When is a “Win” NOT A Win?

EDITORIAL OPINION

At a recent emotionally charged and highly politicized Holmdel BOE meeting, one paraprofessional after another in the Holmdel school district went to the podium and urged the school district not to lay them off.

During the meeting, BOE President Chris DiMare alleged the Holmdel Township Education Association and the Monmouth County Education Association for “misinformation” about laying off Holmdel staff, including many of the paraprofessionals who were present at the meeting.

Denise King and Patricia Dasaro, President of the Monmouth County Education Association and Holmdel Township Education Association, respectively, pointed out that the legal notice from the school district is usually the first step taken to reduce or subcontract jobs.  So, they argued that their rallying of the school paraprofessionals was being proactive.  It probably would be a dereliction of duty if members were not notified of the BOE notice for RFP to subcontract the jobs.

Incredulously, seeing how well-attended by members of the paraprofessional and the public, DiMare asked where was everyone when the BOE announced they would be receiving $600,000 from the Holmdel Township Committee.

What is incredulous is that DiMare believes the $600,000 from the Township was a real win for Holmdel taxpayers.  This money is essentially a bailout that allowed the BOE to pass a budget without going to Holmdel taxpayers and making their case.

Last year, transportation costs (e.g., busing for students) were deliberately under budget - by $800,000 less than the cost from two years prior.  This allowed the budget to be passed without going to Holmdel taxpayers.  That decision resulted in weeks of logistical nightmare for students and parents.

This year, we know that it was publicly mentioned that a $2 million school budget deficit existed as early as January 2025.  Several months later, the BOE cobbled together a budget within the  2% cap due to the $600,000 bailout from the Township Committee.   This $600,000 allowed the BOE to bypass the need to go to Holmdel taxpayers directly to make their case for approval of the budget.  This goes against accountability and transparency.

Even worse?  Towards the end of the meeting, BOE President DiMare blamed the Township’s debt and spending on former Holmdel Mayor Greg Buontempo and former Deputy Mayor Prakash Santhana, two candidates running for Township Committee, and, effectively, lobbied for and endorsed their opponents.

DiMare is entitled to his opinion when he is not in an official BOE capacity.  However, the BOE is nonpartisan and politicking on school premises is against the BOE rules and deeply unethical.  As BOE President, DiMare should know better!  But, a $600,000 bailout buys a lot of “leeway” even if it’s a violation of rules and ethics, especially when you are the presiding official for the meeting.

The Township Committee and the BOE are two separate governing bodies whose members are independently elected with different focuses and priorities.  Each body has a separate budget that they are responsible for and each has its tax levying power for raising revenue.

These are legally separate independent governing bodies and each should be held accountable directly to Holmdel taxpayers.

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