GT, Black Horse Pike School Boards Undecided on Move to November Election

The boards of education for Gloucester Township's local and regional school districts last week remained undecided on whether to move annual board elections from spring to fall.

Gov. Chris Christie on Jan. 17 signed into law a bill that allows either school boards, municipal governing bodies or an affirmative referendum vote to move school elections from April to the general election in November.

Supporters of the bill cited increasing voter turnout—notoriously low for school elections in New Jersey—and saving money by eliminating duplicative costs on poll workers as reasons for its passage.

A move to November would mean voters would have no say on school budgets, the law's opponents have argued.

Linda Gilch, president of the Gloucester Township Public Schools board, indicated Thursday night she hoped to find out more about the now-permitted Election Day move during a New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) meeting on Saturday—weather-permitting, of course—then discuss the potential move with board members during their meeting tonight.

"I'm a little bit anxious to see what other board members from around the state feel about it," she said.

Black Horse Pike Regional School District (BHPRSD) board President Joyce Ellis indicated more time is needed for the regional board and district officials to explore the ramifications of such a move.

"We're in a position right now where we're looking into it," she said following Thursday night's BHPRSD board meeting.

The local boards and others across New Jersey will have to take action soon to move their annual elections in order to put the change into effect this year. While there is no firm deadline from the state for changing to November elections, there are several significant dates coming up in February, including announcing the election and filing deadlines for school board candidates.

BHPRSD Business Administrator Jean Grubb noted the move would only make sense for the regional district from a financial perspective if all of its sending districts—Bellmawr, Gloucester Township and Runnemede—also make the move.

NJSBA supported the legislation, but is not pleased with the element of the law that will allow a municipal governing body to move the school election.

"Municipal governing bodies are separate entities from school boards. There are many municipal governments that have nonpartisan May elections—no school board can take a vote to change that," NJSBA spokesman Frank Belluscio said. "I'm not sure how it's fair to give a municipal body the authority to change a school board election either."

Under the new law, there are three ways a school board election can be moved to November and voter approval of the budget rendered unnecessary:

• By referendum, if a petition to place it on the ballot is initiated and signed by at least 15 percent of the number of voters in the town the last presidential election
• By the passage of a resolution by the board of education
• By the passage of a resolution by the municipal governing body

The New Jersey Education Association supports the move.

"Nowhere else do voters get a direct say in the budget by voting for it," Steve Baker, spokesman for the state teachers' union, said. "School boards set the budget based on their individual community and school needs—that's what they're elected to do and that's what they should be doing."