Community Forum Superintendent decries state school funding inequity

The Robbinsville schools received very disappointing news from the state this week—we are the only school district in Mercer County to not see an increase in state aid funding for the upcoming school year. Under the state’s revamped funding formula, we expected approximately $2 million more to support our upcoming budget. And, despite approximately a 7% inflation rate, that did not happen.

We find it outrageous and wrong that the Robbinsville schools did not get the funding to which we are entitled. And it places the Administration in a difficult position, as we are facing increased fixed costs. For example, there is a $600,000 increase in our custodial contract, an $850,000 increase in transportation, a $500,000 increase in medical insurance, $1.1 million in increased salaries, and other rising expenses because of inflation.

With all of these increased costs, we were stunned to learn the state did not provide the additional support that neighboring school districts received. And, thus, despite our conservative budgeting process, we are now facing a major deficit.

Our challenge now is how to make these cuts as painless as possible. Even going to the 2% or $800,000 budget increase limit and exhausting all of our banked cap amounts, which we are fortunate to have from past years for our use, we are still nearly $2 million short of a balanced budget.

In some ways, it is especially challenging because of the strides made in adding positions, enhancing instructional resources, and making long-overdue repairs to our schools. Yet, we are required to make major cuts to present and approve a preliminary budget by next Tuesday.

Right now, I cannot tell you exactly where the cuts will be made. There are certainly difficult decisions ahead. However, I can share our goals of ensuring the highest quality educational service to the community of Robbinsville while pre- serving every possible program. Our targets in facing these cuts are very clear:

• Limit reductions (staff and resources) in the classroom to the maximum extent to ensure continued high-quality education;

• Preserve as many programs as possible;

• Continue the district’s dedication to high-quality instruction and innovative curriculum which have a direct impact on student achievement; and

• Continue to improve instructional efficacy through quality professional development

We are not approaching budget reductions lightly, and I am committed to providing you with accurate information in a timely and straightforward manner. I ask that you do not adhere to rumors or falsehoods which may be promoted. Those lead to uncertainty and gossip, redirecting our focus.

In an effort to help ease uncertainty, I am sharing our prioritization for budget cuts. Please keep in mind that as the Administration and Board of Education review our budget, and the process moves forward, this list could change:

• Reduction or elimination of low-priority budget items;

• Delay facility improvements and upkeep;

• Reduction of technology resources;

• Increasing district fees;

• Reduction of transportation expenses and opportunities;

• Reducing extracurricular activities;

• Increasing class size; and

• Staffing reductions.

How can you help?

Robbinsville was the only district in Mercer County to not receive any additional state aid funding. This angers all of us. Changes must be made at the state level to ensure we are not in this position again. Your voice can be empowered by reaching out to our elected state representatives and asking for assistance. This website links you to State Senator Linda Greenstein, Assemblyman Dan Benson, and Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo: njleg.state.nj.us/legislative-roster.

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We’re so proud to offer our residents the best of the best—from dining and fitness centers to social calendars—because we don’t just care for you, we care about you. As a nationally ranked Senior Living community, we’re proof that doing what you love is always worth it. So come do it here.

There are incredibly difficult decisions ahead. While making them, our focus will remain on providing the best possible educational opportunities to our students.

I will continue to update you as the process moves forward, and, as always, I welcome your feedback.

Brian J. Betze

Robbinsville rallies for robotics team

Robbinsville High School hosted its inaugural robotics competition from March 17 to 19, which turned out to be a resounding success and an experience that is sure to be remembered.

Team Nemesis would like to express our gratitude to all the volunteers who helped make this event possible. From the initial planning stages to the final day of the competition, they selflessly gave their time and energy to ensure that everything ran smoothly.

Nemesis parents, alumni, and other students from the FIRST community came together, working at the concession stands and participating in the competition as judges and field resetters to make the weekend memorable and an enjoyable experience for everyone. Without their assistance, this event would not have been possible, and we are grateful for their unwavering support.

Despite some initial worries about the amount of work it would be to set up and disassemble the competition, the process went far more smoothly than we had anticipated. With the help of our volunteers and the cooperation of all the teams involved, we were able to efficiently and effectively get everything arranged for a fantastic weekend of competition. What we initially thought would be a lengthy and tiresome process turned out to be an unforgettable bonding experience.

One of the highlights of the competi- tion was the spirit of FIRST: the embodiment of coopertition and gracious professionalism that permeated throughout the teams bolstered the excitement through the arena.

Rather than just focusing on winning at all costs, the teams were genuinely invested in helping each other out and fostering a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect. Whether it was lending spare parts, offering advice, or simply cheering each other on, the teams demonstrated a true commitment to working together for the greater good.

One example of this was when three robots failed to meet the inspection requirements. To help them compete, Nemesis mentors worked with the teams to fabricate new pieces in the machine shop and reassemble the robots.

Of course, there were moments of fierce competition, with each team vying for the top spot. However, even in these moments, the teams remained respectful and enthusiastic, never losing sight of the bigger picture.

This dedication to gracious professionalism was truly inspiring and a testament to the character of the students involved. We are so proud that Nemesis ended up as a semi-finalist as a part of the number two alliance in the competition. The event culminated with Nemesis winning the Sustainability Award, an incredible accomplishment thanks to the collective efforts and dedication of the entirety of the team.

In conclusion, the inaugural robotics competition at Robbinsville was a shining example of what can be achieved when people come together with a common goal. We look forward to seeing what the future holds for Nemesis and the opportunities that lie ahead for our students to innovate, collaborate, and make a positive impact on the world. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to host such an amazing event and we hope to host another in the future.

Vivaan Khasnis Robbinsville

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RED CROSS cont. from Page 1 about 90 members. They worked to plan, promote and manage a recent blood drive, while technicians from the American Red Cross set up stations and administered the blood donations. Students also served snacks to donors, including bagels donated by Bagels n’ Cream on Washington Boulevard.

For Sahana Prasad, a Robbinsville junior, volunteering for the club teaches her about the crucial role that blood drives play in keeping a stable supply.

“There’s really no substitute for blood and everyone has to do their part in helping others around the world,” said Prasad, the club’s secretary.

Someone in the United States requires additional blood or platelets every two seconds, which translates to a daily demand of 29,000 units of red blood cells, nearly 5,000 units of platelets and 6,500 units of plasma, according to the American Red Cross.

That urgency is what drove Suhani Agarwal to volunteer for the club, as well. The Robbinsville junior greeted donors at the door and helped ensure they had required documentation, among other duties.

Agarwal, Red Cross Club’s vice president, said serving others is a value that has long been instilled in her at home.

Indeed, her mom was among those who donated blood.

“It makes me feel really nice to give back to my community,” Agarwal said. “It was great to have someone in my family donate. It was also nice to see how many people in our community who want to help.”

American Red Cross New Jersey Region CEO Rosie Taravella thanked students, staff and the Robbinsville community for their blood donations, noting the vast disparity between how many people need blood and the number of people who donate.

Robbinsville’s donations, Taravella said, will help bridge that gap.

“The need for blood is constant, and the students and staff at Robbinsville High School can be counted on to roll up a sleeve to help meet the need,” Taravella said. “One in seven patients entering a hospital will need a blood transfusion, but at the same time, only about three percent of Americans give blood. The American Red Cross is proud of the work the Robbinsville Red Cross Club puts into organizing blood drives and grateful for the humanitarian spirit exhibited at the school.”

Red Cross Club members promoted the blood drive with posters, social media and good old-fashioned word of mouth, espe-

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They also provide shorter exam times and greater comfort, reducing our “squeeze” time by 75%.

To schedule, call 609-426-9200 or go to WindsorRadiology.com cially in conversations between students and their parents, according to Shrika Yeddula, the club’s co-president.

“It’s a club that really opens up high schoolers to the world of volunteering; it is important to get involved in something that has greater purpose and could help other people,” said Yeddula, a senior who has been in the club for three years.

In addition to the blood drive, Red Cross Club collects food for military families, sends holiday cards to military personnel and hosts bake sales each year in support of the American Red Cross. The club also has raised money to fight wildfires and educate children about COVID19 hygiene.

Abinaya Dharanikumar, the club’s treasurer, said she especially enjoys writing holiday cards to members of the armed forces. The club typically sends between 200 and 300 cards each year with messages that express gratitude to the recipients for their service.

“Everyone loves doing these cards,” said

Dharanikumar, a senior who has been in the club since her freshman year. “For me personally I like making the cards because it is a way to show how much we appreciate them. Everyone feels the same way.” ers needs to be revamped along with better communication between departments with a more efficient way to schedule poll workers. It’s not going to change overnight and it’s not going to change without your support as well.”

How to Donate Blood: Download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients.

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood.

High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

He also said the county should explore using different voting machines, and replacing the ones that had problems on Nov. 8.

According to Todd, the commissioners deferred to the Mercer County Board of Elections on most of the issues raised by the public during the meeting, stating that the board is the entity responsible for the operational component of county elections.

* * *

During an interview in February, Robbinsville Advance editor Bill Sanservino spoke with Mayor Dave Fried about the

Peace of Mind.

election problems and the impacts on the township. An edited version of that discussion appears in Q&A format below.

Robbinsville Advance: Almost every leader in the towns I cover has privately complained about the problems that Mercer County has had with elections over the past few years. You’ve been a lot more outspoken. What are your thoughts about what has gone on with elections in Mercer?

Dave Fried: First off, I’m always careful about saying things about the election, because there’s been so much election denying and conspiracy theories. I don’t believe there were any conspiracies. I don’t believe that there were people who are meaning to do bad.

However there is absolutely, positively no doubt that there was gross incompetence. It was the most embarrassing election I’ve ever seen. And last year (2021) was a horror show. So the fact that they were able to exceed it in 2022 almost seems like someone tried. I’ve never seen anything like it. We had no chain of custody for the ballots. Ballots were arriving opened. Uber was used to deliver ballots.

We literally sent communications to the superintendent of elections and also to the Mercer County Clerk saying we would like to have our police officers take the ballots to the to the collection place. We were told, “no, it can’t possibly be done.”

And then our ballots were lost. No one ever even explained how they were lost or how they were found, of if they were really found.

To this day, I still have no idea. It’s shocking to me that anyone could be this bad at this two years in a row.

I think having three independent government entities—the election board, the county clerk and the superintendent of elections—all reporting to effectively no one, and each one of them being allowed to point the finger at the other, is ridiculous.

We should eliminate the superintendent of elections office. It’s ridiculous. Mercer County doesn’t have to have it, and they could not be worse at their job. The only thing that they’re worse at is communications.

They literally—with no explanation— sent 6% of our voters a letter saying, “Sorry, your vote doesn’t count.” At the same exact time they were in the newspapers saying, “Don’t worry, every vote was counted.”

I mean, you got to be kidding me. And the 6% is only the ones we know about. There’s no question in my mind that there are more.

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Not one of our ballots were scanned. They were thrown in a bag and brought in. There is no way that anybody knows whose ballot was whose, because we were giving them out like candy.

There was no tracking. There was absolutely, positively no way to know whose ballot was turned in and whether or not your ballot counted. They know whether or not you showed up at the poll that day. But whether your vote counted? There’s zero percent chance anyone can tell you whether or not that was true. That is unacceptable.

RA: It was just as bad when it came to communications. Like you said, there was a lot of finger pointing. There was no official statement released as to what happened, what went on or what was going on.

For weeks after the election, if you wanted to know what the results were, you had to go through a convoluted process. You had to look one place on a website for one set of result and then also download a document with more results, and then add them together. It seemed that there was a lack of leadership, a lack of ownership, and a total lack of communication on the issue.

DF: Absolutely.

RA: The morning of the election we received no official notice from the county about the problem with the voting machines. We found out what was going on through alerts from the Robbinsville and West Windsor police departments. If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have known.

DF: It’s horrifying. Ballots were left in the machines in many places—Princeton had ballots left in the machines overnight. There were photos of ballots strewn all over the floors. Honestly, I’ve never seen anything like it. Not one person lost their job. Not one person got held accountable. Not one person got written up. Still to this day, we don’t know the exact problem with the voting machnes.

Was it the software that was bad? Was it the ballots that were bad. I’ve heard both stories. I’ve heard that the software company was responsible. And the printing company was responsible.

It’s two years in a row. Knowing that you screwed up the year before, what would possibly possess you to not test the ballots before you put them in the field? I mean, this is just common sense.

The truth of the matter is—and I’m going to be rough on this—if you’re never held accountable, if you know you can’t be fired, if you know you’re not going to lose your job, if you know you’re not going to be written up regardless of how bad a job you do, what does it matter?

You have three portions of government that are in charge of elections and for two years in a row, they’ve completely failed to do their job. And the only thing that they can muster to do is explain why