Uncertainty clouds N.J. school elections

Voters' decisions yesterday spell teacher layoffs in Monroe and Washington Townships, no new roofs in Mount Holly, and preschool fees in Haddon Township.

The recession, as well as late announcements of state and federal stimulus aid, created unusual uncertainty this year as more than 100 districts in Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties chose school board candidates and decided on the local contribution to operating budgets.

"It's a tough time for people," said Superintendent Robert Goldschmidt of Riverside, where voters narrowly rejected two $2 million construction questions but passed the budget, according to early returns.

Monroe Schools Superintendent Charles Earling Jr. said he was pleased the local levy on the district's $82.5 million budget appeared to pass but disappointed a second question funding 20 teachers and freshman sports apparently failed.

"We won't have to go back and have more cuts made by the town," he said. "But the second question didn't pass, and that's 20 teachers and freshman sports. That's tough - having to lay off 20 teachers."

Monroe Township Council has discussed funding freshman sports but has not voted on it yet, Earling said. The only way to restore the teacher positions, however, would be to put a question before voters again next year.

Turnout was strong early yesterday in Washington Township, which apparently defeated a budget that already included 29 layoffs - the first reduction in a dozen years, board members said. Enrollment is down 1,300 students from a few years ago.

"The taxpayers' decision may prove detrimental to our award-winning academic and extracurricular programs as they now exist," Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Simone said.

Voters in Black Horse Pike Regional, comprising Bellmawr, Gloucester Township, and Runnemede, turned out against a proposal that reduced taxes in all three towns. It was the second budget loss in two years.

Evesham's proposed 5 percent spending increase - criticized by some of the nine school board candidates - was going down to defeat.

Mount Holly voters rejected a $34 million construction bond, according to unofficial results.

"There's a lot of wasteful spending in this referendum," township resident Jason Carty, who ran the vote-no campaign, said in early afternoon.

Nick Sodano, a township resident who works for the state, said he strongly believed in public education but doubted the district's details on this proposal, which includes new roofs, plumbing, security, playgrounds, and building remodeling.

"It's a sticker-shock thing," he said. "I'm a little uncertain how much is really needed."

Construction-bond proposals appeared to pass in Kingsway Regional, Clearview Regional, and Northern Burlington Regional.

Camden County districts where budgets were ahead in early returns included Haddon Heights, Collingswood, Haddon Township, and Cherry Hill.

In Burlington County, voters approved budgets in Mount Laurel, Delran, Pemberton Township, Maple Shade, Rancocas Valley Regional, and Northern Burlington Regional, according to unofficial results. Budgets apparently failed in Mount Holly, Evesham, Southampton, and Willingboro.

Superintendent Mark Raivetz attributed Haddon Township's unofficial budget approval to increased public participation in budget hearings. When residents protested cuts in freshman sports, the district decided instead to charge $1,000 to enroll a child in what had been a free half-day prekindergarten program. Raivetz said early surveys indicated that 60 percent of parents still planned for their children to participate.

Statewide, turnout for spring school elections hovers around 14 percent of eligible voters, ranging from 7 to 18 percent since 1983.

Defeated school budgets go to the municipal government, which may cut the levy. Under some circumstances, the school board can appeal cuts to the state.

Two pages of results.