This has undoubtedly been one of the tougher years on the residents of Eatontown. We all had our fingers crossed hoping the federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) would pass by Fort Monmouth when considering base closings. Some of us were reminiscing about the gas lines of the 1970s as we watched fuel prices skyrocket this past summer. Many of us are still feeling the pinch when we pay our monthly heating bill. The worst part is we cannot do anything about these issues except to accept them and move on.

There is an issue to be put before you March 14 that you can do something about. The Eatontown Board of Education is proposing a $29.8 million facilities referendum that has been carefully developed to preserve the district’s tangible assets — our buildings. Our four school buildings are the community’s legacy to education and they are in need of renovation. For example, we must bring our buildings into compliance with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards. This will require new fixtures in the bathrooms, wider doorways, and lifts. Upgrades to the electrical systems will not only comply with local building code, but it will also allow for upgrades to technology, including computer labs and the telephone system. The list is long for the items that need attention.

The good news to Eatontown residents is that the local share can be reduced by 40 percent. The state will pay $11.7 million of the $29.8 million price tag if and only if the voters pass the referendum. This is a one-time offer — if the referendum does not pass on March 14, that state aid is withdrawn and the full cost of all renovations and repairs will fall on the shoulders of the taxpayers.

The board has spent many hours with the district administration, the architect, and local officials to determine how we can get the most done for the least amount of money. Between paring back our original wish list to only those things that are absolutely necessary and getting a commitment from the state for funding, we know this referendum is frugal and as fiscally responsible as possible. By September 2008, our children will enter buildings that have new electrical systems, new roofs, new doors and windows, new kitchen equipment, new technology, and upgrades to HVAC, lighting, and fire alarm systems. The wonderful, but old, buildings will be more energy efficient, saving the taxpayers money in the long run.

I urge all votes to become informed about this referendum. Call the hotline, come to Board meetings, visit during our open houses, and invite a board members to a meeting with your neighbors. The Board and I want you to fully understand the impact of this referendum on the community, the schools, and the children. And I hope you will take the time to vote March 14 — for the future of our schools.

Jean E. “Nina” Hoover

superintendent of Eatontown

Public Schools

180 program addresses teen dating violence

The U.S. Senate recently designated National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week earlier this month, passing the resolution by unanimous consent.

S-275 calls on government, private organizations and public officials to promote activities in their communities that raise awareness about the high incidence of teen dating violence and prevention strategies.

At 180 Turning Lives Around, we ask all Monmouth County residents to pledge their support in ending teen dating violence and sexual assault. More than ever our youth need someone to listen, help and guide them with their concerns and issues. 180’s newest program, the 2nd Floor youth help line, (1-888-222-2228) has been flooded with phone calls from teens and adolescents residing in Monmouth and Mercer Counties. Twenty-nine percent of those calls were inquiries concerning peer relationships. In fact, one out of three high school students will be in an abusive relationship before graduating from high school. Students who are involved in an unhealthy relationship also report lower self-esteem and poor school performance.

For these reasons, 180’s award-winning School Based Abuse Prevention Program has offered free, educational presentations in classrooms across Monmouth County for over a decade. The program teaches adolescents healthy behaviors, conflict resolution techniques and the dynamics of abuse.

Today our message remains strong: no one has the right to abuse another person verbally, physically, emotionally or sexually.

You can help us in spreading the word about teen dating violence awareness and prevention. Remain aware and if you are a parent, actively talk with your children on a regular basis.

Call 180 Turning Lives Around, Inc. at (732) 264-4111 to obtain facts about teen dating violence or to schedule a school-based presentation.

Teach. Listen. Lead. It can make all the difference in a young person’s life.

Anna Diaz-White

executive director

180 Turning Lives Around, Hazlet

‘We the people’ oppose eminent domain

Well, it’s all over the news. Even here in the state of Washington. More government officials with an evil glint in their eyes drooling over the possibility of snatching the homes of local residents in order to fill government coffers with more green stuff.

You can find Adam Schneider in his office bowing down to a golden calf, repeating his mantra: “It’s not theft, it’s progress.”

Hopefully, very soon the citizens of Long Branch will form a revolt. They’ll march down the streets in protest, getting thousands of signatures for the upcoming recall election. Or maybe they could just impeach the mayor and send him packing.

Or, better yet, take his house and make it into a museum with pictures of what happens to local officials who decide that “We the people ...” doesn’t mean anything any more.

A toast to the citizens of Long Branch. We, the people, are with you.

Jeanne Jones

Bremerton, Wash.

NJSBA urges residents to run for local school boards

When New Year’s Day arrived this year, did you resolve to get involved? Did you say that this is the year you’re going to make a difference in your community?

If so, your opportunity may have arrived. I ask you to consider becoming a candidate for your local school board.

The deadline for candidates to submit their nominating petitions — the document that gets their name on the ballot — is Feb. 27. The annual school election is April 18.

As the president of the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) and a longtime local school board member, I can tell you that serving on a school board can be challenging, sometimes difficult but ultimately rewarding. What could be more meaningful than helping to shape the education of every child in your community’s public schools?

School boards don’t run the schools. That’s the job of the superintendent and principals. Rather, the school board works with the superintendent to set the goals and the agenda for the district.

The board annually evaluates the superintendent, and it also writes the policies under which the district operates. It oversees the budget, approves curriculum, and represents the public during contract negotiations.

Not surprisingly, the job demands a commitment of time, certainly more than simply attending a few meetings a month. The job also demands that board members possess other skills. They must make and publicly defend sometimes difficult decisions. They must work as a team, because a school board member acting alone has no authority to make decisions for the district.

And, although the position is nonpartisan, it does require a certain level of political savvy and diplomacy. But above all, the board member must be committed to ensuring a quality education for the public school children in the community.

You can learn more about the issues affecting your schools by attending meetings, going online, and discussing candidacy with local education leaders. Although school board members are unpaid lay representatives, they don’t step into the job unprepared.

Newly elected board members are required by law to attend an NJSBA orientation program, which provides the “basic training” for the board room. After that, board members may attend numerous training programs that NJSBA sponsors.

Think it’s time to make good on that New Year’s resolution? To learn more about running for the school board, NJSBA has published a Candidate Kit, which can be obtained online at www.njsba.org or through your local school district’s business office.

Consider candidacy. Because this just may be the year that you make a difference in your community!

Patti J. Pawling

president

New Jersey School

Boards Association

Mayor, council usurping authority of Zoning Board

The West Long Branch Coalition of Neighbors applied a lot of pressure on the mayor and council to sue the Zoning Board for having approved Monmouth University’s application for variances to build another student residence hall, six tennis courts and a floodwater management basin on the Kilkare property which is zoned R22.

Believing that a town suing its own appointed Zoning Board was ridiculous and embarrassing, we embarked on the task of acquiring 215 signatures on a petition from a small section of town asking the mayor and council not to use taxpayers’ money to do this and presented it to the governing body in October.

On Jan. 18, this Republican-dominated council irresponsibly voted five to one to sue the Zoning Board. They effectively demeaned the integrity of the Zoning Board as well as the integrity of this mayor and council. The Zoning Board is an autonomous body appointed by the council and is charged with the task of hearing all applications that require exceptions to municipal land-use requirements. These exceptions are evaluated based on testimony given at the hearings and granted or denied based on how beneficial they are proven to be. The R22 zone is no exception to this procedure.

Monmouth University followed this procedure for 18 months. Many concessions were made by Monmouth to eliminate the concerns of residents. Only after all these concessions and plan alterations were made to protect the residents and the assurance that the project was beneficial did the Zoning Board grant the approval.

Obviously, by our five council members voting to appeal this decision, the mayor and council are trying to usurp the authority of the Zoning Board. Even more demeaned are the residents because our elected officials have seen fit to completely disregard the input of 215 signatures against the appeal, and vote their own intentions. It looks like the governing board is also usurping the authority of the people they serve. I hope they realize they were voted in to serve the people and not to subordinate them.

Bear in mind, even though the council files this appeal, win or lose, the costs of both the council’s attorney, the Zoning Board’s attorney, as well as other legal expenses have to be paid out of taxpayers’ money. Also, if by chance the university should opt to eliminate its substantial voluntary tax payments to this town, then it too can be added to the total taxpayers’ cost.

Fred and Mary Ann Acerra

West Long Branch