Schools budget, board seats to be decided in election BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer Woodbridge Township residents will head to the pollsApril 15 and vote on whether or not to approve the $183 million school budget and choose three of the four candidates vying for the three three-year seats open on the Board of Education this year. Incumbents Brian Dziedzic, Diane Acquisto and Brian Molnar Polls will be open 2-9 p.m. at the 60 designated polling stations throughout the township. Bins will be set up at each polling station for the township-wide food drive, Cast a Can When You Vote, which began in April 2007. Colonia High School teacher Joyce Brown brought the idea of the Election Day food drive to the attention of the township. The township Board of Education unanimously adopted the $183 million budget on March 20, which will increase taxes by $112.50 per year for the average homeowner. The budget for the 2008-09 year is $183,597,229, up roughly $8.6 million from last year. The school tax will rise 15 cents as a result, from $4.34 to $4.49 for each $100 of assessed value. The average home is assessed at $75,000. Challenger George Yuhasz "Residents will vote on the tax levy, which is proposed to be $143,651,118," said district Schools Superintendent Vincent Smith. The district has allotted $35,000 in the budget for a middle school sports program, and the district will also be seeing several new curriculum initiatives, including a Chinese program for grades seven and eight at Colonia, Iselin and Woodbridge middle schools, and for grades nine and 10 at Colonia, John F. Kennedy Memorial, and Woodbridge high schools, and the implementation of off-duty police officers in the five middle schools. Funding for these programs have all been incorporated into the budget for this year. Incumbents Diane Acquisto, Brian Dziedzic and BrianMolnar and newcomer George Yuhasz are vying for the three seats open on the board this year. The three incumbents said they are running as the Education team, building on their success of the last three years. "We are proud of our list of accomplishments and would like the chance to keep the district moving in the right direction," said Molnar. Yuhasz, a lifelong resident of the township, said he wants to bring his experience as an educator to the Board of Education. "At a time where money is getting tighter and tighter for the local person, I want to bring my resources, experience in education and commitment to the Woodbridge school district," he said. The three incumbents said their list of accomplishments include an increased curriculum program; technology advances that have contributed to the rise of test scores throughout the district; the district's $86 million bond referendum construction program that will be completed on time; and new athletic teams and improved facilities along with new safety programs that have changed the district's landscape. "We would also like to build upon the successes of communicating with the public and continue the strong relationship between the BOE and the mayor's [John E. McCormac] office," said Molnar. Yuhasz, who ran for the board years ago and is a graduate of Woodbridge High School, said the reason why he is running again is not because he believes the current board is doing something wrong, but because he believes he can bring his resources, experience and commitment to the board. "I want to be part of that decision making" he said. "My main essence of running is helping the children. I am ready to go on day one." Yuhasz, who has two master's degrees, one in special education and another in public administration from Columbia University's Teachers College in New York, has been employed in the central office and as a special-education teacher at the Middlesex County Vocational Technical High School system in East Brunswick for 30 years. "I have on-the-job training in a school system, I have worked with budgets, and I have been a grant writer focusing on the No Child Left Behind Act," he said. "I personally believe that teachers and their awareness of education are the key thing [in any school district]." Yuhasz, 53, a formerMiddlesex County committeeman (5thWard, 11th District) has been a varsity soccer head coach for 20 years and a varsity basketball coach for two years at the Middlesex County Vocational Technical High School, is a Realtor and an associate at J.J. Elek Realty in Woodbridge, and is the founder of the Prodigal Foundation Inc., which establishes scholarships for high school seniors who have had their life adversely affected by cancer. He lives inWoodbridge with his wife, Linda, and has a daughter, Victoria, who attends The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey. "The township already has an excellent group of teachers, and they have the tools and knowledge for our children … the focus is the continued progress and excellence of our teachers and, most importantly, our children," he said. Acquisto, 56, has served on the board for nine years and is seeking her fourth term. She is employed as the administrative assistant for Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith and Davis law firm in Iselin. She lives in Avenel with her husband, Tony, and has two sons, Chuck, a Woodbridge High School graduate, and Scott, a Colonia High School graduate. Dziedzic, 36, is seeking his second term on the board. He has been a corrections officer for the state of New Jersey for 16 years and has served as a two-term fire commissioner in Port Reading. He lives with his wife, Mary Jo, and their 10-yearold son, Anthony, who attends Port Reading School No. 9. Molnar, 43, is also seeking his second term on the board and currently is serving as its vice president. He has been employed for the past 24 years with the Woodbridge Township Parks Department, where he is a supervisor. Molnar lives with his wife, JoAnn, and three children in Port Reading.Molnar's 16-year-old son, Brian, and 14-year-old son, Andrew, attendWoodbridge High School, and their 5- year-old daughter, Alyssa, attends Matthew Jago School No. 28 in Sewaren.