Statement From BOE Candidates Larry Avrin And Shui (Joshua) Schmuckler

schmuckler_avrinThe following statement was submitted to TLS by BOE Candidates Larry Avrin and Shui Schmuckler regarding the upcoming budget hearing: We would like to bring the Public’s attention to the fact that this Monday night the BOE will be having their public hearing on the budget.

The proposed Budget that was discussed publicly on March 3rd had an actual reduction of almost 1%. We have been told that there will be a further reduction for a total of about 3.5% or 160.00 on average per house. (average home assessed at 400,000). This is the first time in history that Lakewood has seen such a drastic reduction, or for that matter any reduction, in a school budget.

According to law, the BOE was able to raise the budget by 2.6 million. Instead they lowered it by over 2 million. Last year the new Board members removed 8 million from the defeated budget. The impact is huge.

It appears the upcoming budget cuts have all been made in non-essential areas and will not affect the core services of the District.

We would also like to commend our running mate Tracey Tift, a sitting member on the board for assisting the board in reaching this milestone. 

We look forward to joining with Tracey and the current Board in April to continue the path of fiscal responsibility.

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24 COMMENTS

  1. Have you looked at any BOE agendas before you spoke? Obviously not. EVery single placement that is suggested by the Administration is approved. Never has anyone been denied. Are you possibly suggesting that the Administration and their employees are not doing a fair and balanced evaluation? That is a serious allegation and can get many of those employees fired. It would be illegal for any evaluator to change a reccomendation due to financial considerations. I believe you should think about the Frum people who will lose their jobs if your allegations get picked up by the Board members who frequent this site.

  2. Wow 160 dollars per house hold after having cut plenty of essential service that 160 isn’t even paying for one month of tutoring. Wise up folks when you have a big family chances are someone is going to need the services and there not there anymore don’t kid yourself. Like Tiny Tots !!!!! No -one’s working for free.

  3. And suggest you do the same if you want voters to take you seriously. Essential services were drastically cut. Not only Tiny Tots. More than 150 children in need of Occupational and Physical Therapy were dropped from receiving services under the guise of “centralization”. Why are children with autism denied essential services. The list goes on and on. And yes,some of the IEPs and ISPs are being “doctored”, and the only employees being fired are the ones refusing to go along with it.

    If elected,what will you do about this? Continue to bury your head in the sand?

  4. Better that people lose their jobs than children lose their entitled services. If their job is to conspire to illegally deny services, they must be fired. And I hope the BOE members do look into this objectively and act decisively, not swayed by how much $$ is “saved”, but by how many children are saved.

  5. #3- once again you speak with out knowledge. If you would get involved instead of pushing your own agenda you would finally agree great things ghave been accompished this past year.
    The public is aware that past board members wanted to increase the budget by 8 million dollars, the school board has a surplus.
    If the people in Lakewood stray off the current course your taxes will go up and all services decline. Is that what you really want

  6. The reason the budget was under was 60 plus seasoned teachers retired and never replaced. Failure to negotiate a contract for the public schools and the current staff didn’t get to move up on the pay scale. Don’t give credit where it really isn’t deserved.

  7. this article stated “It appears the upcoming budget cuts have all been made in non-essential areas and will not affect the core services of the District.”
    Not the past years budget, but the upcoming budget. next time read before you comment.

  8. Be real. Kids who are in need of services are being, have been, and will continue to be denied those services. We have an unbearable load of special needs children, amid a system that is motivated to continue classifying more and more of them. This dynamic is unsustainable from a fiscal policy standpoint. Unless there is a public dialogue and the people vote to raise taxes to support the increased services. That is the issue. Now where do you stand, candidates? Unbridled spending with taxation for special needs, or making the denials necessary to hold the line on taxes. Make a clear declaration so we know who we are, or are not, voting for. Thank you

  9. its not just $160! if not for the new board we would have seen an increase of appox. $300 last year and another increase of $300 this year. so instead of a $600 increase we get a $160 decrease, saving us $760 off the 2011 tax bill!

  10. My child was denied services and I am sp Ed teacher and know the delays my child has. They fluffed the evaluation to appear he didn’t need services…

  11. if you want real lower taxes here’s what you have to do:
    You all know what has to be done but your all scared to tell the truth because you don’t want to hear it.

  12. VOTE NO ON THE BUDGET!
    This will cuase the budget to undergo further oversight by the Township Committee! As if the budget is defeated (as it has been over the last many years it goes for approval to the twnshp commitee) –

    Voting no will cause absolutely NO harm.

    Voting yes will extend the “power” of the BOE- which in future years will come to haunt you.

    Vote NO for the budget.

  13. #23- you are foolish-
    you have a right to vote either way yes or no. Once you read the budget it’s broken down and your right to vote no is broken down like this
    22. million is bussing
    14 million for schi

    keep in mind the township picks up all garbage for the Yeshiva’s more local taxpayer money.

Comments are closed.