CONTACTS: Pegi Adam, 973-744-6090, pegi@mountsnow.org
                                                                                                          Ofira Bondorowsky, 973-783-2687, cell 201-873–1547
 bondorowsky@verizon.net

 
NEW WEB SITE EXPLORES ISSUES—BUSTS MYTHS

 
Oct. 5, 2009, Montclair, N.J.—There’s a new web site that explains why Montclair, N.J., would be better off electing the members of its board of education and dispels fears about this form of government: www.electtheboard.com
 
The grassroots committee campaigning for Montclair to stop appointing and start electing BOE members has launched www.electtheboard.com
 
Visit the site to get general information on how to vote by mail and learn about the issues involved in this important matter. The committee asserts that there are too many ungrounded fears and it’s time the voters had all the facts. For example:
 
MONEY
Myth: The fear is that an elected board would slash the school budget to lower taxes. The fear is that elected BOEs categorically reject spending.
FACTS: The over­whelming majority of the state’s 591 elected BOEs do not vote down budgets out of hand.
In fact, according to the New Jersey School Board Association, 73 percent of school budgets and 15 of 19 bond issues were approved by voters with elected BOEs in the most recent year for which stats are available.
What voters want is transparency so they can know where their tax dollars are going and a voice in how that money is spent.
 
DIVERSITY
Myth: The fear is that only the mayor can ensure that the BOE is diverse. Only a small percentage of voters actually go to the polls so they alone will decide the BOE composition. Low voter turnout could mean a homog­eneous BOE in Montclair.
FACTS: Trust the voters. Montclair strives to elect individuals based on merit, not skin color, gender or ethnic­ity. The largest proportion of votes during the last Council election went to an African American, Roger Terry. And more than 83 percent of Montclair voters pulled the lever for President Obama.
 
QUALITY OF EDUCATION
Myth: The fear is that an elected board system would compromise the quality of education.
FACTS: Almost all school districts that rank higher than Montclair have elected boards.
 

 
OUR TOWN, OUR SCHOOLS, OUR CHOICE
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