Perhaps Superintendent Vincent S. Smith can start the discussion explaining his lofty $200,096 salary in the 2010-2011 school year, up from only $196,248 year end 2010 when he was the highest paid public person in entire Ocean County. (source APP Data Universe)

Wait! Geezzz, I almost forgot. It's all about the kids! Again......

And after Superintendent Smith explains his own salary, he can explain why he created the job of Supervisor of Food Services and Transportation for his best buddy from Woodbridge and why that noncertified person is paid almost $95000 a year, especially when there is already a head person in the Transportation office and there are already school-based kitchen management teams.

It is quite amazing that Mr. Smith can find $4,000 to give himself a raise and keep his buddy employed in the ludicrous position of Food Services and Transportation Supervisor to the tune of $95,000 a year, YET he cannot find the funds to re-instate positions that were lost in budget cuts from 2010 and DIRECTLY affect our children's education??? What is wrong with this picture? What happened to the Vice Principal position at ORS? There are 560 students to 1 principal. A ratio not seen anywhere in the district or in neighboring towns. What happened to all of the student aid positions that were eliminated? The k-5 Spanish program? I am sure there are many other positions as well that have not been re-instated since budget cuts. Why can't the district hire other teachers at the middle school to eliminate over crowding in some programs at certain grade levels. ( 32kids in a class) Shouldn't Mr. Smith focus on the education of our children as first priority? It seems his focus is elsewhere. I urge all parents and residents of the community to make their voices heard online and in person at the meetings. Is the board of education aware of all these issues? By the way, Mr. Smith has never been a teacher, nor a principal or vice principal in a school district. His administrative expertise comes from a town recreation program I believe.

"What happened to the Vice Principal position at ORS? There are 560 students to 1 principal. A ratio not seen anywhere in the district or in neighboring towns"

Look at Point Pleasant Beach....no vice principal in either school.

Thanks for your feedback. I did not realize that about the Point Beach school system. Point Boro's Ocean Road School has had a vice principal since approximately 1997, until budget cuts in 2010. When compared with neighboring districts such as Manasquan, Brielle, Brick and the rest of the POINT Boro schools, the administrator to student ratio is extremely higher at ORS. I pay the same taxes as do residents of the Nellie Bennet area, yet there is a huge discrepancy. Our district average is about 320 students to one administrator, and the state average is approximately the same according to the NJ Dept of Ed student report cards. ORS is also home to many k-5 specialized programs for students with special needs. This includes a self contained program for students with autism spectrum disorder, a kindergarten for students with multiple disablities, and a pre-school disabled program.

Hello Normalparent, Yes! Everywhere has their problems! I agree! I would prefer to advocate for sound, equitable educational practices instead of moving. Although I am not opposed to moving or sending my child to a private school if I found it necessary. I am also an advocate for highly qualified individuals to work in our school system. BTW, parents who live on the "Nellie Bennet" side of our town pay the SAME property taxes that I do! Children from both sides of Point Boro deserve the same educational opportunities and practices.

This Point Borough School Budget session http://patch.com/A-rkdm is at Borough High School at 7 tonight.