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Keeping the district intact
(by Maggie Fazeli Fard - April 29, 2008)
At a meeting held last week to determine how far to cut the Pascack Valley regional school district’s budget, River Vale Mayor Joseph Blundo was reminded of a “disappointing possibility”: one of the district’s sending towns is set on splitting from the district.
“The Mayor of Woodcliff Lake [Joseph LaPaglia] has made it crystal clear that he wants to unwind the district,” Blundo said at the April 28 council meeting.
LaPaglia has stated that he believes the state’s funding formula, which is based on a municipality’s ratable base, unfairly burdens Woodcliff Lake and Montvale. The two boroughs pay more per student than sister towns River Vale and Hillsdale do because of the number of corporations that operate there.
With the current funding formula in place, the proposed regional school budget, which was defeated, would have caused an $11 increase on the averaged assessed home in Hillsdale, a $49 increase in Montvale, a $119 increase in Woodcliff Lake, and a $48.45 decrease in River Vale. With the proposed budget reduction of $368,000 (see related story page 2), River Vale would see a further decrease.
“Currently, that formula is favorable to River Vale,” admitted Blundo. “[But] for a long time we did not get the benefits… It is short-sighted to say it’s better for the district to unwind the district.”
Blundo said that the ultimate decision would be made by the state Department of Education. He added that River Vale set aside funds several years ago, earmarking the money for the purpose of fighting a prospective split in the district. None of the money has been spent yet.
“River Vale will fight this,” said Blundo. “We’re not going to shy away from this. We’re going to start looking at ways to protect our interests, to protect the four-town district.”
Blundo said that unwinding the district would reduce the amount of competition in the district, detracting from the quality of education and athletics that has been offered to students thus far.
“I don't believe in it [unwinding the district],” he told the council. “As long as you back me, I will fight it.”
Maggie Fazeli Fard's e-mail address is fazelifard@northjersey.com.
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