School Board Election: Here's What You Need to Know Before You Head to the Polls

Polls will be open from 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday for residents to cast their votes for school board candidates and in favor or against the proposed school budget.

Candidates

Here’s a recap on the candidates. Click on each name to view his or her full statement which is part of Patch’s “Meet the Candidates” feature.

Three 3-year terms are available on the board of education. Incumbent Lisa Hodulik seeks re-election and she is challenged by Debra Bruno, Robert Salerno and Joseph Samperi.

One 2-year term is also available. Incumbent Joann Garifalos seeks re-election  and is challenged by Lillian Romano.

, a school psychologist in Bergen County is a 13-year resident of the borough. She has previously served on a board of education in another district.

is a life-long resident of Hasbrouck Heights. She was appointed nine months ago to fill a vacancy on the board and now seeks re-election.

has four children in the school district and has lived in the borough for 23 years. She seeks re-election to a third term.

, a special education teacher in the Leonia school district, grew up in the borough and has served on the board from 2007 to 2010.

, a member of the Lodi Police Department, previously served on the Hasbrouck Heights Board of Education from 2003 to 2006.

is a resident of the borough for the past five years and he and his wife Michelle have two children. He seeks election to the board for the first time.

School budget

The board has proposed a $25,917,317 budget with a tax levy in the amount of $23,876,774 which is a 1 percent increase from last year. If voters approve the budget Wednesday this will cost the average taxpayer about $4.50 per month or $54 per year based on the average home value of $436,000.

According to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Porto the board was able to find ways to keep all programs and instruction while still remaining below the state mandated 2 percent cap. He told audience members during last month’s budget hearing that the board decided to bank additional funds for future use rather than go for the full 2 percent cap.

The district plans to add more AP, advanced placement, courses in the coming year and has plans to add three new staff members - a biology/life science teacher for AP biology, a business teacher and a gym teacher for the middle school/high school.

Porto said the district did not anticipate any change in tenured teaching staff for the next year.

In 2010, the school district lost more than half its state aid and this year the governor gave an additional $234,072 back to Hasbrouck Heights for a total of $649,140 in aid for this coming year.

If the budget is voted down, the mayor and council are required to step in and review the budget and make suggested cuts.