Eight vie for Edison board seats
The Sentinel sent a questionnaire to all the Board of Education candidates. Of the eight, Samip Joshi and Michael Winters did not respond by press time. How can the quality of education in this district be improved? Aimee Szilagyi

Aimee Szilagyi •English professor, Middlesex County College •Bohamtown resident

Edison schools have two needs: more classrooms and better technology. More comprehensive short- and long-term approaches than the current board has in place are needed, with more community and townwide involvement at all phases. Technology must be on top of the list; the board has been able to find money for an acting superintendent, so why hasn't it found more for technology? Technology can alleviate overcrowding bymaking distancelearning classes available to students.

Gene I. Maeroff

The BOE has neglected technology. Edison needs to acquire hardware and software and train its teachers to make use of computers in classrooms. A shortage of advanced placement (AP) sections and courses in its high schools means that students can't gain the knowledge and credibility that AP would give them, a problem that calls for more AP classes via independent study and online. The BOE should give more attention to the uneven outcomes among its schools.

Gene I. Maeroff • Senior fellow, Columbia University, education author • Stephenville resident

Veena Iyer

The BOEmust focus on delivering quality services to our students. The schools should help every student in every grade at every one of its schools achieve to the best of his or her ability. The growing gap in achievement between north and south Edison schools must be addressed, and teachers should have the support they need to do their job. Technology can be used to increase course offerings in the high schools through online learning. Ralph Errico

The quality of Education can be improved by integrating technology curriculum from grade kindergarten through 12. Edison has the best teachers, but they do not have the best tools. I would request that the technology curriculumbe reviewed and include all grades and all students. I would request the administration seek grants to ensure that there are computers in each and every classroom throughout the district. Our studentsmust have the best and latest technology.

Veena Iyer - • John Adams Middle School PTO co-president •Oak Tree section resident

William Van Pelt

Three areas will help to improve the quality of education:

a. Eliminate overcrowded conditions. This is being addressed in phase one of the bond, with no cost to the taxpayer. Again, in phases two and three, by the Long-Term Facility and Budget Committee, which is community based and formed by me.

b. Increase technology, which is being done for the 2008-09 budget by adding $1 million, which the previous administration overlooked.

c. Improving our AP class offerings, which is connected to phases two and three of our long-term plans.

Ray Koperwhats

The quality of education in this district can be improved by increasing the number of classrooms, hiring the best teachers and passing the budget and referendum. How can the financial needs of the schools and the taxpayer be more effectively balanced? Aimee Szilagyi

William Van Pelt •Retired school teacher and coach, Edison • Jersey Avenue resident

The board must exercise more fiscal responsibility by thinking more comprehensively so that all expenditures, especially that of expansions, have a cumulative and long-range effect. It also needs to think outside the box more and encourage the outreach to community businesses and large corporations who offer grants and endowments, thereby maintaining the cost of a quality education but not further overburdening already overburdened taxpayers.

Gene I. Maeroff

Good education costs money. But the BOE should domore to assure that the contracts it negotiates achieve a win-win situation, with both taxpayers and employees feeling good about the results. The BOE did taxpayers no service by putting the superintendent on leave and obligating itself to pay her $500,000 in salary and benefits to remain home for two and a half years.

Ralph Errico •School administrator •Plafsky Drive resident

Veena Iyer

We must support the educational needs of our students, but this must be done while remaining fiscally responsible How can the financial needs of the schools and the taxpayer be more effectively balanced? Veena Iyer (cont.) to the taxpayer. The perception of the quality of the schools directly impacts our property values, so resources should be allocated with a view to improving educational quality. The district should seek cost-sharing solutions wherever possible so that savings are minimized.

Ralph Errico

I would ask for a total review of all line items and expenditures. I would request administration to review all solutions to reduce our budget, without affecting our children's education. All items should be on the table - from transportation, special education costs, to health benefits. The taxpayers, especially the senior citizens, are getting fed up with taxes increasing from every form of government.

William Van Pelt

The financial needs of the school and taxpayer are balanced by the state increasing their aid, which they did by $3 million dollars, and the BOE by assessing expenditures that do not negatively affect students. The tax rate for our 2008-09 budget is only $87 dollars, and we have gross savings of $1.4 million dollars since November 2007.

Ray Koperwhats • Retired school teacher and coach, Bridgewater Raritan • Deerwood Avenue resident

Ray Koperwhats

The financial needs of the schools and the taxpayers can be more effectively balanced by assessing the needs of the district, prioritizing those needs and financing those which will best benefit the educational process. How can the board further promote transparency and oversight within the district? Aimee Szilagyi

Edison is an amalgamation of talents and skills. So why do so many feel that there is a select group of voices playingmusical chairs from positions that are heard and counted? Maybe because it's true for themost part.An elected board should form nontoken citizen committees and task forces to study needs and develop suggestions before plans are presented. Also, encourage the administration to set up interactive communication with taxpayers. It needs to respect opinions offered by all and not discourage participation with condescension.

Gene I. Maeroff

The BOE should not operate as a secret society that leaves some members out of preliminary discussions, as it has done in its treatment of the three members it marginalized. The BOE should have opened the planning process for a new school to the community and certainly to the neighbors of the proposed school, as it failed to do before unveiling the current referendum proposal. The BOE should domore to reach out to senior citizens and others who have no children in the schools.

Veena Iyer

The board and Superintendent should have the common goal of promoting communication with administrators, teachers, parents and the community. Board members should remember that they are elected to represent the voters and thus have a responsibility to be open with them. The district can use its Web site to provide information but should also hold public information sessions throughout the year as well as mailing pertinent information to homes.

Ralph Errico

If elected, I would be responsible to all the people of Edison. I would seek advice and guidance fromstudents, parents, staff, and the residents for suggestions on how to improve a fiscally responsible quality education. Two of my strengths are being a good communicator and good listener.As an elected boardmember, I will be available to communicate and listen to all with concerns. As a board member, I'm accountable to all residents of Edison. I have no conflicts and will be able to vote on all concerns.

William Van Pelt

The BOE, since November 2007, has been open to suggestions, has formed community based committees and has provided information in the form of a shared newsletter. This is the new "Change is Now" philosophy that will continue to informthe community and savemoney while meeting the needs of our students.

Ray Koperwhats

Transparency can be increased by having more public input on major issues and holding forums throughout the district on those issues.