I love the phrase, “F*ck around and find out”, don’t you?
Chris Christie found out. He screwed with the NJEA, then gave them a loving parting gift in 2011. Schools were permitted to pass resolutions moving their Board of Education elections from the traditional non-partisan April election, to join with the elections held in November.
Why was it a gift? Well, it’s always about money. As noted on Medford Public School Township’s website:
“ANNUAL BOE ELECTION DATE MOVED TO NOVEMBER
On Monday, January 23, 2012 the Medford Township Board of Education passed a Resolution moving the Annual School Election from April to the November General Election to elect Board of Education Members and for other lawful purposes. In addition, the Board voted to eliminate the vote on the School District Budget if it is at or below the State Mandated Cap of 2%. The adoption of this Resolution was made possible by both bodies of the New Jersey State Legislature (Assembly and Senate) over whelming passing Bills S-3148 and A-4394 (identical Bills). The adoption of this change in the election date and budget vote will remain in effect for four years. Please refer to Senate Bill 3148 and Assembly Bill 4394 for details of the legislation. Please access the below links for the Board Resolution and a Synopsis of the Budget Election Law.” Medford Township Public School Site
Do you see that??? No need to vote on your school board budget, trust us! As long as the budget is not greater than the statewide cap of a 2% increase over the prior year’s budget…even if enrollment is down 5, 10, 20%…NO ACCOUNTABILITY to the voter.
The change was billed as a money saver. Really? Are you buying that?
Regardless, after ten years of this garbage, Christie comes plodding back to NJ, positioning for a Presidential run for 2024. He apparently is the de facto party leader here. See, just look how official he is?
After a decade of November elections, very few towns retained the April election date. Why let a bunch of old people come vote down their budget, right? Save the town money and keep the olds from having any say.
Well, that was fine in my mind, until our Boards started telling us they have no control over the health and safety regulations imposed on my children.
Time’s up. They f*cked around, and now they will find out.
We are going to move the School Board elections in your town with petitions back to April, so we can assert control over the budget. If we can control the finances of the school, we can leverage our way through the rest.
In fact, wouldn’t it be fun to also run for BOE this year on a fiscal responsibility platform? Pretty tempting, if I do say so myself.
Here’s the way:
Contact your County Clerk and send an OPRA request for the voter roll from the last general election (2020), and ask that the registered voter list for your county be provided to you, including:
Full Name
Sex/Gender
Birth Date
Date of Voter Registration
Address
District, Ward, Municipality
Political Party Affiliation
Voting History for the Primary, General and Special Elections
Voter Registration Status
Be prepared to receive either a CD, thumb drive or link
Find out from your School Board what form of petition is acceptable to be submitted to them. The Board of Education will be obliged to submit the Petition to the County Clerk for inclusion on the ballot.
Here is the e-mail I sent to the full Board of Education and Superintendent to inquire:
Hello,
A number of parents are interested in returning the school board elections to April.
We will be preparing a petition for signatures to have the question appear on the November 2022 ballot, effective for the April 23, 2023.
I do not see a form petition listed on the Township or School site, nor was a form located on the Burlington County Board of Elections site.
Would you kindly direct me to the appropriate form?
Thank you,
Kristen
Once you a form petition prepared, with the appropriate language needed (To Be Provided! Stay Tuned!), you can then canvas the town for voters who would be inclined to support this change. I would personally pursue seniors, Republicans, and parents who have joined you in our local groups. Try the sports dads!
You will need to obtain not less than 15% of the number of legally qualified voters who voted in the district at the last preceding general election held for the election of electors for president and vice-president of the United States is filed with the board of education, the question of moving the date of the school district’s annual election to the third Tuesday in April shall be submitted to the voters of the district at the next general election. I WOULD RECOMMEND GETTING DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF SIGNATURES YOU NEED!
The election can be moved back to according to this document.
Want to learn more from a man who has walked the walk? Check out John Flora for Congress, running in CD-7. He successfully reverted his town’s BOE elections in Fredon, NJ back to April and reduced the school’s budget.
IT CAN AND MUST BE DONE.
How do I find out if my town votes in Nov or April? This is all they have on their webpage. I live in Bergen County (Dumont)
Election of Board Members
At the annual school election, voters choose three members of the nine member Board of Education and cast ballots for the proposed school budget for the next school year.