To the Editor:

"[Superintendent Jan] Furman said one consideration she will raise for the school board is the fact that the district spends "a little more than $1.1 million on the AP program." She said she and the school board have an obligation to the taxpayers as well as the students and their parents.

"I don’t know how we can ask taxpayers to continue to spend $1.1 million on a program and call it AP when we have a high of 49 percent of students taking the test." — Northern Valley Suburbanite article.

Gee, this is a new twist.

Because 51 percent of the students who enrolled into AP classes chose not to take the exam, it’s not an AP program?

I don’t think so.

The AP curriculums are submitted for College Board approval and I am sure that NVRHS has very qualified AP teachers, who are part of a very rigorous AP program.

That same 51 percent chose to be in the AP program and made their own choice not to take the exam.

Take away their "Freedom of Choice" and voila — 100 percent participation.

Before, Furman seemed to be very about "testing the rigors of NVRHS AP" and now she seems more concerned about "the taxpayers".

The College Board makes more money with "Pay or Fail" .The NVRHS makes more money with "Pay or Fail."

The students (and parents) lose another "freedom" with "Pay or Fail." The administration’s "old arguments." are very weak and they probably know it.

The NVRHS Administration appears to be creating new arguments with the hope that they will get more Public Support for their Draconian practice of "Pay or Fail."

These AP students are the ones who give NVRHS the reputation for academic excellence.

Why must they be forced into AP classes and made to either "Pay or Fail"?

Steve Isaacson

Closter

District ignoring students AP concerns

To The Editor:

I am galled at the NVRHS Board of Education's dismissive response to the community's outcry over the AP test policy. I just read in the Suburbanite (March 26, 2008, "Your Vote in April Matters" by Kevin Ciak of the NJ School Boards Association) that "Board members are part of a team that fosters community engagement, shapes education policy and creates the framework for student achievement."

From my vantage point, the NVRHS board's view of "fostering community engagement" is to withstand and disregard the roaring crescendo of the community's voice on the AP issue. The school board closed the meeting of March 25 to the public while members of the public were still waiting to speak. The public has not even been thrown the bone that the issue is being reopened to by the school board's Policy Committee, only vague statements that this might possibly happen in the future. None of the students I know understand how the AP policy "creates a framework for [their] achievement" now in the spring of 2008.

In mid-March I researched and gave to the Board and Jan Furman, superintendent of the district, a study contrasting NVRHS with almost 30 comparable high school districts (using the NJ Department of Education DFG classifications data.) This survey found that here were no high school districts requiring mandatory AP test, which make their students take five or six test in one year and only two small high schools with limited curriculum options, which require students to take four in one year. Yet nearly 20 percent of the Class of 2008 will be taking four, five or six AP tests this May.

Why then, would the school board not stop to question, rather than proceed with, a policy, which is so out of line with our peers and simultaneously so abhorred by the community? Was this kind of information shared with the school board at the original discussions about this policy? And with this policy, who gains, and who pays its price?

I stand behind my research, its methodology and conclusions, and will share it with anyone who is interested in seeing it.

Susan Hertzberg

Haworth

Rooney has influence on council

To the Editor:

Former Mayor John Rooney has inserted himself in the Deluxe Cleaners issue by writing to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) expressing his concerns with the work the former environmental engineering firm produced on behalf of Northvale. He is, supposedly, doing this as a State Assemblyman and, if so, has every right to do.

This is coming from a man who has demonstrated time and time again a complete disregard for the DEP rules and the environment.

As mayor and member of the Planning Board Rooney allowed a developer to build a home in the flood plain on New York Avenue and raise the elevation of the property violating our ordinances and DEP rules. He did nothing about it. As mayor he allowed a business to pave borough owned property on Union St. within the flood plain, without borough permission to do so, without DEP permits and without borough permits. As mayor, Rooney allowed the borough owned Deluxe Cleaners site to languish for ten years without any environmental remediation work being produced knowing that the property was useless until cleaned up. As mayor for 24 years Rooney heard the rumors that the Tect Danzig site had been contaminated in the 1950's and 60's by a former owner and did nothing about it until the owners abandoned the property and the Borough was stuck with it.

I raise this issue because Rooney has injected politics into our environmental future and possibly our families health. As a concerned citizen, I believe we must stop politicizing the cleanup of Northvale's environmentally challenged properties, stop deliberately misinforming the public regarding the status of Northvale’s environmental issues, and stop looking the other way (the reader may pick a reason why) on behalf of people with vested interests. As an elected official Rooney should know the only people with vested interests are the residents of Northvale. I believe the Republican members of the Borough Council are being swayed by Rooney and are acting as surrogates for him and his agenda. The Republican Council members, as quoted in The Record newspaper, stated people living near Deluxe Cleaners "are at risk". At Tuesdays council meeting, when challenged about the statement, they said well no, not really.

Given the information we have so far, it is evident to me by the votes cast, the Republican members of the council are in step with each other, are playing politics with our environmental issues and do not have a plan or any idea of what the end game is. They seem to be winging it for political gamesmanship.

Former councilman William Sillery

Northvale

Elect Lynn Stewart to the school board

To the Editor:

Please accept this letter as an endorsement for Lynne Stewart to be elected on April 15 as a trustee to the Board of Education (BOE) in Tenafly. In the nearly 10 years that I have known Lynne, she has been both an at-home and professional working mom. The culmination of these experiences has made her an extremely effective leader and volunteer within our community. This is evidenced by her earlier contributions to the Tenafly Nature Center, the Tenafly Basketball League, the Maugham Elementary School as a co-president of the HSA, and most recently, as a member of the Board of Trustees and an active Sisterhood member at Temple Sinai of Bergen County, Tenafly. In all of these endeavors, Lynne has clearly demonstrated her ability to think strategically, solicit and respond to the needs of her constituencies, leverage financial, technical and human resources, work well with others, and make and implement decisions.

I have had the opportunity to work with Lynne on numerous projects and committees that have served the needs and interests of our children, families, and neighbors. Lynne is keenly aware of the diversity that exists within our community and will undoubtedly strive to meet the educational needs that are in the best interests of all Tenafly residents. As a result, I am very confident that Lynne will be a vital asset to the Tenafly Board of Education.

Ronni Zlotnick

Parent of children at Stillman Elementary and Tenafly Middle Schools

Vice President, Temple Sinai of Bergen County, Tenafly

To the Editor:

On April 15 the voters of Tenafly will have the opportunity to elect three Trustees to the Board of Education. It is with great pleasure that I am endorsing Lynne Stewart. I have known Lynne as a member of the Maugham School community and have had the opportunity to work with her in the HSA. She is a tireless volunteer, chairing committees and serving as HSA co-president for two years. During her tenure as co-president she helped to facilitate major fundraising efforts. She was also involved in putting together a forum of state legislators to address the pending legislation in Trenton regarding changes to the educational system in NJ. This action provided the Tenafly community with the most up-to-date information and positions of the local legislators in our area.

Lynne has a strong commitment to the Tenafly school system and is well aware of the challenges facing the school board as the cost of educational services is rising.

A vote for Lynne would serve the students as well as the taxpayers of Tenafly.

Carolyn Rocco

Tenafly

Give your support to Don Kaplan

To the Editor:

It is in earnest that I support the candidacy of Donald Kaplan to the Board of Education for the Tenafly school district in its election April 15. I have known Don Kaplan for the past 10 years, both personally and as a colleague. Having lived in Tenafly since 1995, Don is a long-time resident who knows the community of Tenafly and its schools. As parents in the schools, Don and his wife Karen have consistently volunteered above and beyond the call of duty; whether at Smith School, the Tenafly Middle School, or Tenafly High School, they have committed enormous time and energy to the pursuit of excellence and enhancement to our school community.

Don has served as board member of the Tenafly Educational Foundation (TEF) for five years and its co-president for three years. As a result of the success of TEF, the schools of Tenafly have benefited in grant funding and contributions to both academic and extracurricular programs.

As incumbent member of the Board of Education, Don has served the Tenafly school system well and dutifully for the past three years. Additionally, he has been Vice President of the Board for the past two years. Immediately upon his appointment, Don rose to the occasion as a member of the sub-committee leading the search for a new Superintendent of Schools. The success of this hire enabled the district a smooth and uninterrupted transition of Superintendent.

These are challenging times for school districts. The Board of Education and Tenafly administrators have had to look itself squarely in the mirror and face the reality of its growing image. With the support of the school community, they have secured a referendum to expand the facilities of the middle and high school in order to meet the demand of its numbers and maintain the quality of education the district has come to expect of itself. This charge has been accomplished with fiscal responsibility and on schedule. It is to the credit and collaboration of both the Board of Education and its administrators that our Tenafly schools will successfully meet the growing needs of our school community.

Professionally, Don Kaplan is a CPA. In this capacity, he is accustomed to financial prudence and a careful eye to all that he sees. As he takes on a task, he does so with responsibility to budget and restraint in spending. This experience has helped the Board of Education as it establishes its school budgets each year and is held accountable to its spending. As the state mandates limitations on district spending and increases from year to year, it is essential that careful planning and needs’ assessment be accurate and reliable. I suggest that Don’s expertise serves the Tenafly Board of Education well.

Don Kaplan has also served the BOE on the Facilities, Finance and Planning committee and Chairperson of the Planning committee in creating a vision for the school district’s future, identifying its primary goals in order to serve the district in meeting its needs. The Board of Education’s full adoption of what was presented is testament to the reliability and intuitiveness of this endeavor.

Don Kaplan’s service and contributions is not only limited to Tenafly and the school district. I have shared a seat with Don as member of the Board of Trustees of our synagogue, as well as the Bergen Academy of Reform Judaism, a regional Hebrew high school. In both organizations, Don has assumed numerous roles in serving the needs of its constituency, also with a strong vision and leadership in its success.

If that’s not enough, Don spends spare time involved in Habitat for Humanity building, in which he and his family have participated, as well as study groups to expand his mind and broaden his scope.

Well beyond volunteerism and giving that make up much of how he spends his time, is the heart and soul at the center of the Don Kaplan I’ve come to know as friend. I can easily say that Don’s actions come from a strong sense of morality and justice. He is principled and acts on his principles in an effort toward fairness and equity for all. In this way, I believe his priority as Board member is not only for the benefit of all, but each and every one. Academics are not just in numbers, but how best to challenge and enrich every one.

Don is giving of himself and his time; it is evident that he has a true desire to keep the cycle going and a clear understanding that individual effort and commitment are required as we strive to make the world a better place. He is genuine and straightforward and in this way, conveys his beliefs with clarity and purpose. Don is thoughtful and thinks before he speaks, an important quality not only in taking on the interests and concerns of a group or community, but also in working as a unit and in collaboration with a board or group. He is analytical and thoughtful and adept in recognizing the big picture while addressing the details. Don is also very smart, sharp and intuitive and in this way, he is highly qualified to serve as a member of the Board of Education as it juggles the needs of students, staff and administration, facility and technology. Finally, Don is affable and open and maintains strong relationships at all levels in the Tenafly community.

As a fellow long-time Tenafly resident and active member of the school district, I place strong value in the quality of the members of our community, for the fabric of our community is only as strong as the threads that bind us. The integrity of our schools relies on strong leadership and guidance at all levels.

I am honored to speak in support of Don Kaplan and enthusiastically endorse his candidacy to continue to a second term on the Tenafly Board of Education. When you cast your vote on April 15, you will see there are three seats open, and four contenders. I ask that you consider a vote for Don Kaplan.

Shana Janoff

Tenafly

Strompf great for school district

To the Editor:

On April 15 as you cast your vote for Board of Education trustee, please vote for Sharon Strompf. Sharon has volunteered her time endlessly for the Mackay School Community. At Mackay, she has been involved as an HSA co-president, a school board representative a TEF representative and a class parent. At Smith School she has worked as a Special Education Aide and experienced first-hand the day to day events that teachers, administrators and parents face. For the district, she has served on the Governor and State Teacher award committees as well as being involved in the superintendent interviewing process as an HSA co-president.

Sharon has a tremendous work ethic with excellent communication skills. She cares about Tenafly's schools, children and residents as well as being an avid supporter of the arts. Sharon is very aware of taxpayer concerns and will work hard for Tenafly voters. She is not afraid to ask questions to understand an issue and she helps resolve conflicts by creative thinking. Sharon would be a tremendous asset for our school board.

Laurie Hyslop

Tenafly

To the Editor:

As election time for our local Board of Education trustees comes around again, I am reminded of how important this vote is for many towns. School board trustees are citizens of our town elected to govern our public schools. It is the school board that sets the direction for our schools, establishes and maintains an organizational structure that supports the district's vision and empowers the professional staff, provides support through its behavior and actions, ensures accountability to the public and act as community leaders. Financially, the BOE controls the allocation of a major portion of the property taxes we pay, which they invest in educational practices that help our children. In Tenafly, the 2007 apportionment of taxes shows 65 percent as local school taxes.

It is incumbent on us to choose our school board trustee wisely. In my town of Tenafly, one candidate stands out — Sharon Strompf. Sharon has been involved with the Tenafly public schools for years serving on her school's Home School Association Board including two years as co-president, Tenafly Educational Foundation Representative, Board of Education Representative and worked as a Tenafly Special Education Aide. All of these have allowed her to experience the dynamic relationship between teachers, parents and administrators. She has served our community wonderfully in the past by completing her many responsibilities by listening to others and staying aware of the issues. I support her wholeheartedly and know she will be a terrific trustee. On April 15 in Tenafly, vote for Sharon Strompf.

Winston Tsang

Tenafly

To the Editor:

Sharon Strompf and I have been friends since 2003 when our daughters entered kindergarten together at Mackay School. Since the beginning of our friendship Strompf has always been a hands on parent. First as class parent then wanting to do more became President of the H.S.A. (Home School Association). Her achievements and accomplishments are endless and she is still becoming more involved with the community by now running for representative of the Board of Education.

Strompf has always been a fair and very diplomatic individual. She goes out of her way to make sure that all groups and nationalities are respected and heard. And with our diverse community this trait is extremely important. The most important fact that Strompf will offer the Board of Education is that she has two children who in the Fall of 2008 will be attending the elementary school and the middle school. Strompf will provide a deeper understanding of the needs and wants of the school system. Therefore, she will be very diligent and conscientious when making any decision. Not only will the Tenafly community be impacted by her decision but she family will personally be affected by the decision. She truly has a vested interest in maintaining the ELITE status of the Tenafly School System. To me, her everyday dealings with the school system is the best qualification for a candidate of the school board.

Archondia Condos Dulot

Tenafly

To The Editor:

I am writing in support of Sharon Strompf for Board of Education trustee, and urge Tenafly residents to get out and vote on April 15. In addition to approving the proposed budget, I urge voters to elect Sharon Strompf to the board of Education.

I have seen firsthand Sharon’s dedication and efforts towards the improvement of our Schools. She has tirelessly given of her time and efforts and contributed towards the betterment of our local HSA and the quality of the educational experience for our children.

Sharon is a serious, intelligent and dedicated individual and, if given the chance, she will put all of her talents to work for our children and the taxpayers of Tenafly. Her resume of public service to our community is rich, and her professional skills as an editor and communicator will allow her to work well in enhancing our School Board’s ability to deliver on our commitment to the highest possible level of education. In short, your vote to elect Sharon Strompf to Trustee will, in my opinion, be a step towards continuing our tradition of excellence in education.

Anne R. Press

Tenafly

GOP leads flawed budget process

To the Editor:

At the March Mayor and Council meeting, the Northvale Republican Council majority (Councilmen Furletti, Gullestad, Sokoloski, and Winans) somehow managed to introduce a 2008 budget that calls for a $900,000+ increase in municipal taxes over 2007 spending. This is an unbelievable 21.7 percent increase over the 2007 municipal taxation level. Both Democrats sitting on the Council (the two of us) voted no to this introduction, believing this budget process to be fundamentally flawed and the tax increase to be completely unjust and out of line with the current condition of borough finances.

We challenge the 2008 Council majority to:

• Actually start working on this budget. It’s almost April, which means that three months of budget work should have been completed. The Northvale Council should be concluding, not starting, the budget process.

• Exercise some measure of fiscal responsibility and reduce this bloated budget to a realistic spending level that the Northvale taxpayers can afford.

• Attempt to come close to matching our 2007 budget which increased the municipal tax levy by a paltry 1.1 percent ($46,711) over 2006. Last year was a year marked by municipal financial hurdles, including a revaluation, that approximate the current 2008 scenario. The difference in 2007 was that some members of the Mayor and Council, at that time a Democratic majority, actually worked on reducing the tax impacts of a very negative financial climate. To date, the new Council majority has not taken on that responsibility.

• Return hard-earned money to the Northvale taxpayer. The 2007 year end cash surplus was $984,000 and the capital fund surplus was $527,500. The bottom line: there is $900,000 in surplus at the end of 2007 that was not present at year end 2006. The taxpayers deserve to have a prudent amount of these excess surpluses dedicated to reducing taxes. These funds belong to Northvale taxpayers, not to the Borough Council, and most definitely not to the hired professionals that the Council majority has chosen to delegate all financial decision making to.

In order to send this budget to the shredder we are going to need the support of you — the Northvale taxpayer. Please plan on attending the Mayor and Council meeting Wednesday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m., at Borough Hall. The public will be able and encouraged to voice their opinions and concerns at that meeting.

Patrick Marana and JoAnn Traub

Council members – Borough of Northvale