The Farmingdale Board of Education held a special meeting on Wednesday, April 20, at Howitt Middle School. The special meeting agenda included the adoption of the proposed 2005-06 budget for voter approval.

In the first public participation section, resident Terri Morrison addressed the board, explaining that she and two other parents had obtained enough signatures to add a resolution to the May 17 vote for an at large election for school board seats, in lieu of having candidates run against a specific individual. Trustee Jane Rubinstein thanked Morrison and the others for their time and effort.

Thereafter, Assistant Superintendent for Administration Barbara Horsley made a presentation outlining the transportation bid results for the upcoming year. The board had anticipated an increase in transportation costs from its current supplier, Atlantic Express. However, the bid presented to the board came in at an increase of almost 30 percent. A second bidder, Acme, came in even higher.

"We built an 18 percent increase into the budget for transportation, Horsley explained after the meeting. "It was not enough, but the gas will now be included. Part of the reason that the increase was so high, we expected it."

Atlantic Express' current contract is for $3,371,320, not including the cost of gasoline, which is paid separately. The new contract would be equal to $4,399,134, including gasoline. The 2005-06 proposed budget had included a transportation amount of $3,809,591, leaving a difference of $589,543. Horsley explained that $200,000 of the difference would be made up by not having to pay for gasoline, leaving a gap of $389,543.

Horsley then presented suggestions to the board to close the gap. One possibility would include the elimination of three nine-hour buses, two eight-hour buses, one seven-hour bus and summer school transportation. The average bus capacity would increase from 44 to 54 students per bus, certain little-used bus stops would be eliminated and the late buses at the middle school and high school would have longer routes. Board members expressed concern about the loss of the buses for the elementary schools and the summer school program.

Trustee Russ Catanzaro asked how far apart the bus stops were and whether or not the public could be guaranteed to get better bus drivers. Horsley explained that many of the stops were quite close together and that there were no guarantees relating to the drivers.

The board then discussed the possibility of adding a public referendum to the May 17 vote to increase the sixth-grade walker distance from one-half mile to one mile. This change would impact approximately 54 students and would save about $281,000 per year. The remaining gap of $108,000 could be met by increasing the 2005-06 budget to $122,028,214. After consideration of other options, such as adding additional state aid into the budget, Board President Anthony Vitale polled the board. A majority agreed that the referendum should be presented to the public, together with the increase to the budget.

Next, the board proceeded to address its agenda Items for Action. First was the adoption of the proposed school budget, in the increased amount of $122,028,214. While the motion was made and seconded, Trustee Robert Guarino, Jr. opposed it.

After voting was complete, Vice President Tina Diamond called for a letter to all local representatives, protesting this year's increase in transportation costs. Diamond equated the raise to "highway robbery." Superintendent Dr. Roberta Gerold responded by saying that a letter had already been prepared and would be sent out shortly.

The board then opened up the meeting to public participation. Another resident with children attending Woodward Parkway, Howitt and Farmingdale High School questioned whether the buses were being closely monitored to make sure that only children who belonged on a particular bus were actually riding on it. Resident Butch Starkie expressed concern about the buses, stating "riding the bus is a privilege." As a parent of four children, all of whom attend private school, Starkie complained that he was "fed up with the increases."

Copies of the budget will be available to the public at each school and in the Farmingdale Public Library on May 3. Voter registration is scheduled for May 7 in the East Lobby of Howitt Middle School from 12-9 p.m. May 12 is the last day to register to vote.