District to appeal failed second budget question BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer "I'd like to win the appeal because I do have a great desire to move this district forward, and so that extra money really would help." - Barbara Duncan Superintendent HOLMDEL - While the Board of Education's budget passed last week, school district administrators are in the process of appealing a supplemental ballot question that would pay for more teachers, the enhancement of security systems districtwide and the installation of instructional technology equipment. The question, valued at $1,944,342, was rejected by a vote of 1,250 to 943. Although the margin was wide, Schools Superintendent Barbara Duncan feels that her district is making the right move by at least filing the appeal. "In this case, I feel like if there's nothing ventured, then there's nothing gained," Duncan said. "Doing something like this really is a big 'if' because I don't think it has been done in this district before, so I really can't say that I know what may happen with the appeal." Duncan said that the appeal was filed on Friday to the Township Committee, which has until May 21 to make a decision. "I'd like to win the appeal because I do have a great desire to move this district forward, and so that extra money really would help," Duncan said. "If the community wants it, they'll beat the bushes and try to help out. If we don't get it, I can understand that, but it would be nice to have that done. I'm very glad about the budget being passed, though, that was my main concern. Because part of the question had to do with class sizes, we really can't plan for next year until we know the outcome." The question authorizing the overall budget was passed by a slim margin, 1,150-1,067. The owner of a home assessed at $726,795, the township's average, will now see an annual increase of $287 in school taxes. In the uncontested school board elections, incumbents Mary Hartnett (1,402 votes) and Gerald Burke (1,347) were re-elected for new three-year terms, while newcomer Ana M. Vander Woude (1,252) made it as well. Phyllis Pascucci received 1,356 votes and will take on a one-year term.