Board of Education Candidate Joseph Miceli

Name:  Dr. Joseph Miceli

Age: 52

Address: 21 Azalea Trail, Westfield

Length of Time in Town: 10 years

Family Life: Married for 30 years with one daughter who graduated from Westfield and now attends Rutgers Law.

Education: BA in Biology from Rutgers College, 1980;  M.Ed. in Science Education from Rutgers University Graduate School of Education, 1984; Doctorate in Educational Administration from Rutgers University Graduate School of Education, 1995.  Certified as a Teacher of Science, a Principal and a District Administrator.

Professional Life:  Served as a Science Teacher for over 11 years at the High School level; served as an Assistant Principal and Principal at the Elementary and Middle School levels for 15 years; served as an Assistant Superintendent for 4 years.

Community/Political Activities:  Active member of the Church of St. Helen.

Hobbies:  Avid football fan.  Enjoys dancing, gardening and relaxing days on the beach. 

What do you think the three biggest issues facing the Westfield public schools in this election? (Please list the issues)

• Maintaining the excellence of the school district in the face of fiscal constraints
• Reducing costs that take funds away from the classroom and children
• Responding to the changing National Standards movement and adjusting Westfield curriculum to meet the demands of the 21^st century.

Please explain your positions on these issues?

• The Westfield schools are known for their level of excellence.  Over the last two years the district lost 54 positions due to deep cuts in state aid.  Those losses affect the morale of the faculty as they are asked to do more with fewer resources despite larger class sizes.  Continued cuts will increase the difficulty faced by our teachers making their jobs harder and more likely to impact our children’s education.  It is important that the district maintain the level of funding from the state through lobbying of the legislature and maintaining close ties with the Department of Education.  Budgeting of available funds needs to focus on the impact on the classroom.  The caps imposed by the state have been a means of controlling property tax increases but they have also restricted the ability of the district to raise funds to implement programs desired by the community.  This led to the imposition of activity fees in the district as parents willing to pay for the maintenance of programs such as athletics and extracurricular activities must pay for them in another way.
• Costs of contracts are the most significant portion of the district budget.  Teachers deserve to be paid well for the outstanding job they do.  Without teachers none of us would be in the position we are in today.  At the same time salaries and benefits account for more than 75% of the district budget.  Limiting the increases in those costs is essential in maintaining the total number of teaching positions in the district.  Contract negotiations must be done in light of the state imposed caps and the need to employ the greatest number of high quality teachers Westfield can afford.  The rising costs of utilities must also be addressed.  The district has made strides in reducing energy costs.  That work needs to continue and to expand. 
• The curriculum is the most important element of the district.  The curriculum determines what is taught to our children, when it is taught and how it is taught.  The movement toward national standards has put New Jersey in a difficult position of moving forward with our own standards while trying to prepare for the implementation of national standards and potential national testing programs. 

How do you propose the Board of Education handle the school budget at a time of reduced state aid and the two-percent property tax cap?

• Development of the budget is the most important job of the board.  It is the time when the dollars are placed in lines to fund the priorities set by the board.  If priorities are not funded they are not true priorities.  My belief is that the classroom is the most appropriate place to spend money.  We need to have teachers in the classrooms with the resources students need to learn and achieve at the highest levels.  That all needs to happen in buildings that are safe and physically accommodating of the process of teaching and learning.  Revenue is limited by the property tax cap.  Therefore, other revenue streams need to be activated.  Grants can be brought into the district through consortia with other districts to provide programs for their students while serving our own.  Cost containment must also be investigated.  The district has made good strides in energy efficiency.  It must also make good strides with the cost of benefits.

What is your position on the contract the Board of Education negotiated with Schools Superintendent Margaret Dolan, which has been objected to by the state Department of Education for going over Gov. Chris Christie’s cap on superintendent salaries?

• Every district must decide if the superintendent is performing well and should be renewed.  Our board made that decision.  Dr. Dolan has been in the district for many years and has done a fine job guiding the district.  Dr. Dolan already had a salary above the cap.  I would not expect her to accept a cut in pay as was suggested with the cap.  The alternative would be to hire superintendents every three years at a salary below the cap.  That would mean unending turnover of the leadership in the district with the continual hiring of inexperienced superintendents.  I oppose the cap that the Governor has placed on Superintendent salaries.  The cap is arbitrary.  It is set to not exceed the salary of the governor.  If the position of governor was receiving a higher salary the cap would be higher. 

What is your position on the contract negotiated by the Board of Education and the Westfield Education Association in 2010?

• Teachers are the backbone of the district.  They are also the most expensive part of the district.  When the board negotiated the last contract there was a 4% cap on the budget.  The contract came in under that cap at 3.9% per year for the teachers.  The contract also included significant changes in health benefits that brought over $1MM in savings to the district.  At the time of the contract settlement it appeared to be a very good one.  However, with the advent of the 2% cap we are faced with salaries that far exceed what the district can afford.  We need to seek new ways to negotiate contracts that meet the new fiscal realities faced by the district while still providing the faculty and staff with salaries and benefits comparable to surrounding districts.  Everyone needs to change with the times.

What is your position on the school district’s capital reserve fund and the financing of future capital projects?

• It is a gamble to under fund the capital reserve.  In the case of facility emergency repair needs those funds will need to come from another source.  The district is counting on the Maintenance and Surplus account to cover emergency work.  The district Long Range Facility Plan should be consulted to plan for expected costs for facility renovations and improvements that will occur over the course of time.  Planning is better than emergency funding. 

Do you believe that shared services can be implemented between the Board of Education and the Town of Westfield or other Boards of Education? If so, what types of services do you believe can be shared?

• The state through the aid process and creation of the cap has sent the message to local governments that they cannot continue without changing how things are done.  I believe shared services can help the district save money.  However, with shared services comes a degree of loss of control.  The community needs to weigh that consequence.  Special education services have often been shared by districts.  Creating consortia to provide programs that would bring students back to the district could be highly cost effective.  Purchasing consortia are also in existence and need to be maximized to keep costs of educational materials low. 

Do you believe there are any programs/services that should be cut from the school district budget? Do you think there are any programs/services that should not be considered for being cut from the school district budget?

• My concern is that every dollar available be put to work in the classroom to benefit our children.  Curriculum and instruction is my paramount focus.  Every year the budget is developed the district must look at every program.  We have already seen major cuts in personnel.  I would oppose deeper cuts in this area as they would negatively impact children.  Maintenance and capital projects are not a significant part of the current budget as it is proposed.  That makes facility integrity a gamble.  If facility emergencies arise, cuts to programs will be made with less time for thoughtful consideration of the impact on the district.  That is not good planning. 

What are your thoughts regarding the student activity fee implemented at the beginning of the current school year?

• I return to the loss of $4.5 MM in state aid.  Without those funds available for the district to run programs the revenue must come from another source.  A cap on taxes already exists making the option of asking the public for added taxes out of the question.  That leaves the student activity fee as a revenue source for the users of the program.  I would rather have all programs available to all students at no cost but this is not feasible in the fiscal environment in which we are working.  Our athletic teams and fine arts groups bring considerable pride to the community for their excellence.  Students make innumerable connections to one another and to their teachers in these programs.  To eliminate extracurricular programs to avoid the fees would be more damaging to students.   

How do you propose the school district deal with the projected intermediate school enrollment bubble?

• Shifting students from one school to another is always an emotional situation for parents.  We have already seen that at the elementary level.  It would be prudent to begin planning for the enrollment shift as our current elementary students move up to the middle schools.  Both Edison and Roosevelt serve approximately equal numbers of students at this time.  Examining the capacity of each school for effective use of the facilities would be the first option I propose.  Special programs typically use rooms that could otherwise house regular classes.  A shift of programs may be more amenable than a shift of students.  The long range projections for enrollment also need to be examined.  The current enrollment numbers do not indicate this enrollment bubble will be a permanent situation so building a permanent structure does not seem an appropriate solution as yet.

What is your position on parking for students at Westfield High School and the parking/traffic situation in the Dorian Road neighborhood?

• I believe in being a good neighbor.  Wherever possible we should not create an inconvenience for the community surrounding our schools.  People often move into neighborhoods with schools for their convenience without considering the nuisances that come with a school, such as parent traffic at drop off and pick up times or parking of students near the high school.  These are often unavoidable inconveniences.  Our population at the high school is similar to our commuting culture.  We are a car culture where everyone wants the independence to drive to their place of work.  It is unfortunate that enough parking is not available to accommodate the faculty and students.  I do not expect the district would undertake a project to expand parking at a great expense when other educational priorities exist.  The joint meeting of the town council and board of education was a good step toward addressing this concern.  Opening the Armory parking lots would provide some relief for the neighborhoods.  However, if students parking on side streets are parked illegally they should deal with the consequences imposed by the traffic department of Westfield Police. 

What is your position on Westfield High School’s ranking dropping from 27 to 41 in the latest ranking by New Jersey Monthly Magazine? Do you believe these rankings reflect the academic performance of the high school?

• New Jersey Monthly Magazine ratings vary on issues that are not necessarily relevant to evaluating a school district.  I am not concerned by our current ranking.  It will change in the future as it has changed in the past.  What is important is the performance of our students.  Children perform very well on measures of achievement.  SAT scores for the high school are excellent.   More than 20 students posted perfect scores on one or more of the SAT sections.  One student scored perfectly on all three sections of the SAT.  Our Language Arts Math and Writing scores exceed the average scored by similar districts even though more of our students take the SAT.  Almost a quarter of our students are enrolled in an Advanced Placement course at any time.  90% of those students taking the AP exam score at the 3 or higher level.  85 % of our students plan to attend 4 year colleges.  That is not the case for our two neighboring districts.  The Middle Schools perform just as well.  Nearly 50% of our 8^th grade students score in the Advanced Proficiency category for Mathematics.  Our Language Arts scores similarly are ahead of the DFG.  The only thing more important than how our students perform as a result of being educated in our schools is how the children feel about attending our schools.  The high level of participation in extracurricular programs offered in Westfield indicates that most students find something that excites and interests them. 

What can the school district do to handle the issue of student stress?

• Stress is a part of the culture of a high achieving district such as Westfield.  It will never be eliminated from the lives of our children.  From parents to teachers to counselors to classmates, students get the message that they need to perform at high levels to be considered top quality.  Health education should include the management of stress.  This is a cultural issue common to adults and children in our society.  Students need to have positive outlets for stress.  They need to learn the signs of stress in their lives and have actions to take when stress builds.  Every person has a different level of stress they can process effectively.  Every person needs to have tools to cope with those levels of stress.

What is your position on merit pay, teacher tenure reform and “last in, first out?”

• The concept of merit pay is very appealing.   The implementation of a system of merit pay is very thorny.  As an employer and an employee I would like nothing more than to reward excellent performance and receive those rewards.  In the field of education you need a system that clearly defines excellence.  Does merit depend on test performance?  If so what happens to teachers whose subjects are not tested?  Does merit depend on classroom performance?  That may be measured differently by different observers.  I have yet to see a merit system that adequately addresses those issues or that has led to any improvement in the total performance of a school or district. 
• I think the faculty in Westfield would have very little difficulty living up to the standards set in any teacher tenure reform process.  We have a faculty that exceeds the expectations of most communities.  Therefore, I do support tenure reform that is thoughtfully considered.  Connecticut has had a system where license renewal is done on a five year cyclical basis.  That system has been in place for a long time and has not led to a destruction of the profession. 
• I find it difficult to support “Last in, first out.”  However, in private sector, seniority is a strong component of the decision to terminate an employee when cuts are being made for fiscal reasons.  As an experienced educator I know that I did not develop my skills overnight.  Experienced teachers have a lot to offer to their schools.  Experienced teachers are the mentors of our next generation of teachers.  They have acquired more instructional skills and have a greater knowledge of their content.  I also know the value of energetic youth.  Performance should always be the determinant of future employment.  Districts such as ours are in a tempting position to cut costs by eliminating experienced teachers.  We need to be aware of the dangers that can bring. 

What processes and procedures do you believe should be used for teacher evaluations?

• The procedures established in Westfield are rigorous in comparison to the state requirements and the implementation of evaluation systems in other districts.  Novice teachers are observed working in the classroom at least five times a year.  This gives administrators a bounty of information about the work being done by the teacher.  Evaluation by trained observers is the most appropriate way to evaluate a professional.  The district has provided an excellent list of the indicators of effective teaching.  When the criteria are applied in a consistent manner the district gets a good view of the performance of the faculty.  Objective data can be collected in some areas of teaching through test scores of students and grade performance.  These data, however, are not available or consistent in all subject areas and are subject to a variety of factors outside the control of the teacher. 

What are your thoughts on moving out-placed special education students back into the school district?

• Special education costs consistently increase the per pupil cost for a district.  Out-of district placements can cost more that $100,000 per student for services and transportation depending on the disability of the child.  I have found that a district can control its costs as well as control the educational program for the child by creating programs in the district and bringing the student back to the district.  Westfield has made such steps and should continue in that direction.  Consortia with surrounding districts can be an effective means of providing programs efficiently by taking in students from out-of-district.  The district of Ridgefield in Bergen County has long been a provider of special education services that generated revenue for the district rather than draining the district by sending students to other programs.    As a principal I started programs to return autistic students to my building providing a better educational experience for the children as well as saving thousands of dollars for the district. 

What do you believe the school district could do to prevent bullying?

• Celebrating differences and celebrating abilities is the best defense against bullying.  I have witnessed teachers who turn student disabilities into assets that are respected by peers.  Respect is the key to bully prevention.  Elementary teachers must lead the way in teaching children to respect their peer by demonstrating that same respect for every child.  Children will always have conflicts as they attempt to develop their sense of self and identity in the community.  Management of those conflicts by the adults in the schools is of the utmost importance.  Teachers need to maintain their awareness of the behaviors of students to insure that individuals are not singled out and persecuted.  That comes with training and experience.  The state’s requirements for anti-bullying programs should include that training of teachers.  Programs for students that activate bystanders are the second phase needed to prevent bullying.  A conflict does not rise to the level of bullying if bystanders step in and support the person with less power in the relationship.  The NJ Bar Association has provided school programs in peer mediation and bully prevention for years. 

Are the Westfield public schools better off than where they were three years ago?

• No, our schools are not better off than 3 years ago.  The state took away nearly $4.5 million in aid from the district.  That had a direct and deleterious effect on the district.  Westfield lost over 50 positions over the last two years.  That is a significant loss.  Despite the hard work of the remaining teachers they cannot simply replace the work done by those people.   However,  I do believe the board and district administration have done a good job of minimizing the impact these cuts had on children.  Westfield cannot ignore that the cuts happened and the stress placed on the district.

Editor's Note: These questions were provided to the seven candidates for the Board of Education and these answers are in their own words. Space limits were provided on each question. Editing was done for grammar and style but not substance. These questions and answers are provided to allow you the voter to hear directly from the candidates on the key issues impacting the public schools.