Our Montville

Montville voters pass school budget

Montville voters approved a $67 million budget that is projected to produce the lowest tax increase in more than a decade, according to school officials.  Montville officials had said they had been wary of raising taxes too much after last year's budget was defeated.

Incumbent Michael Palma won another term on the board while Matthew Kayne and Paul Przetak won the two other seats available. Timothy Lindert failed in his bid to win re-election.

Palma was the top vote-getter with 1,496, followed by Kayne with 1,357 and Przetak with 1,104.  See Daily Record.

Election signs stolen in Montville

More than two dozen campaign signs belonging to three of the five candidates running for the school board were reported stolen over the weekend, authorities said.  Approximately 20 signs placed by incumbent Tim Lindert and his running mate, Frank Cooney disappeared overnight Friday from Gathering Road in Towaco.

On the other side of town, incumbent Michael Palma reported roughly nine signs taken from his and neighbors' front lawns on Manchester Way in Pine Brook, police said.

The other two candidates for the school board, newcomers Paul Przetak and Matt Kayne, did not report any stolen signs, police said.  See Daily Record.

Board of Ed offices to move next to High School

Proposal heads to voters; would mean $159 tax hike on average home - One budget item resolves a pressing issue for the administration with no cost to taxpayers, said school business administrator Christina Riker. The board plans to draw $1.5 million from a surplus in the district's medical plan to fund construction of a permanent administration building.

The modular structure of 8,400 square feet, which district officials hope to build on board property behind the high school, will keep the administration housed under one roof.

Riker said the building site would be adjacent to the parking lot for the township's public library, but would not disturb the community's use of the area for annual events, such as the Fourth of July celebration and Montville Day.  The board currently rents quarters on Changebridge Road in Pine Brook for $11,000 a month, and the district's special services team -- about 10 people -- operates out of a board-owned building on Passaic Valley Road near the high school.

Over the past few years, the board looked at alternatives, mindful that its three-year lease in Pine Brook was set to expire on June 30.  Among the choices were creating an addition to the municipal building or renting another site in the township.

"The most cost-efficient solution is to construct a modular site by the high school," said Superintendent Gary Bowen during Monday night's presentation. "This building will consolidate the central office and special services." Courtesy of the Daily Record.  Discuss on OurMontville.com blog. 

School candidates split on $1.5M question

Four of the five candidates seeking three school board seats split evenly over whether voters should be asked to authorize $1.5 million for a new administration building within the budget or in a separate question on the April 15 ballot.

Among the key issues this year is establishing a permanent home for the board, which must move from its rented quarters in Pine Brook when its three-year lease expires on June 30.  The board's current 8,400 square-foot space on Changebridge Road costs the administration roughly $11,000 per month.

But voters will be asked to approve an item on the $66.9 million budget for the 2008-09 school year to allot $1.5 million for construction of new similar-sized offices for the board.  See Daily Record.  Discuss on OurMontville.com blog.

Montville Township School District Schedule of Budget Presentations

Dr. Gary R. Bowen, Superintendent of Schools, along with Mrs. Christina Riker, School Business Administrator, and Ms. Maria Eppolite, Assistant Superintendent of Schools will conduct budget presentations designed to inform the public of the proposed school budget for the 2008-2009 school year.

Any community organization wishing to schedule a presentation should contact Patti Drobis at 973-808-8580 x223.

Presentations will be held as follows: Download MontvilleSchoolBudgetPresentns08.doc

Montville schools look at giving breath tests to students

Taking a cue from neighboring school districts, Montville is considering giving students Breathalyzer tests at school functions this spring. The school board expects to discuss the issue at its April meetings before deciding whether to use the alcohol breath tests, said school board President Jon Alin.

Montville's drug awareness/municipal alliance council brought the idea to the board of education several months ago, after speaking to the Pompton Lakes district about its use of breath tests at school events, said Joseph Romola, the council's chairman.

"I view it as a deterrent. If the kids know they're going to be checked, I don't think they would drink," Romola said.  See Star Ledger.

Reward offered in Montville HS thefts

Authorities are seeking the public’s assistance to solve a rash of thefts of electronic items that have disappeared from lockers and bags belonging to students at Montville High School.

The thefts, which have taken place over the past two months, involve about 20 separate incidents of missing cell phones, I-Pods and I-Phones at the high school, police said. All the items were reportedly taken from student lockers or bags.   See Daily Record.

Six candidates for three Board of Ed positions

Six candidates (Steve Cohen (i), Frank W. Cooney, Matthew Kayne, Timothy Lindert (i), Michael J. Palma (i), Paul Przetak), including the three incumbents (i), have filed to run for Board of Education on April 15.

See Ask the candidates for Board of Education.  Update:  Steve Cohen has withdrawn.

At Cedar Hill, parents are true teachers

Moms, dads give lessons after school in woodwork, cooking, public speaking - Brendan Kelly hunched over the planks of pine lumber, his eyes narrowed in concentration under his safety goggles as he moved a power sander over the wood.  His mom, Connie, firmly held the boards in place as her 11-year-old son, a fifth grader at Cedar Hill School, finished his handmade shelf.

"I'm going to put trophies on it," announced Brendan, noting his prowess in Montville youth lacrosse and wrestling.  Woodworking, taught by parent Steven Benno, is one of 22 different classes in Cedar Hill's after-school Enrichment Program.

Lincoln Park kids help homeless pets

February was designated Kindness for Animals Month at Lincoln Park Elementary School. Throughout the month the children dropped their coins into the collection bins and watch excitedly as the number of coins grew and grew.

On March 3, the children of Lincoln Park Elementary School presented a check for $605.49 to Sue Goldblatt & Jane Klemp from Montville Pet Parents.  The LPES PTO, recognizing the kindness and generosity of the children, surprised everyone by matching the children’s donation and presenting a check to Montville Pet Parent for another $605.49. 

An Appreciation Award was presented to LPES by Montville Pet Parents.
A portion of the donation will be used to help build a new shelter in Montville which serves Lincoln Park and 4 other towns. A plaque will be included on the celebration wall in the new shelter acknowledging this donation. Until the shelter is built the Lincoln Park Elementary School will be listed on the Naming Opportunities page of the www.MontvillePetParents.org site.

The remainder of the donation will be added to the money set aside by Montville Pet Parents for Montville Animals Shelter each month. This money will be used for care of the animals currently at the shelter.