Wednesday, May 15, 2013
The Township Council reductions bring the average homeowner's tax increase down from $270 to about $110, while one council member says the cut is not large enough.
The Belleville Township Council voted Tuesday night to reduce the tax levy portion of the nearly $63 million 2013-14 school budget by $760,000, a decrease that did not satisfy one council member. The amount trimmed means the average household tax increase drops from about $270 to approximately $110, officials said. The cuts were approved by the council one day after the Board of Education unanimously approved a resolution to accept that amount and not to appeal to the county to restore all or part of the amount. The decision comes after one councilman who was supposed to help decide what to cut said he still favored trimming spending from an average increase of more than $270 back down to zero, less than the amount that is now cut from the…
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
State school committee tells school board that the Middle Schools "gaps" in test scores are improving, while school officials await budget cuts.
The Belleville Board of Education heard Monday night from state officials that Belleville Middle School academics are improving, while the Township Council is charged with reducing spending on the defeated 2013-14 school budget. The Belleville Township Council on April 29 discussed how much funding to cut from the defeated $63.5 million 2013-14 school budget, with one council member suggesting the budget should be cut so the average $277 tax hike is reduced to a zero increase. School officials declined to comment on the budget Monday night, instead focusing on the middle school's improving situation. School board members Joseph Longo and Peter Zangari, Jr. both said that the presentation should put residents' concerns about the school …
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Voters reject the budget's $272 tax increase by 66 votes, while two newcomers and one incumbent board member win uncontested three-year seats.
Only five percent of registered voters came out Tuesday to reject the $63.5 million 2013-14 school budget by nearly 70 votes, while three candidates gained three, three-year Board of Education seats running unopposed. The small percentage of residents voted down the school budget 464 to 377. The budget raises taxes an average of $277 for a home assessed at the township average. John Rivera won a second term, but finished third in votes with 508, while newcomers Raymond Kuebler and Lillian Torres garnered 517 and 540 votes, respectively. The school budget will now go before the Belleville Township Council, and the council will decide on an amount to reduce the spending plan. Despite the budget defeat, Rivera said "We will have a united …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The Belleville Board of Education passed the $63.5 million school budget, despite the board vice president screaming that voters should reject the spending increase.
Spending increases prompted two screaming matches Monday night during the Belleville Board of Education's passage of the $63.5 million school district budget for the 2013-14 academic year, a plan that raises taxes an average of $277 for a home assessed at the township average. Officials did not give the specific home assessment value during the chaotic budget public hearing, which also saw a shouting match between school board member Joseph Longo and frequent school critic Vincent Frantantoni. The board is spending $507,000 on armed security officers and other equipment upgrades for each district school, a subject that spurred a screaming match between Longo and Frantantoni. School Board Vice President Patricia Inaugurato yelled to the …
Thursday, March 21, 2013
School board budget committee looking for all possible cost savings before unveiling final 2013-14 school budget at March 25 public hearing.
Belleville Board of Education members are meeting twice to try and prevent a tax increase before the public hearing March 25 on the 63.5 million school district budget for the 2013-14 academic year. School board member Joseph Longo said Tuesday that he and board member Bill Freda are looking to reduce spending in the budget. Longo said the committee's goal is always to keep taxes from increasing. "We're trying to keep the tax impact as small as possible," Longo said. "It helps that we got a bump in state aid, but there are still a lot of issues to resolve." The total state aid for kindergarten through grade 12 in the district for fiscal year 2013 was $25,130,065. The projected total aid to Belleville in fiscal year 2014 is $25,630,065, or…
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
One incumbent running on a ticket with two newcomers, while a third newcomer is running solo for the three, three-year seats to be decided in the April 16 election.
Four candidates filed their petitions by the Feb. 25 deadline to run for the three, three-year Belleville Board of Education seats to be decided in the April 16 elections. John Rivera will seek a second term, running on a ticket with newcomers Raymond Kuebler and Lillian Torres, while fellow newcomer Christine Lamparello will be the fourth candidate. A fifth resident, Ralph Vellon, took out petitions but said in a statement he does not plan to run. Current board vice-president Patricia Inaugurato and three-term board member Vincent Strumolo, Jr. are not running. Lamparello could not be reached for comment. Rivera said Tuesday that he is running with Kuebler, an accountant who he believes can help with the financial issues of the schools, …
Saturday, February 2, 2013
A physical therapy company demonstrates to the Board of Education, audience members its testing plans for concussion, all athletic movement injuries for all school athletes.
With concussions and serious sports injuries a major topic across the country, the Belleville Board of Education hosted a sports physical therapy company owner to talk about preventing and minimizing injuries to student athletes. Dave Del Vecchio is regional director for Sportscare of America, a company that provides physical therapy the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association. Del Vecchio said his team of physical therapists treats and rehabilitates orthopedic ailments and injuries. His team will perform impact concussion testing, and the latest available "functional movement screening," which may become a part of the seasonal sports seasons for the Belleville school district. Del Vecchio and his colleague demonstrated how …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The Belleville Board of Education members will look at making sure children having their identifications while riding a bus to field trips, give special recognition to school counselors.
A parent's concern Monday night about students wearing their school ID's on buses during field trips spurred the Belleville school board to reexamine the district policy. At the same meeting, certificates were awarded to some school counselors in recognition of National School Counseling Week, which runs from Feb. 4-8. Patricia Dolan told the board she is worried about students not wearing their school identification badges on buses at certain times. "There are no student ID's being worn by children on trips," Dolan said. "God forbid there is an accident, it would be much easier for police to notify the proper people if they had the ID's. I know they're not allowed to wear them at shows, but they could just put them in their pockets. …
Friday, January 25, 2013
One of the early rock n roll all-girl trio's vocalists is on hand to accept an official commendation from the Belleville Board of Education, official installation at BHS in October.
The Belleville Board of Education cheered an early pioneer of rock n roll girl groups, recognizing one of the three Belleville women from the Delicates, who will be installed in October on Belleville's Wall of Recognition. School Board member Joseph Longo presented a plaque to Delicate's vocalist Arleen Lanzotti-Gonnella at the Jan. 14 meeting. The Delicates had a string of hits in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the biggest being "Black and White Thunderbird,” released in 1959, while also performing the theme song for legendary early rock n roll deejay Murray The K. Their hit "Black and White Thunderbird" has had an entire second commercial life, featured on the soundtracks to Disney's "Cars" and Cars II" movies, a source of pride for …
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
The Board of Education trustees select former Belleville police captain and mayor Escott to consult on improving school safety measures in the wake of the Newton school shootings.
The Belleville Board of Education Monday night hired former Belleville police captain and mayor Bill Escott as school security director to improve school safety in the aftermath of the Newton school shooting. The changes may include armed school officers, Escott said. School officials said the details of any changes and improvements to school security cannot be shared with the public because of the need to keep that information away from any potential criminals. Interim Superintendent of Schools Helene Friedman and School Board President Peter Zangari, Jr. introduced Escott, who talked in general terms about what his role as a consultant will be. Escott is working without a contract, and the pay rate is still being negotiated, school …
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11:52 am on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Why do we have a question on the election time where the majority rejected the taxes increase and rejected the budget increase ? This is not responsible and is a slap in the face of tax payers who already have difficulties to pay their bills! more ›