Letter to the Editor: Nutley School Board Race

Dear Editor:

Though eclipsed by the Presidential race, another very important election is for the three seats on the Nutley Board of Education.  This is the first time that the Board of Education election is being held in November and the first in which the budget is not being voted on .   Nutley’s schools face special challenges over the next few years: continued caps on budget growth, the loss of tax revenue and economic changes that are forcing many tough decisions regarding programs.  These are decisions that will affect the future prospects of the next generation of Nutley children.   It is more critical than ever that we elect candidates who will focus on the issues that will determine how well our children are prepared to compete in the tough global economy.

We are fortunate to have an excellent choice this November, Alan Thomas.  Mr. Thomas is already familiar to anyone who has attended Board of Education meetings over the last six years – he’s been at virtually every one of them.  Those who don’t know him by name will  recognize him as the man at the microphone,  familiar with all the district’s issues, the one who has had the courage to ask the really difficult questions, demand answers, and refused to be brushed off.  The citizens of Nutley have been lucky to have him as our voice. Mr. Thomas is obsessive about academics, insisting on policies that will insure that our children get the most effective preparation possible, and that our school district will continue on the path back to the reputation for excellence it once enjoyed.  He is also a strong proponent of using technology and 21st  century educational methodologies to enable us to provide a top quality education while living within the budget constraints.

In addition to these qualities, Mr. Thomas is dedicated to ensuring that the district follows the public bidding laws so that the district benefits from using the best and fairest practices for awarding contracts.   His experience as a successful practicing attorney, makes him uniquely qualified for insuring that our district acts according to the laws and regulations, and that we avoid some of the fines that have been assessed by the state in the past.
Though his son is grown,  Mr. Thomas remains passionate about the Nutley schools, and has been giving his time and effort to making them better for many years.  He has been an asset at the microphone at Board of Education meetings.  It will be even better to have him on the Board.  

Sincerely,
Michael C. Recchione