Fairfield Parents Take School Reopening Grievances with BOE to Township Council and Mayor – TAPinto.net

FAIRFIELD, NJ — Dissatisfied parents sought help from the Fairfield governing body Monday night at its virtual Township Council meeting. Parents expressed their frustrations with the township’s superintendent of public schools and the Board of Education (BOE) related to their questions on when schools will reopen full time and the upcoming November referendum that will ask for millions of dollars to be spent on school expansions.

Parents asked the mayor and council if they could intercede for them by getting answers to these questions. They are asking for transparency and for their voices to be heard and recognized.

One parent said, “We need this information to make educated decisions.”

According to the parents, the BOE said it could not do anything about the opening of schools until approval comes from the township’s board of health. Parents would like to have a meeting with the BOE and the board of health to get their questions answered directly and in person. Parents are frustrated with virtual BOE Zoom meetings and are requesting an in person BOE meeting in compliance with the COVID-19 restrictions.

Parents also spoke about the upcoming referendum for school expansion. According to parents, the enrollment is going down. Parents are taking their children out of Fairfield and enrolling them in parochial and private schools, where students have been going to school full time since the fall. One parent expressed that they are asking for this money, and as of now, our facility is not being fully used.

Fairfield Mayor James Gasparini and Business Administrator Joseph Catenaro said they understood the parents’ frustrations, but responded that the BOE is an autonomous body. The mayor and council have no jurisdiction over them. They explained that the only time the mayor and council could get involved with the BOE is if the school budget did not get voter approval. At that time, the town council could make recommendations as to budget cuts.

Gasparini did say he would call the school district to inform them of what took place at the meeting. He also recommended that parents contact the Essex County School Board.

In other matters, Catenaro suggested a discussion on the township’s sign ordinance. It was decided that in the near future an ordinance would be introduced to regulate sign height, size and maximum number of signs permitted on one property. It was stated that the content of any sign could not be regulated because of First Amendment rights, but the township can regulate size and number. 

Two ordinances were introduced; if passed, the first will fix salaries and other compensation to municipal officers and employees of the township, including the mayor and council, and the second will define the homeowners’ duty to remove snow and ice from sidewalks. The second reading and public hearing on these ordinances will be on March 22.

Gasparini reported that the Fairfield Police Department and the Fairfield Police Foundation announced a new community based partnership with the Fighting Childhood Cancer Foundation, a recognized 501 (c)(3) charitable organization that is located at 55 Lane Road, Fairfield. The mission of this foundation is to assist families with children who have been diagnosed with different forms of pediatric cancer. They assist the families by providing them with direct financial assistance that aids with medical bills, housing and transportation costs. The police foundation will be partnering with them for various fundraising events, and Fairfield police officers will be routinely visiting these children in both the hospital and at home.

If interested in joining the Fairfield pool this summer, please contact the recreation department or visit their website. All registrations will be entered through Community Pass. Council President William Galese said that the township is planning on opening the pool but with new protocols due to the virus. 

Councilman Joseph Cifelli said that the 2021 property tax freeze blue books are being mailed out by the state. He reminded residents that no one may enter the municipal building to go to the tax office. Forms can be mailed to the tax office or can be put in an envelope and left in the drop box near the police department side of the building. 

The next council meeting will be on Monday, March 22 at 7 p.m.