rogers vs. Somjen - C37-08) continues to show how education industry insiders make the rules for other education industry insiders to profit from the education system. What is considered ethical behavior to the general public is not necessarily the definition used to determine ethical behavior for those who govern our state’s educational system.

This ruling further proves my point regarding how broken the New Jersey public education system really is. The fact that a ruling could be made noting a school board auditor does not have financial oversight over the vendors that the school district uses is absurd.
Further, the NJ School Ethics Commission has assessed me with a fine for speaking to the newspapers prior to the hearing.

I now know to be true what others have warned me of: When you go up against the bureaucratic machine called the New Jersey Department of Education, including its vendors, union organizations, and bureaucrats who profit off the system, they will do whatever they need to do to silence those who expose its faults and unethical behavior.
This is far from over as I will appeal this decision.

It is still my opinion, on April 28th, 2008, Roxbury School Board Member Greg Somjen did violate the public trust by voting for an auditing firm which audits the Roxbury Board of Education as well as other school districts where Mr. Somjen’s architecture firm, and other indirect business entities, hold contracts and do business. It is my opinion that Mr. Somjen’s affirmative vote as a Roxbury School Board Member to hire an auditing firm to audit the Roxbury Board of Education creates is, in the least, an appearance of impropriety regarding the fiduciary responsibility towards school vendors and the school districts that employ those vendors.

It is important to mention that this was an administrative proceeding of the NJ school ethics commission and not a proceeding held in a normal New Jersey court of law. Members of the School Ethics Commission hearing this case are other school board members, school administrators as well as other political appointments of the Governor.

In short, the School Ethics Commission is not part of any solution to fix the problems with the excessive costs and unethical behavior of New Jersey public education. This past Tuesday the NJ School Ethics Commission has proven that it is just another example of why the ethical and financial problems with the New Jersey Department of Education continue get worse.

Chris Rogers, Roxbury School Board Member
I am speaking on my own behalf and not that of the Roxbury Board of Education

Dear Governor Elect Chris Christie

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:22:00 +0000

Dear Governor Elect Chris Christie,

As residents of New Jersey continue to see public officials violating the trust of the taxpayers on an almost daily basis, I am hoping that you and your administration will begin to take the necessary steps to bring about real change regarding ethics reform for our elected state officials. The only way to lower taxes is to hold those who violate the public trust accountable.

Since New Jersey’s public schools account for at least 60% of property tax bills, I urge you to spend a great deal of time scrutinizing the New Jersey Department of Education. Specifically, the New Jersey Department of Education School Ethics Commission, a government body which is charged with making sure school board members and school administrators act in an ethical manner while meeting the educational needs of our children.

Per the New Jersey School Ethics Commission website www.state.nj.us/education/ethics, “The School Ethics Commission is a nine-member body with the power to issue advisory opinions, receive complaints, receive and retain disclosure statements, conduct investigations, hold hearings, and compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents as it may deem necessary to enforce the School Ethics Act.” The website goes on to say, “The School Ethics Act is intended to ensure that the conduct of school officials holds the respect and confidence of the people. The legislature declared that school officials must avoid conduct which is in violation of their public trust or which creates a justifiable impression that the public trust is being violated.”

This might sound good on the surface, but when you further review actual cases heard by the School Ethics Commission, you might be surprised as to what the oversight panel deems as ethical and non ethical.

For example a sitting board member in Union County printed and distributed a flyer which indicated that if her town’s school budget passed, property taxes would go up. Because she did not include sufficient details on her flyer, she was found to be in violation as having harmed the board’s chances of having the voters approve the budget. Thus, the school board member was found guilty of an ethics violation.

However, a school board member in Monmouth County voted in favor of a vendor, while at the same time seeking employment with that same vendor. Eventually he obtained employment with the vendor, but was not found to be in violation of attempting to seek financial gain via his vote.

Governor Elect Christie, since members of the School Ethics Commission are appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor, I ask you to consider a few new names for this government body. The taxpayers of New Jersey, as well as our children would be better served by appointing government watchdogs and taxpayer advocates such as Maureen Castriotta - Roxbury School Board member and public rights activist, Ted Doty - Rockaway resident and taxpayer advocate and Jerry Cantrell – President of the New Jersey Taxpayers Association. This would be a great first step in cleaning up the corruption that lurks around every corner in the New Jersey educational system.

The causes of the financial mess in New Jersey are more than clear. At every level of government, we have industry insiders making the rules to protect and encourage the financial gain of other industry insiders. Now, the question is: Will the Christie administration do something about it?

Chris Rogers
Roxbury School Board Member

Plastic Grass - The Truth About Money and Safety!

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:45:00 +0000

In the last school board election, two incumbent candidates vocally supported the idea of a plastic grass field on the Roxbury Board of Education property. It was no coincidence when both of these candidates came in last and second to last in one of the largest voter turn outs this township has seen in some time.

The majority of the voters of Roxbury are not in favor of a plastic grass football field. Neither the township nor the majority of the school board will consider putting the plastic grass project up for a referendum vote, as they are well aware the results would be final and binding. Tonight we are about to witness an unfortunate attempt to push the project through anyway, without the support of the majority of voters. Furthermore, the township and the school board have strayed from the initial promises that were made to the taxpayers when the project was originally presented to the public several years ago.

Residents have recently been told in print, there will be no taxpayer monies used in this project. This is not true. As you can see on page 9 of 16 of tonight’s agenda, the school board will be contributing twenty five thousand dollars per year, rather thank the initial twenty thousand per year, plus soft costs for additional expenditures such as increased lighting usage, increased garbage collection, and undetermined maintenance costs for increased usage of items such as our bleachers, concession stand, scoreboard and other items which the school board has negotiated 100% responsibility for. As you start to add up the potential soft costs found in this agreement, twenty five thousand is not even close to the final number we are about to commit ourselves to.

Yes, some booster clubs have dedicated additional monies to offset costs, however, there is a possibility that the school board could still incur these future expenditures as we are the ones who are ultimately committing ourselves in the form of a legally binding contract with the town. Also most extracurricular activities and clubs that will be using the field are not financially self sustaining outside of the school budget. Therefore this is simply an attempt to shift money from one pocket to another. If these clubs have extra money outside of the normal operating costs of the activity, why not use those funds to reduce the overall tax burden of the taxpayer in these tough financial times?

As of just a few weeks ago, Councilman Hall stated in the Roxbury Register that this project would be bonded for 12 years. Now, as shown on page 9 of 16, this project will be bonded for 15 years.

Knowing that plastic grass fields have a known life span averaging 10-12 years, why would we consider financing such a project for 15 years?

Most importantly, regarding safety, Mrs. Miller, in this week’s Roxbury Register, stated that “Safety issues have been addressed concerning the Turf Field”. What she fails to tell you is the “so called” experts, who attended last week’s school board meeting, are being paid $20,000 by the township to oversee the turf project. Of course they are going to say the product they are advising on is safe. It is in their financial interest to tell us so.

The consultants she mentioned said “The field that we will be installing is comprised of materials that you would find in your home.” This is a true statement, however when you go home tonight, I urge you to take a look at all of the potentially dangerous items that can be found in your home, and then ask yourself if this statement still makes you feel safe? The fact is, a plastic water bottle, when left in your car on a hot day, is currently the subject of many cancer studies. So why are the majority of Roxbury’s elected officials so quick to believe everything these consultants say to be true?

These consultants even went as far as saying, “In the last few years certain northern New Jersey townships may have gone a bit too far when tearing up older lead-contaminated fields". They blamed run off water, rather than higher than normal lead levels found in the turf surface, for the contamination of these older sites.

Google the word “turf” and see how many respected studies call for a moratorium on all plastic grass fields until the scientific field can gain more knowledge about potential risks and dangers. The fact is neither our so called experts or Mrs. Miller really know the long term effects that exposure to plastic grass surfaces could have on our children.

Most independent studies urge users of turf products to “shower immediately after use”. If this statement does not bring you to an informed decision on the safety of plastic turf fields, then it is clear we are blatantly overlooking the safety of the children we are here to serve.

Mrs. Castriotta and I ask this board to rethink the poor choice it is about to make. And if this project is approved, we ask everyone on this board to again stop asking why the residents of Roxbury vote down school budgets year after year. This is yet another example as to why the public does not trust this board to do the right thing.

This statement and it's contents are not authorized by the Roxbury Township Board of Education. Furthermore, we are speaking on our own behalf and not that of the Roxbury Township Board of Education.

Maureen Castriotta and Chris Rogers
Roxbury Township School Board Members

Castriotta, Rogers Vow To Keep Public Informed And Fight Bureaucratic Mentality On Roxbury's School Board

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:55:00 +0000

It's very difficult for the average Joe and Jane to find the time to go to school board and town council meetings because they're so busy working, paying the bills, and taking care of their families.

Most are lucky to have any time left over for a little bit of rest and relaxation never mind trying to be government watchdogs. This is exactly what many in power count on and what allows for so much abuse of power and corruption on every level of government including school boards.

There are just far too many in the education establishment destroying public education because their lust for power and lining their own pockets takes priority over what is best for our children and the greater good. Sometimes you wonder how bad things have to get before we start addressing the right concerns that will benefit all and not just a few.

So what can people do to change things for the better?

The single most important power we have as citizens is our right to vote.

Each of us needs to vote in every election and vote out elected officials who are not representing the will of the people. That's exactly what the people in Roxbury did in the last school election. The largest number of them agreed with the campaign we ran and demonstrated their confidence in us by tossing out two long time incumbents, electing us into office, and voting down an irresponsible school budget. Although it's unfortunate both the majority of the school board and town council ignored the voters' wishes and didn't make the budget cuts that would have given our community members much needed tax relief, we truly believe the tide has turned.

All elected officials in this town have been put on notice by the citizens of Roxbury who are fed up and will not forget just who is and who is not working on their behalf. People may not be able to make school or township meetings to protest bloated administrative costs, excessive union demands, and ever escalating property taxes, but they will have their say again come election time. We're absolutely confident the good people of Roxbury will once again make their voices heard through the voting process and outnumber the special interests groups in this town that have had a stranglehold on our schools and our lives for far too long. Change does not come easy...it comes little by little and takes perseverance, but it can and will happen if the people want it enough.

Meanwhile, we are not only committed to doing our best under the constraints of the law to keep the public informed about our positions on the issues in Roxbury's school system, we will continue our efforts to free dollars from bureaucratic overhead, stop wasteful spending, and make sure tax dollars go for the betterment of our children's education.

Maureen Castriotta and Chris Rogers
Roxbury Township School Board Members
mcastriotta@roxbury.org, 973.398.2386
cjrogers@roxbury.org; 973.975.8383

Another Reason Why Roxbury Votes Down School Budgets!

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:34:00 +0000

Residents of Roxbury surely remember the recent teacher contract settlement which gave members of the Roxbury Education Association (a subchapter of the NJEA) an 18% increase over four years. Soon after, the voters of Roxbury voted down the 2009/2010 school budget.

After reviewing the 2009 / 2010 failed budget, the majority of the Roxbury Town Council recommended $550,000 in potential cuts that would not affect the educational needs of our children. Ignoring the suggestions of the Roxbury Town Council, the majority of Roxbury School Board surprisingly found a second and completely different list of expenditures totaling $550,000 that would also not affect the educational needs of our children.

On Monday night, the majority of the Roxbury School Board voted to give a yearly salary increase of 4% to the Superintendent of schools, a yearly salary increase of 4% to the Business Administrator and a 2% salary increase to the Assistant Superintendent after only six months of employment with the district.

These contracts include perks such as 16 plus paid holidays annually, between 25 and 30 vacation days annually, between 10 and 16 sick days annually and the ability to carry over, accrue or sell back many of these days. Additional personal days, insurance buy backs, travel allowances, cell phone and laptop expenses, professional growth and membership fee reimbursement and in at least one contract, the option of a tax sheltered annuity.

As the new school year is about to begin, we ask the Roxbury School Board to take the first step in setting a new expectation from the top down for contractual compensation. We should recognize the struggling economy and take steps to provide the residents of Roxbury some much needed financial relief.

Although we recognize these raises and perks are not uncommon in the Morris County school system, someone needs to take the first step in acknowledging that we cannot continue to further burden the struggling taxpayers we are elected to represent. The day needs to come when these out of touch compensation packages are reigned in to meet the equivalent of those offered to the taxpayers who pay the bills.

If this board continues to vote for contract increases such as the ones we saw Monday night, please do not continue to ask "Why do the voters or Roxbury continue to vote down budgets?" We already know many reasons why the voters vote down our budgets, and this is yet another example.

Maureen Castriotta and Chris Rogers
Roxbury School Board Members

Anne Colucci - Stop Playing Politics!

noreply@blogger.com (Chris Rogers) — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:45:00 +0000

After having had a chance to read former Roxbury School Board and Town Council candidate Anne Colucci’s letter to the editors in theRoxbury Register on Thrursday, July 30th and in the Daily Record on Friday, July 31st, I feel it is important to correct the many inaccurate comments Ms. Colucci has made in an targeted effort to tarnish my character.

I think it is also important to know that Anne Colucci has unsuccessfully attempted to gain seats on the Roxbury School Board and the Roxbury Town Council several times. I would hope that if Ms Collucci continues to seek elected office she would spend less time playing politics, and more time trying to find solutions regarding how we can force our government to spend less money on extraordinary expenditures such as the attorney fees she mentions while allowing the public to see all public documents they are rightfully entitled to view and obtain.

In 2007, my open public records request was part of a larger inquiry I had made with the Roxbury School Board regarding the board’s decision to hire a new school board attorney. See Florham Park Attorney Draws Court Reprimand The attorney being hired, Alan Dzwilewski of the firm Schwartz, Simon and Edelstein, Celso and Kessler, was reported to have been reprimanded by the NJ State Supreme Court regarding an ethics complaint involving a real estate transaction in which he earned an illegal finder’s fee.

My inquiry requested the emails of several school board members over several months for the purpose of finding out which school board members were aware of the ethics charges but still voted to hire the attorney anyway. See email to School Board Member Carol Scheneck Two years later, the Roxbury School Board is not currently represented by this particular attorney, but the firm he worked for is still the law firm who represents the Roxbury School Board.When making an Open Public Records Request (OPRA Request) it is not required that the member of the public making the request inform the government official as to why the request is being made. Therefore, I did not release this information to the school board.

Coincidentally, the law firm Schwartz, Simon and Edelstein, Celso and Kessler, is also the law firm who represented the Roxbury School Board in this matter and made a profit of $22,000.00 in legal fees to convince the Government Records Council that the emails requested should not be released.

At no time have I ever declined to pay fees for copying which can range from 10 cents to 75 cents per page. To date, I have paid for all of the records requests that I have been supplied from the Roxbury School Board office. My dispute only questioned the validity of a “special service charge” which was to be based on the hourly rate of the records custodian and computer technician. In my opinion “special service fees” should not be charged as it is already the job of the records custodian to honor requests for public information. In other words, we already pay someone to furnish documents when a member of the public makes a request. They will earn their salary regardless of how many records requests are made. In the case of the Roxbury School Board’s records custodian, Ruth Ann Quinn’s compensation is about $725.00 per day when you take into account her salary and benefits package.

When making a determination regarding the dispute, at no time did the Government Records Council state that the documents I had requested were not accessible to the public. Further, if I were to split my request up into several smaller requests, each smaller request would have to be honored at the normal copy fee rate.

Regarding the other two disputes filed, the first request was denied even though the documents DID exist, but were not available in the paper format that I had requested them in. It was NOT denied because of a potential security breach as Ms. Colucci suggests. The second was denied because a former school board member, Robert Badini, had admittedly DESTROYED the document that I had requested, which is why the document did not exist. Therefore, the Custodian of Records could not be held responsible to supply the document.

I would also like to point out that none of these matters EVER entered a court of law, as Ms. Colucci states in her letter, nor was the Roxbury School Board ever exonerated of any wrong doing by a New Jersey court of law. The Government Records Council is a entity formed by our state government to mediate and determine disputes between government entities and members of the public who request public information. I specifically decided NOT to take my dispute to New Jersey superior court in hopes that the New Jersey Government Records Council would do what it was originally formed to do; specifically see to it that the public's right to view public documents remained a right of the resident's of New Jersey. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

Recently, the Government Record's Council lost a battle in a real court regarding a complaint filed against itself. A Mercer County judge held on July 17 that the New Jersey Foundation for Open Government is entitled to full copies of 69 requested e-mails in their unredacted form and that the GRC must turn them over by Aug 14. It appears in this case, the council was ordered to obey the law it was created to enforce. Source: Mary Pat Gallagher, New Jersey Law Journal 07-28-2009.

Furthermore, since my disputes were not filed with New Jersey superior court, there was no need for the Roxbury School Board to spend the extraordinary amount of $22,000.00 for attorney fees. There was never a lawsuit filed, nor did this matter ever enter a court of law. The Government Records Council does NOT require either party to a dispute to be represented by an attorney. The records custodian for the district, Ruth Ann Quinn, could have communicated with the GRC on the school board’s behalf and provided responses to the council without spending much more than $20.00 on postage and copies. I did not retain an attorney in this matter, therefore my total out of pocket expense was lower than $20.00.

I believe the larger problem that has been brought to light as a result of these findings is the fact that local school boards and township governments have unrestricted access to their appointed attorneys, and have an unlimited amount of taxpayer money to spend on legal fees with little oversight from the public. This is clearly yet another example of how your local government and those who are elected to serve the public are not always acting on the public's behalf. Sometimes there is information our elected officials do not want us to see, and clearly they have the financial and legal resources to keep the information from being seen.

Former Roxbury School Board candidate Anne Colucci, stop playing politics and join me in fighting for limits on excessive school board attorney fees and real open public records reform for our local governments.

Chris Rogers
Roxbury School Board Member