Dear Editor: National news item: President Clinton’s recent budget proposal would allocate $1.75 billion for more teachers to reduce class size, $1 billion for after-school programs and $8 billion over the next decade to build and repair school nationwide. State news item: Governor Whitman proposed spending approximately $10 billion to build and renovate schools across New Jersey. Meanwhile, New Jersey is implementing its Core Curriculum Content Standards, which will raise the educational bar by setting specific goals for what our children must know and be able to do by the time they graduate. Local news item: Throughout the 1990s, New Jersey communities have seen an average of 15.7 percent of registered voters turnout for the Annual School Election — despite surveys that repeatedly show the public believes education is among the most important issues in the nation. Clearly, education is in the news. Whether the issue is standards, school construction or testing, barely a day goes by without seeing an education story in the newspapers or on television. It’s no wonder, education in New Jersey is a $13-billion-a-year investment of state, local and federal funds. Now it’s time for all New Jersey voters to have their say on education. The Annual School Election, scheduled for April 18, 2000, will give voters in 90 percent of the state’s school districts the opportunity to select members of their local board of education — the men and women who make vital decisions on how our schools operate. And it gives citizens the chance to approve or reject proposed budgets for their local school districts. As president of the New Jersey School Boards Association, I am often asked questions about the responsibilities of local boards of education and about school elections. Here are answers to some frequently asked questions: What will voters decide in the New Jersey’s annual school election? On April 18, registered voters will be able to select school board members to oversee their public school system. Voters will also approve or reject the proposed school district budget. What does the local school board do? New Jersey’s local boards of education consist of unpaid lay representatives of the community. School board members are your neighbors. They are people who care about education, and who want to make a difference for their community’s children. The board does not get involved in day-to-day governance of the district; that is the job of the superintendent and administration. Nonetheless, the role that the local school board plays is vital to the educational process. The local school board oversees the spending of the budget. It establishes policies on all areas of district operation, ranging from curriculum and student discipline to personnel and the use of school buildings. It evaluates the superintendent and represents your community in collective bargaining with school district employees. How important is it for citizens to vote in the annual school election? Extremely important. Consider this. The budget that is proposed by the school board — and acted on by the voters — has a direct impact on the property taxes and the quality of education in your community. Equally significant, the candidates you select to serve on your local school board will help shape the education provided to the children in your community. The board of education is ultimately responsible to your community for ensuring that students have adequate facilities, curriculum and teaching staff. When and where do I vote? By law, polls will be open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on April 18 in all school districts holding elections. However, many districts schedule additional hours. For exact polling hours and locations in your community, contact your local board of education office or refer to the sample ballot that you will receive in the mail. How do I learn about the candidates and budget in my community? As a registered voter, you will receive a sample ballot listing the candidates and questions on the April 18 ballot. You can also find information about the candidates and the budget through other sources. Local newspapers generally write articles about the school district’s proposed budget, and they often publish profiles of the candidates and their background and beliefs. In addition, community groups such as parent organizations and the League of Women Voters, often sponsor candidate’s nights to let citizens hear firsthand the views of prospective school board members. Sometimes these debates are broadcast on public-access cable television. By law, the proposed budget must be published in a local newspaper and the school board must hold a public hearing on the spending plan. Does my vote matter? New Jersey’s system of school board and budget elections provide citizens with an exceptional opportunity to voice their opinion on school districts affairs. Many states do not have elected school boards; only seven provide citizens the opportunity to sound their voice on proposed school budgets. Take advantage of this opportunity; your vote does matter, and it’s needed to help your community set the direction for its schools. Charles V. Reilly, President New Jersey School Boards Association