Race For Board of Education Tightens As Two Drop Out

As the April Board of Education election get closer, the field for three seats on the board has gotten a little bit tighter.

Two of the candidates, Renee Altshul and Amy Fankhauser, have dropped out of the race. That still leaves incumbents Sheryl Roses and Gene Tanala to run against Stephen M. Levine, Albert Miller, Waldemar Panek and John VanNoy. The three winners will all be elected to three-year terms. 

Of the four newcomers to the field, at least one is assured of a spot on the board as current board member David Flaherty decided to not seek another term.

The current board includes president Mary Cerretani, Suzanne M. Brenan, Patrick Dowling, Joseph Moscato Jr., Timothy O'Brien and Jeannette Smith. 

In addition to the board seats up for grabs, the election will also include a vote on the tax levy needed to support the school budget for the 2011-12 academic year. While the budget has not been introduced yet, Ronald Sanasac, the board secretary and business administrator, has said  it is believed the tax levy will be flat, with no increase.

Howell residents will get their first real look at the budget on Wednesday night during a public hearing. The public portion of that meeting is set to start at 8 p.m. in the cafetorium of Middle School North.