A Chathamite's Guide to 2012 School Elections

Everything to know before you head to the polls.

Chatham residents can make their voices heard in the polls Tuesday, when they can vote on their representatives to the Board of Education, and on the 2012-13 school budget. Before you head out to vote, here are some things you need to know: When and where can I vote? Polls open at 2 p.m. and remain open until 9 p.m. Chatham Borough residents over 18 who have registered to vote may do so at Chatham Middle School. Chatham Township residents over 18 who have registered to vote may do so at Chatham High School. What Am I Voting On? The district has proposed a budget of $60,943,789 for the 2012-13 school year, which residents can vote to approve. Last year's tax levy was $52,791,296. In the upcoming school year, the tax levy will increase by 2.…

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Kenney Running for First Full BOE Term

The incumbent was appointed in 2010, elected in 2011 and is unopposed in 2012.

Board of Education Member Lata Kenney has sat on the board since February 2010. She is currently running unopposed for a three-year term to represent Chatham Township. Kenney has an MBA in finance from New York University and formerly worked at JP Morgan Chase. She, her husband and two children have lived in the township for about 10 years. Kenney declined to do a video with Chatham Patch in advance of the school elections Tuesday, but did agree to detail her experience on the board and her thoughts on what challenges the board will face during her next term. Question: What boards and commissions have you sat on for the BOE? This year I am chairperson of the Policy Committee and sit on the Curriculum Committee. Last year I Chaired the …

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School Vote 2011

Enrollment, Finances Top Issues for Board of Ed; Absentee Votes Tallied in Township

The updated numbers show that the budget passed with 66.62 percent of the vote. Over 19 percent of registered voters cast ballots for the school election.

Kim Cronin and Jill Weber will hit the ground running on May 4 when the Board of Education meets for its reorganizational meeting. Cronin said that in the first hours after her election to the board, she has been contacted by numerous residents who want to discuss a concern they have about the schools. "It's already been an interesting day," Cronin said. "It's an amazing first day." For incumbents Lata Kenney and Rich Connors of the township and borough, respectively, another term on the board means they can continue their work on various committees. "We've got some big issues we've got to tackle," Connors said. "We have our work cut out for us." Connors was elected as a write-in candidate for his first term on the Board of Education and …

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School Vote 2011

UPDATE: Budget Passes With 66.1 Percent of Votes

Weber, Connors and Cronin win seats; Routh ousted from Board of Education.

The proposed budget for the School District of the Chathams passed Wednesday with 1,598, or 66.1 percent, of the votes. Board of Education incumbent Alan Routh was voted out of his seat representing Chatham Township with 413 votes. Kim Cronin, who earned 561 votes, will take his place. Lata Kenney, who ran unopposed and earned 815 votes, will keep her seat for one year. In Chatham Borough, Jill Weber and incumbent Richard Connors will represent the municipality on the board, having earned 633 and 526 votes, respectively. Candidates Jeff Truppo earned 445 votes and 177 votes were cast for Albert Bozzo. Township residents voted by 802 votes, or 64.8 percent, to pass the budget and 434, or 35.2 percent, against it. Borough residents voted 796…

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Captain Jack

5:35 pm on Thursday, April 28, 2011

Andrew Currin, welcome to Chatham. your concerns are valid.   more ›

School Vote 2011

Meet Board of Ed Incumbent Lata Kenney

Kenney is running unopposed for a one-year term on the board representing Chatham Township.

Lata Kenney is an incumbent member of the Board of Education of the School District of the Chathams. She is running unopposed to keep her seat on the board as a representative from Chatham Township for a one-year term. Kenney was appointed to the board after Lara Yates moved out of state in 2010. This is the first time her name will appear on a ballot for the Board of Education. She has an MBA in finance from New York University and formerly worked at JP Morgan Chase. Incumbent Alan Routh is also running to represent the township for a three-year term. Kim Cronin is challenging him for his seat. Two seats are available for representatives from Chatham Borough. Board member Richard Connors will run to keep his seat, and Jeff Truppo, Albert …

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Board of Ed Rejects Resolution to Eliminate Public Vote on Budgets Under Cap

Public vote would not have been needed for budgets within the 2 percent tax levy increase.

The Board of Education voted down a resolution at its meeting last week that would eliminate the public from voting on the school budget if it is presented within the statutory cap of a two percent tax levy increase. Superintendent Jim O’Neill, who presented the resolution to the board, said the rationale behind it comes from other districts where budgets are defeated regularly by the public vote even when all lawful requirements are met and adequate education is provided. In these cases, he said, both the current year’s budget, which would then be turned over to the municipalities to trim down, and the base for the following year’s budget would be drastically diminished. Explaining that a number of districts in the state have met with …

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BOE Member Chatinover: I Will Not Run Again

Four incumbent school board members announce intentions for upcoming elections.

Four positions on the Board of Education come up for election this year, and on Monday night, the incumbent members announced their intentions. Board Member Jonathan Chatinover was the only one to definitively say that he will not run for another term. "It's been an honor and a privilege," he said of his four years serving on the board. Chatinover and his family will move to Martha's Vineyard, a plan that he said has been in place for "a long time." He said that the family's home was on the market in the fall of 2010 and that they hope to move before the start of the next academic year. "We'll miss it here and we'll miss all our friends," he said. Chatinover garnered much attention in December when he addressed Gov. Chris Christie at a …

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