The Alternative Press

WEST ORANGE, NJ - During the past three years since you given me the privilege of continuing to serve on the West Orange Board of Education time has not only passed quickly but it has been a pivotal and transitional time for our community and district.  With the declining housing market, the rate of inflation affecting daily consumables such as food, gas and oil, the shocking increase in unemployment figures, and the reality that our school district continues to increase in enrollment, times have been extremely challenging.  Now more than ever we must demand that our elected officials analyze, question and be creative in their thinking to move our district forward.  Last February Governor Christie asked all school boards in New Jersey to support moving their elections to November in order to reduce election costs to the taxpayers as well as keep our school budgets under a 2% cap.  I had supported this initiative and now I would like to announce that I will be running for re-election and I will be on the November 6, 2012 ballot.  Once again I am asking you for your vote, and asking that you will recognize my efforts on behalf of our children and school district and to share information with your friends and family members by letting them know of the work that I have done.

Saved taxpayers dollars without affecting classroom learning by:

-          Restructuring school registration procedures to increase barriers to non-residents

-          Increased permit fees for usage of school facilities

-          Decreased custodial overtime & energy costs by supporting blackout dates and selected building closings

-          Promoting to provide special education services to tuition-paying students from other districts as well as new in-district special education programs

-          Reduced transportation costs by $700k by changing the start times of schools-allowing for 3 tier busing and rescheduling after-school busing for late buses as well as athletic runs

-          Reduced interest on bonds by refinancing debt

-          Reduced purchasing cost by renegotiating contracts such as busing and food services

-          Working with the township on various shared services such as buying bulk road salt and diesel fuel at bid prices

-          Continuing the ACES agreement, saving on gas and electric cost

-          Continuing participation in the Pittsgrove Consortium for paper supplies

-          Moving the West Orange School Board election to the November election

-          Achieving contract changes such as capping unlimited teacher tuition reimbursement and employee benefit thresholds and prescription benefits with the prior contract

-          Reduced costs with current employee benefit plan by changing provider network (on negotiations team working on current contract)

-          Supporting grant applications which garnered over $4 million in awards to the district

Offering the best education experience for all of our children:

-          Smaller class sizes and block scheduling at the elementary and middle school levels

-          Supported curriculum improvements for math, language arts, social studies, new STEM initiatives and technology improvements in elementary and middle schools, also serves as the BOE liaison to Math Parents Committee

-          Supported Small Learning Communities at the high school  such as the Institute for Math and Science and the Institute for Humanities,  expansion of AVID program, and new offerings such as SAT prep, Freshman Seminar, Science Research, AP Chinese,  AP Psychology and Summer Step-Up Program, serves as BOE liaison for Small Learning Communities Committee

-          Imposed  mandatory academic accountability procedures  for our student athletes by co-creating the ASAP Program

-           Increased communication to parents through technology by supporting implementation of the Parent Portals, School Messenger and Board Briefs as well as increased transparency to parents and taxpayers by televising BOE meetings

Despite these challenging times I have remained focused by continuing my work in advocating for the best educational experience for all students while lessening the financial burden to us, the taxpayers. I have never been afraid to ask the tough questions, I have spent countless hours analyzing data and line items on our school budget as well as researching all information which has been presented to me. I have not only offered creative solutions to our district but have also been instrumental in creating policies and procedures for implementation.   I hope that you will join me on November 6, 2012 and cast one of your two votes for me.  I look forward to your support and I hope to see you at the polls!

Sincerely,

Michelle Casalino