The perennial issue in East Rutherford education is the high cost-per-pupil that results from the district’s small size and student population. Also important is the push by administrators to unify their curriculum and calendars with neighboring Carlstadt, and Becton Regional High School, which serves both towns.

Michael Homaychak

Age: 53

Education: Graduate of Becton Regional High School. B.S. from Montclair State University; M.B.A. from Fairleigh Dickenson University

Occupation: Computer Project Manager

Background: Single with no children. Sits on East Rutherford Zoning Board. Member East Rutherford Property Owners. Is a former ERBOE President and has served on all Board committees. Currently Board Vice-President and chair of the Finance Committee.

Kathleen Winston*

Winston is an incumbent who is running unopposed, and refused to give information for this story.

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

Homaychak: To continue to serve the community, to improve our schools. I want to get test scores raised in the schools at a reasonable cost to the taxpayers. And also to get our schools maintained--the infrastructure of the actual buildings themselves. In our budget this year, we're actually going to redo two bathrooms, within budget. I think the schools are very important to the town, and I got involved way back when we were building the schools.

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

Homaychak: The biggest priority is to find a way to raise the educational level in the school district, to get higher scores, to really get the kids and parents enthused in the system. I think we've got the infrastructure in place to do it. It's just a question of tuning now, making it happen.

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

Homaychak: We actually went down last year, according to the state, if you want to believe that. According to the new state formula, we are probably spending more than what they considered "adequate". Do we need to spend more? I would say we are spending an appropriate amount to do what we need to do. I'm happy with the budget this year. It's within reason. We're funding all our programs and doing what we have to do to address areas like math and reading. Would it be nice to be lower? Absolutely. Is it possible? It takes time. It's like moving a tanker ship. To change its direction is not that easy. Almost 80 percent of your costs are contractual. The only time you get a chance to do that kind of thing is when you negotiate, and we did a good job last time when we negotiated. To see drastic cuts in cost is not possible unless you drastically increase class sizes, and that would probably hurt us educationally, because it is proven that small class sizes allow the teachers to really concentrate on the areas that are in need and the kids that are in need.