The election comes during a time of uncertainty for the district. Negotiations between the Becton Education Association and the board have slowed to a halt after 18 months, forcing the process into state-supervised mediation and leaving teachers working without a contract. The main sticking points are the ballooning costs of health coverage and the size of the teachers’ annual pay-raise, with one source close to the negotiations reporting that the teachers are asking for a figure well in excess of the county average four- percent.

In the next term, tax bills in East Rutherford will remain steady, and will actually decrease for many property owners in Carlstadt, thanks in part to an increase in ratables. But new school funding formulas imposed by the state will likely mean a long-term decrease in state aid to Becton. Combined with statewide efforts to control property taxes and a slowing economy, the financial prognosis is uncertain. As a result, administrators are searching for ways to control Becton’s high cost-per-pupil without compromising educational quality.

Frank Iannacco

Age: 48

Education: B.S. in Computer Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University

Occupation: Senior Systems Analyst at AIG Insurance

Background: Born in Italy, grew up in Morris and Bergen Counties. Married with two children—a daughter in college and a son at St. Mary’s High School in Rutherford. Has served two terms on the Becton BOE.

John Ondrof

Age: 51

Education: Becton High School. B.S. in Accounting from Seton Hall University

Occupation: General Manager for Prospect Transportation in Carlstadt

Background: Carlstadt resident for 45 years. Wife Laurie, two children Jacqueline and Katherine both graduates of the Carlstadt and Becton School Districts and currently attending The College of New Jersey as Education Majors. Carlstadt Volunteer Firefighter and Emergency Squad Member for over 30 years. Chief from 1988 through 1991, President from 1995 through 1997 and currently Public Safety Education Officer, Carlstadt recreation coach for Soccer, Basketball, Softball and Little League and a past Dance Theatre Workshop Volunteer. Carlstadt Board of Education member since 1995, former Vice President and President. Becton Board of Education since 1999 and have served as Vice President and President several times.

Ryan Smith

Age: 27

Education: B.A. in English from Rowan University. M.A. in Educational Administration from Montclair State University (May 2008)

Occupation: English teacher at Hasbrouck Heights High School

Background: Single with no children. Grew up in Maywood and attended public schools. Is a pastoral musician for several area churches. Serves as the yearbook faculty adviser at Hasbrouck Heights. Has been a Carlstadt resident for three years.

Richard Vartan

Age: 72

Education: M.A. in Chemistry/Biology from Franklin & Marshall College

Occupation: Spent 47 years as a teacher, guidance counselor, and school principal. Retired in 2000 but spent time as an interim administrator at Becton, Caldwell, West Essex, and Cedar Grove.

Background: Married to wife Virginia for 48 years. Three Becton grad daughters and five grandchildren. Army veteran. Former baseball, softball, and football coach. Wrestling coach. Eighteen years experience as a BOE member. Has served as President, Vice President, negotiator, and on all committees.

Bruce R. Young

Age: 57

Education: Graduated from East Rutherford High School

Occupation: A major contract coordinator for Trane A/C for over 20 years

Background: Wife, Susan, and daughters, Carly and Lindsay, both graduates of Becton Regional High School Member of the Carlstadt Board of Education. Was a former President of the Carlstadt Board of Health. Is a Vietnam Veteran. Member of the VFW and American Legion.

Why are you running for (re)election to the Becton Board?

Iannacco: We've made a lot of strides, and when I say we I mean the entire board, it's a group effort. We have a new superintendent, a new principal and vice-principal, and I'd like to see how things progress. We've made significant changes in our staff. We've changed our administrative structure, hoping to improve the quality of education, and I'd like to see that through.

Ondrof: As a long-time resident of the Borough of Carlstadt with a history of volunteering my time and expertise to the community, I wish to continue my tenure on the Board of Education. I have participated in establishing the existing administrative structure and the administrators who are currently running the district. I am excited and looking forward to implementing the initiatives that the Board and Administration have planned for the District.

Smith: As a schoolteacher I see how policies influence day-to-day operations. I want to take the experience I've gained on this side of the spectrum [to the Board] as well. I want to be a voice of experience, as a teacher and a future school leader, and add some perspective into policies and procedures.

Vartan: Because we worked so hard with fellow board members on ERBOE to develop a curriculum and invest in technology, and I want to see it come to fruition up at the high school. I am also running because I firmly believe that a person shouldn't run for both boards. Since the law changed I know that if I run for the high school, I'm off the local board.

Young: I am very passionate about education, and I'd like to bring my expertise back to the board. There is a construction project going on, my background is in construction. I have sat on the finance committee before, and I am on the finance committee now. I have sat in on negotiations in prior years, and I am on negotiations again. I just want to follow through on some of the initiatives going forward at Becton.

What do you see as the Board’s biggest priority in the years to come?

Iannacco: Over the years, like a lot of small districts, we've been squeezed as far as funding. It becomes very difficult for districts like ours to run the school efficiently. We are always thinking of our taxpayers as well as the quality of education we are providing our students. We need to be very creative going forward to fund the programs we need to fund reasonably and at the same time not [increase] our expenses astronomically. And that is going to become more and more difficult, because of the fact that Trenton doesn't have these small districts in mind.

Ondrof: The Board has must collaborate more with the Elementary Districts and improve public relations with the Communities. The three Districts have appropriated money to hire a Curriculum Coordinator and it is extremely important that we strive to produce a seamless Pre-K through 12th Grade Curriculum in all three districts.

Smith: Continuing to be sensitive to the taxpayers—and I am a taxpayer—while at the same time securing the best for students and offering the best programs to allow the school to head in the right direction, to flourish and to offer music and the arts. Often music and arts are the first to be cut when something needs cutting, and that's a concern of mine, especially as New Jersey tries to break away from its reliance on property tax for schools.

Vartan: I have been a shouting proponent for shared services since 2003. I saw it coming. The challenge is to develop a seamless curriculum from the top down. It starts at the high school and works its way down. We are looking into the idea of a curriculum coordinator between Becton, Carlstadt and East Rutherford, to integrate our curriculum, and hopefully that will come to fruition in September.

Young: One is the construction project. We've been working with the FAA on soundproofing. It is being funded through the FAA and the Port Authority, at no cost to the district. The ceilings will be soundproofed, and there will be all new HVAC equipment. The other one is finance. That is going to be the biggest problem that I foresee, going forward.

Becton has one of the highest cost-per-pupil rates in the area. Do you think the district spends an appropriate amount and why?

Iannacco: Given what we have, yes. There are factors that are a little bit beyond our control. Insurance for our staff seems to always go up year-to-year. We have special needs students. Some years we receive an influx of so many, and because we aim to provide them the same education as everybody else, these students tend to have a higher cost, and that raises the total cost per student, especially when you send them out of district. We have strived to contain those costs but at the same time not remove any of those special services. We are looking to obtain some additional money from the state to make some other improvements that are not included in the FAA funding, such as high-efficiency heating systems that can keep costs down.

Ondrof: I believe that we spend an appropriate amount. Unfortunately, when you are a 9 through 12 Regional High School with 550 students, you must spend the amount of money that we're spending. This is necessary to provide the programs and extracurricular activities that are necessary in a comprehensive high school. However as a Board, we should always be looking at the budget and programs to see how we can maximize educational opportunities and share resources and costs with other educational institutions. With all of the restrictions being imposed by State Law on School Districts, we must come up with more innovative ways to improve education at the least cost to the taxpayers.

Smith: Becton is in a precarious situation after the most recent funding formula came down from the state. There is just not enough state aid. What is needed is constant review and analysis. We also need to constantly be looking for new sources of funding. You expect a certain level of product, and we need to constantly review the curriculum to make sure it caters to all those various needs.

Vartan: The cost per district on a high school level is always much higher than on an elementary level. So that is number one. Also, the cost-per-pupil to run a comprehensive program—you need more pupils to make it cost effective to offer students the full array of courses they should have for college.

Young: I think we're right on. We have a graduation rate of 98.4 percent, and over 90 percent of them are going on to a four-year college. And it's not just any four-year college. We have kids that are going to Ivy League schools, Lehigh, Villanova, the College of New Jersey. I think that is what the money gets you. And we are one of the few districts that have as many AP classes as we do. We afford students that opportunity.