Montclair School Proposal Passes; See Unofficial Election Results

This article was updated at 12:15 p.m. on Nov. 5

MONTCLAIR, NJ — Montclair residents headed to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 2 to cast their votes in the 2021 general election, and an important question involving local schools was among the decisions they faced.

In Montclair, voters chose candidates for governor, the state Legislature and county sheriff, and made decisions on two state ballot questions. Local voters also faced a school governance proposal: Should Montclair start electing members of its board of education?

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With 35 of 35 districts reported, it appears that the measure has passed with an overwhelming margin. Here are the unofficial results, which still need to be certified, according to the Essex County Clerk's Office:

• YES - 9,290 (70.55%)
• NO - 3,878 (29.45%)

Montclair is one of the few remaining New Jersey municipalities where mayors appoint members of the board of education. But this would change if voters approve a ballot question.

Advocates for a "yes" vote say that appointing school boards breeds unhealthy politics, and argue that "citizens rather than politicians" should choose who sets education policy in the township. But others are pushing for a "no" vote, arguing that elected boards run the risk of having candidates beholden to campaign contributions, and can allow a "single-issue" candidate to win an election with very few votes. Read More: Electing Montclair's School Board (Here Are The Pros, Cons)

Here's the school governance proposal as it reads on the ballot:

"Shall the Montclair Township School District be reclassified from a 'Type I' School District, with members of the Board of Education appointed by the mayor, to a 'Type II' School District, with members of the Board of Education elected by Township voters during regularly-scheduled annual November elections, with dissolution of the appointed Board of School Estimate, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:9-4?"

What does that mean? According to the interpretive statement on the ballot:

"If a majority of voters vote yes, the change from a Type I School District to a Type II School District would mean that voters would elect members to the Montclair Township Board of Education. The Board of Education would change from a seven-member Type I board appointed by the mayor to a nine-member Type II elected board. Each member would be elected to a three-year term, with elections for three members occurring during regularly-scheduled annual November elections starting the first November after passage of this referendum, and current members remaining until their terms expire. The conversion would eliminate the Board of School Estimate, have future bonding based on the credit of the district rather than the Township, and subject future bonding for capital projects and any operating budgets that exceed state caps on property tax growth to approval by public referendum. If approved, there will also be other minor technical changes required that are not set forth herein."

The general election results are still unofficial, and haven't been certified. But with a large margin pointing at a potential "yes" for an elected school board, Vote Montclair — one of the driving forces behind the effort — declared a "victory" for the referendum.

The group wrote:

"The effort to give Montclair an elected Board of Education can be measured in decades, and discussions around the issue have often been bitter. Advocates of both positions were at times too quick to level charges of underhanded tactics and shadowy financial connections. But it is clear that most who have been in the fray have been driven by what they truly believe is in the best interests of the township, and its children. Those who are now celebrating should be especially mindful of this. And everyone should be grateful for the enormous contribution of many of those who opposed this referendum, who in some cases fought for years for the cause of educational equity, often at no small personal cost."

Vote Montclair continued:

"It should also be remembered that this isn’t an ending but a beginning. An elected board will mean regular elections for this crucial body, starting with a special election for two seats early in 2022, and eventually annual contests for three seats every November, as well as occasional referenda on budget issues. On some of these future election days those who felt like they lost today are likely to feel like they won, and vice-versa. That’s how democracy is supposed to work."

Councilman Peter Yacobellis was also among those getting ready for a new pathway forward on Wednesday.

"Montclair voters overwhelmingly chose to change how our schools are governed to a system where we directly elect our school board," he wrote in a press statement. "The people want a responsive government that is held accountable. They want a say in policy and they want investment in our schools to bring our district into the 21st century. I urge the Board of Education to consider what level of investment is needed in the short term and begin the process of putting a bond to the voters as soon as possible."

Yacobellis continued:

"This was an emotional and divisive debate but now it’s time for all sides to come back together and get to work on behalf of Montclair's kids. They deserve our best. Our teachers and school staff deserve our best. We are a special town with a unique history that we must and I will work to safeguard. I just truly hope all of this passion turns into people having sustained participation because that's what it's going to take to truly change things. I congratulate Vote Montclair and the League of Women Voters for the vital engagement of our citizenry in this decision. We are going to need civic organizations more than ever to help keep the voters engaged and informed as we transition to an elected school district in the years ahead and particularly as we consider who we will elect to those seats."

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