Superintendent Dr. David Roman (L) and Business Administrator/Board Secretary Michael LoBrace (R) give a presentation on the 2022-2023 School Budget. *Photo by Katherine Massopust
5/5/22 Board of Education Meeting
By: Katherine Massopust
PERTH AMBOY – There was a short delay at the Board Meeting because those on Zoom were unable to see and hear the meeting. After the technical issue was resolved, the meeting began.
Student Representative Charlize Leon stated, “This week is Teacher Appreciation Week. I want to take the opportunity to thank our teachers.” She stated that the “Spring Fling,” the first school dance since the pandemic was recently held.
Board Member Junior Iglesia thanked Leon for her report.
There was a presentation on the proposed 2022-2023 Budget by Superintendent Dr. David Roman and Business Administrator/Board Secretary Michael LoBrace. It was noted that the new high school which is scheduled to open in September 2024 and the district needs to be fiscally prepared for the new High School and the expenses along with it.
LoBrace stated, “There will be additional teachers along with other expenses. There is $16,658,855 in additional finances and added expenses for the new high school.” It was noted that the district saved some money last year because of the pandemic.
Dr. Roman stated, “There will be no tax increase for the school community. In New Jersey Monthly Magazine for 2022, Perth Amboy High School was ranked 247 out of 445 high schools (the top 55%). If you count all the high schools (668 school districts), Perth Amboy ranks in the top 37%. We have the Seal of Biliteracy. We are a Lighthouse District. Do an evaluation of what the district is doing relative to what it has been.” Dr. Roman noted that salaries and benefits take up 67% of the budget. The budget includes mitigation for students whom they lost during the pandemic. He stated that the transition from Learning to Read to Reading to Learn. “We will have a systematic deep-rooted change. We will have in the district outdoor classes. This will allow students to express themselves in a matter that’s different. It will uplift our community with equality and diversity. Students embody what that means. Biliteracy and Mathematics. Initiatives keep coming and we sustain them. The Curriculum Instruction and Dual Language in the Biliteracy Program. We are putting $3,293,000 into our Mathematics Initiative. We need to recognize and continue our science programs. We are putting $5,268,000 into technology.”
Dr. Roman spoke about the annual school play, “Freaky Friday,” which was one of four schools in the state that the Papermill Playhouse chose (for an award).
PAHS has award winning pieces in the Congressional High School Art Competition.
Dr. Roman continued stating that Waters Stadium will be done when the new High School is finished in 2024. “Transportation – seating will be safer for children with cameras on the buses.” Dr. Roman continued, “It’s about the work we are doing as a district.”
Ms. Gomez came up and spoke about the recent job fairs, “We had two inhouse job fairs. We had 186 potential candidates. I want to thank Dr. Pepi and the Volunteer Committee. We were able to do their first interview at the job fair. This job fair gave a pool of candidates to choose from. We need to screen, interview, and get a reference check.”
Dr. Roman emphasized that there is no discrimination based on race, gender, or any other breakdown. He stated that he would like to make the job fair an annual event.
Board Vice President Vazquez said, “I think it should be noted that our draft budget there was originally a 2% increase which would cost each taxpayer an additional $15 for the year. One of our responsibilities is to be fiscally responsible with your money. We decided there will be no tax increase for the 2022-2023 school year. The decrease was not easy to make. If we have an additional $6 million from the state or surplus. We trust this budget with the most prudence in past years. We honor the work we put into the budget. We looked into the budget. $15 – $20 million with no surplus is going to be a problem. A district that is moving forward will have an increase in cost. We have to move forward. If we want our schools to progress, we have to take it into account. The reason we made this clear as a committee are many reasons. It will be a challenge to make the budget next year with a smaller surplus.”
Board Member Junior Iglesia said, “I welcome the committee with no public tax increase. It’s the fiscally responsible thing to do.”
Superintendent Dr. David Roman said, “We were able to not lose integrity of programs.”
Iglesia added, “New Jersey property tax rate is the highest in the country. The property tax issue is the heart of the crisis. The inflation rate is 9.62%. We have not seen a rate of inflation this great in 40 years. Rent is going through the roof. Gas is $4.31/gallon in 2022 when it was $2.95/gallon in 2021. The cost of living is drastically increasing. If they (homeowners) don’t pay taxes in 3 months, they can lose their homes. The State Revenue went up by $60 million. I anticipate it will continue to go up. Our next financial position is strong. There is a lot of factors to get from the State.”
Board Member Stacey Peralta said, “I as a Special Education Professional want to commend Dr. Roman. 2 years ago – it was not so robust. Creating playgrounds that are wheelchair accessible – thank you Dr. Roman and your administration to give special education students a meaningful existence.”
Board President Ken Puccio stated, “When I sat up here in 2009-2010 when the State of New Jersey – we are a special needs district. 80% funding comes from out of state. The city let us slide each year with $40 million. The state can pull it from under the rug at any time. We pay $26 million. We are lucky we are a special needs program. Marisol Gonzalez is the one who came to me to haver no tax increase. Sooner or later the taxpayers are going to get whacked. Sometime in the future there will be a large tax increase in Perth Amboy. I’m paying $11,000 in property tax. Somewhere down the road someone is going to pay for all of this.”
Board Member Marisol Gonzalez said, “It does matter. Our schools are getting better. It’s important for parents don’t send their kids to go to private schools. Not everyone had the support I had. You guys don’t have so many outside our school district. I don’t have children. I am happy to contribute to our schools.”
Public Portion:
Resident Sharon Hubberman spoke first through Zoom, “I am very content that there is no increase to the taxpayers of Perth Amboy. We are under the School Reform Act. This note of fair share is where certain individual’s demographics are not able to afford high rent. We all pay our fair share. I see technology has a significant increase over the last couple of years. Those who called were put on hold for 19 minutes at the beginning of the meeting. I do not appreciate this. There are medical reasons not to be in person (at the meeting).”
Perth Amboy Federation District Representative Lynn Audet spoke through Zoom, “I want to recognize the entire district staff for Teacher Appreciation Week. Anyone who works with students is an educator. In the past two years, it’s been difficult and unstable to staff given the students. Last week, teachers were inundated with calls. The payroll table for the website for 2022-2023 – payroll schedule needs to be put up.”
The Board went into closed session at 7:04 p.m. and came back at 9:03 p.m.
When the Board returned Board Vice President Tashi Vazquez stated that the Board needs to read their Code of Ethics. “At our last executive session, there was a breach by our Board Members.”
Board President Ken Puccio said, “I was a victim of a breach of confidentiality. What we discuss in executive session is confidential. Using poor judgement makes us look bad. What we discuss in executive session affects us in executive session.”
Board President Ken Puccio gave the President’s Report. “The Perth Amboy Board of Education is in the business of teaching kids. We are changing lives. We should bring up that we were in the bottom 5%. Now we are in the top 37%.” Puccio then read the bereavement report including former Teacher and Principal in the Perth Amboy School District Mr. Julius Uribe who passed away.
Board Member Junior Iglesia said, “At the beginning of the presentation on Covid, any information to provide at the time. We received test kits from a grant then they lifted restrictions.”
Ms. Gomez came up to speak, “Unvaccinated staff has to get tested every week. They have different choices.”
Dr. Roman said, “There is one bottle of solution for the test kits. There are over 36,000 kids.”
The final cost of the budget is $292,450,560.00 for the 2022-2023 school year. It was adopted by the Board.
Board Member R.L. Anderson congratulated all the retirees. “I want to recognize Rose Cardona. Thank you for your service.”
Dr. Roman stated that tomorrow (Friday May 6, 2022) was an unused snow day, and the district was off. It also was for Teacher Appreciation Week.
The Board wished everyone a Happy Mother’s Day. Board President stated, “Our teachers are special.”
The meeting adjourned at 9:46 p.m. All Board Members were present, but Board Member Stephanie Marquez-Villafañe left after the Board came back from executive session.
