It's such a shame that the people in this town are so selfish and not see the good for all and not just for themselves. They loved the fact that Montville was voted number one, but don't want to do anything about it to keep it that way. It's terrible that they can be so closed minded and not open their eyes. The more improvements to a town as a whole, the more your town is worth and the more THEIR PROPERTY is worth! This was easy, this was a no brainer and they failed miserably! What a shame!

I don't think the fact we do not have a turf field factored into the equation into making us number 1...otherwise, we would have been ranked #2. Putting in a turf field is equivalent to trying to sell your house, and instead of upgrading your kitchen, you put in a hot tub thinking you will get a greater resale value!

I have heard reports of over 40 children in some classes at the High School; computers that still do not operate in several schools through out the district due to being understaffed in the IT department. If we want to keep our status of the number one community let's fix the educational component of our schools first. There is too much focus outside of school walls and not enough focus within. I would like to see the amount of energy that was expended to create the presentations used for the turf project put into creating presentations for the number of teachers per students in every class or the number of computers that are not operating. The number one priority of our BOE needs to be education first.

I agree with what John said. I am a Montville High School student, and if there's a problem with a computer, my teachers approach myself for help, not the understaffed tech office. They know that tech has bigger issues to deal with. I am always happy to help, but it is getting ridiculous. Let's put this money into the infrastructure that supports our classrooms, or the classrooms themselves.

I am pleased to see that Montville citizens are not going to take it anymore. Replacing janitors cutting jobs, programs cut old equipment or non functioning supplies. Why do we need turf on a football field so the field looks nice and fits into the new Montville. Football should be played in the mud. We are not the NFL.
Sherry

Thank you the residents of Montville you have finally seen the light Listen to what this high schooler says fuel their minds just be careful with these people in power as to what they will do next to try to get these field through they will stab you in the back as they are smiling at you Keep p the good work the concerned and sensible citizens of Montville

Could grants be found to underwrite part of it ... and how about a Montville or Morris County-based company offering to MATCH the donations? Raising $500K vs. $1 million is a BIG difference.

While I was of two minds regarding the necessity of the project, the Board's presentation of its case sucked. The grass vs turf comparison math was fudged heavier than the "hockey stick" in the global warming report, and the statement of "taxes are not affected" was a blatant lie. I found it particularly offensive that the Board didn't bother to suggest any alternative projects to use the money on, as if they believed to be voting-proof.

A note to A. Krentz: Perhaps you and those in your social circle regard artificial turf as an essential. consider those not as fortunate.

On hearing some Frenchmen had trouble affording bread, Queen Marie Antoinettte exclaimed : 'Qu'ils mangent de la brioche.' Let them eat cake.”
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Of course HM and those in her social circle simply found it hard to believe that any Frenchman did not have cake in their daily diet.

perhaps you should use your real name and stop hiding behind screen names

You appear to be a person who has a problem with the world and anyones opion who dis agrees with yours but arent adult enough to not hide behind a screen name

Caveat Emptor perhaps its time for you to find a new circle of friends where you dont have to be anonymous and entertain yourself on line

It appears more than half of the town are not stupid.These board members who backed this turf field should be ashamed of themselves. Now do the right thing and hire back the teachers and custodians you fired and stop acting like idiots....

Thank you to the Montville voters for exercising common sense and good judgment. I concur with John (1st comment) and Mark’s comments. It is time to focus this energy and money on a responsible investment within all of the district’s schools and to hold the BOE and superintendent accountable for making prudent decisions which benefit all students. Residents are now aware of the self serving nature of many BOE members. This should be a wake up call to all parents with children in our school system. Hold this board accountable. Attend BOE meetings, voice your opinion, be an observant visitor at your child’s school, speak with teachers/administrators and Vote Out self serving board members. All of Montville’s children and schools deserve better.
Good job Montville

I paid $900 this year in courtesy busing for my 3 kids - How about making Option # 2 using the surplus to offset the courtesy busing costs. Oh wait, I forgot, there were no other options presented

When I was in high school our grass football field never looked as bad as Montville's? What did schools know then that they don't know now? I still play a contact sport ( rugby ) and would much rather play on a well maintained grass pitch vs the turf. The needs of a few ( football team) should not outweigh the more important educational issues we face. Turf the Valley has to go back to the drawing board and raise the money privately.

We have spent the last six years fighting each other over issues that don't lower taxes and only divide the Community. We have taken kids off the school bus or made parents pay for their safe transportation, forced taxpayers who have children to pay for activities which has never been done in the history of Montville Township, made people pay for public facilities like water lines in public streets also never done before, cut capital from defeated school budgets so facilities are in disrepair and generally cater to a voting population that is encouraged to view government in a bad light and developed an attitude that "If I don't use it you don't need it." The political leaders of the Township have encouraged this attitude by attacking everything the Township has done in the past. This time the Board of Education tried to do everything they could to pass this referendum and if there is a silver lining it is a greater number of people responded to the call then the last time when Board members attacked their own proposal for political purposes. Turf is now probably dead for the future. The fact however remains is that the field is still a disaster. Saying no to a real problem is never an answer. The vote was closer than I feared it would be. There is hope that we can return to a sense of community and that we are all in this together.

Mountain Lakes turfed their field via private donations with a third of our population. Their slogan was "Got Turf". We can't even get our funding approved from a surplus. Our slogan should be "Got Seed".

Now now boys lets not fight just because the people with some sense would not let the town bully them once again on some issue theywanted passed Next issue should be why is the library trying to raise $10,000 for what and they just gave back over 1.5m oh yes by law they had to but the library had the money for years and had $10,000 from the friends of the library which they were donating for a new sign - gee what happened to all that - ask the former board members who are now committee members maybe they an tell you

I may be wrong but, if I remember correctly, the "Turf the Valley" people used in their
arguments that is cost the town about $20,000 per year to maintain, seed, cut etc.
the field. Now unless my calculator is wrong, $20,000 divided into $1,000,000 comes
to 50 that means it would take 50 years to pay for the turf if you lay off people that
normally do that job. 50 years sounds like a long time to me. If I was going into business and found that my ROI (return on investment) was going to take 50 years
chances are I would never dare go into that business. But hey, the field will look
"pretty" to Money Magazine and their judges.

In the last few years, teachers were dismissed, class sizes grew and programs were also terminate unless parents paid for them out of pocket because of budget cuts by the Christie administration. Have we forgotten that our country is in an economic crisis? Then there is a proposal to install artificial turf on the high school field. For many people, this is not a priority at this time. Using the money to enhance education in Montville should be No. 1. Putting teachers to work to educate our students may be more beneficial for all. Dana

How about we get the time correct on
the high school's fancy digital sign. School's been in
session for three weeks now. It looks so stupid!!!

Thank you to the BOE, Mr. Tevis and Dr. Fried...no matter what is written here, there are MANY people who know that you all went above and beyond in your attempts to make sure all the facts and information was made available to the public. Your willingness to do the extensive research and to make yourselves available to answer questions was much appreciated. To the numerous community members who have been a part of TTV or have supported our efforts, please know that despite what some here have said, those who matter know your reasons for supporting this effort and know of the great many additional community and educational efforts you continually support. The results of the vote were disappointing to say the least, but what is more disturbing to me as a resident of this town for close to 35 years, is that even when people try to do the right things for the right reasons they are still criticized and their motives are questioned. People should be ashamed of themselves for the comments they have made without the information to back it up.

For those of you that voted "no" to a "Football Field". I point you to the article in today's Montville Patch entitled "11 Marching Bands to perform at the High School". I don't think you will see one football team during this competition. What you will see is the Montville Township High School Field Corps plus 10 other schools performing on a field that is unsafe at best. The uninformed "no" voters should attend the competition and witness the deplorable conditions the "bands" must endure. Let us know if this is just a "football field". This event is a perfect example of a non-athletic use.

We voted no to spending money on non classroom funding. Football, marching band, etc are nice, and have benefits, but should be funded by the parents of those who want to participate in those activities. Too many kids can't pick out Florida on a map, don't understand civics, couldn't balance a checkbook, and don't have the skills to live on their own as independent adults.

I'm fine with spending money to air condition the classrooms, extend the school year and add classroom time. There is an over-emphasis on sports and non-classroom activities.

Do you consider Physical Education classes, some of which are conducted on the "football field" to be non classroom activities?

Physical activity such as sports and marching band are an important part of a child's development. Our marching band gives Montville pride and those students work very hard to achieve the success they do. Also, the children who do the various sports give up a great deal of time and effort to play these sports. They are not in front of a television, computer or video game when they come home from school. They are working hard and should not be discredited. During their sport season, most of these kids do better academically because they must budget their time and stay focused. This makes for a well-rounded person and should NOT be discredited. These kids earned the right to have a turf field!!!! Good health and well being comes from more than being in an air conditioned classroom 365 days a year. Our children do not get enough exercise. After school programs such as sports and marching band help to keep our children healthy in an overgrowing obsese society. While I agree education is lacking, it come from the teachers not teaching where Florida is on the map. More money will not help that problem. Teachers who enjoy teaching and think of teaching as more than a paycheck is what we need.

You have to wonder if people really make any effort to understand opposing points of view. This was clearly a one shot deal in terms of having the funds. There will be no such money next year. You can't put it into increasing expences for next year without hurting next years budget. That means you can't use it to hire back people or create new programs that are going to need the same amount money next year. That has been absolutely clear and yet people continue to say the same things.

Public schools should be in the business of TEACHING rather than forcing physical exercise on (mostly unwilling) students and conducting marching band competitions. But since they are obviously incapable of doing so, they want you to think that extracurricular activities are awfully important...

OMG 47 comments and still counting? This item sure struck a nerve and maybe opened a few eyes in our town.

As a MHS graduate(many years ago) the idea of a turf field is a luxury. We had many football teams, marching bands, etc that played on a grass field. If the field is so unsafe, fix it. But to ask for that much money to be spent in this economy is silly. It is truly de ing the needs of the few. The BOE should be holding information sessions about the curriculum, not convincing the public to spend needless money to aid an extra-curricular activity.

Remember folks if Jimmy gets hurt and cannot read he goes no where in this world Children in Korea go to school all day and take extra classes as night and then come here and take your kids jobs Maybe they can clean the field

you people are vicious and fail to see what was put before you. This is not a community that wants to get better all you people want to do is put people down because you are pissed with your own life and situation. I am not a TTV person, but I did attend an information meeting and it is too late but you are SO DEAF AND DUMB and because of your own preconceived biases, you did not give this, which would have benefited our town, justice. Please move somewhere else because I'd like to see us be a good town and community with no vengeance towards people that are really trying to make things better. Funny, you had a revolving door for super's 5-10 years ago. That was no good. Then you lost a good high school principal. That was no good. Now there's good solid people on the board and this 'new super' is the real deal. That's no good. You know what? IT'S YOU! NOT THEM. You don't like change and want to be negative. If you read their literature you would know this was totally the right idea. Instead, you question their motives and blame them. I get it. You can't add programs or salaries; it is one time. If you do, where's the $$ comes from next year?? So, you use it for the biggest facility need, then you do smaller projects with other money. Stupid? No SMART!! Now, there's a 2% cap and whatever they need to do to fix this, because all kids deserve to have safe facilities, is from the budget. How about next time trust them!

Max, I hope you enjoy eating paste sandwiches. It might silence your negativity. If you went to a meeting, you would have taken home that they had been using the same option over and over again, but to no avail because of the overuse/ drainage. They spend money each year on re-sodding or seeding and still the same issues of bad drainage causing dirt exposure and sprinkler heads happened. It was quite clear to me that the 2 options both included fixing the drainage first, then either putting grass/sod on (but then the field would be closed for a year and a half or something like that, and still, if it rains, the same problems would eventually happen), OR put turf on, which would allow constant use all the time, even after rain, and cost little to keep up, even with saving $30k per year over 10 ($300k total) years to replace the top of it when it wears out. What's the issue? How about a third possibility they probably didn't expect the public to be so shortsighted as to turn this down because it was win, win. But with people like you and others like so many on these posts that didn't give this the time of day to understand it and had a bias to begin with, it failed. Had it not, guess what? It would have saved money in the long run, and guess what? that money could have been used for other projects. If you watch they do this time and time again, like the savings from the new offices (over $100k plus per year), but it seems you and others need to be reminded on a daily basis.

Max- You really are one of the most nasty, cutting, and abusive people I have "not seen" in a very very long time. Not seen because you hide behind your computer and make these insulting statements to these people. Not seen because I didn't see you at the meeting I attended to learn all of the information made available prior to voting. If you had actually read the information passed out and maybe even attended one of the information meetings held all over town prior to the vote, maybe just maybe the opinions you voiced other than the abuse you have slung here would mean something. Unfortunately it is quite clear you did not. This was a one time opportunity and it was money that could not be spent on hiring or hiring back people. As I understand it, thoses were the rules that the BOE had to abide by. As for the turf the valley people raising more money, have you just landed here from another planet? The economy has not exactly been favorable in the last few years for people to open up their pocket book and donate in large numbers.

Additionally Max-If you had attended anything in the past, then you would already know that the BOE had said no to any large business donation who wanted to have naming rights. So here's a question: would you kindly read and listen to all of the information next time PLEASE? Oh yes, one more thing, please do me a favor...next time there is a public meeting to calmly learn and discuss something like this that obviously has alot of moving parts to it, please do me a favor and attend. Furthermore, when you do, please make sure that you stand up and properly introduce yourself so that I can swiftly drag you outside and deliver my own message which where I come from is a lot more direct than hiding like a scared little child behind a computer and chastising and abusing people after the vote so you can feel better about your need to provide beatings to people who truely don't deserve it.

One last thing there “MAX”… I will no longer be responding to any of this including anything your EGO needs to fight back with to make yourself feel like you won the fight. You’re not worth it; please do us all a favor and shove yourself back into the locker you were forced into as a kid because in my humble opinion what had to have been done to you was not bullying it was deserved. You on the other hand are the most bully like person I have ever met, but more of a chicken if you as me because you hide in the shadows...oh sorry but I find myself repeating myself you poor, poor misguided angry immature pathetic PUNK! Talk to the H-A-N-D…BYE!!

While I was a supporter of the Turf initiative, I can respect the fact that the public had their say and the referendum failed. What I don't understand are the comments like: lets get a private company to pay for it; lets use the money to bring back our janitors; etc; lets let the parents of the kids who play sports worry about the condition of the field; the teachers should get their old benefits back etc. Not sure those comments are reflective of the real world in which we live in. Corporations(including fortune 500 companies with financial resources) routinely look to outsource services, change benefit plans and ask for their employees to do more for less. Should the BD of ED be faulted for doing the same? If the roof were to leak in the woods classroom should we look to see how many students take woods before fixing it? At the end of the day, the condition of this field is deplorable. As Mr. Grant mentions, the 5 or 6 years of discussion on this subject has gotten us nowhere. There are major problems with this field and they need to be addressed. The board closed this field to practices and the band for the summer months in hopes that it would hold up for the fall season.

continued:

Well we are 3 weeks into the season and the grass is gone in many spots and we are down to the dirt and rocks. You may or may not have children who play sports but hopefully you all agree that a safe playing environment has to be provided to those who do. If the next steps in the process are to strip the field down, fix the drainage issues and then build back up with the top surface being grass/sod then I hope you all understand there will be a cost associated with doing this. Include the possibility of having to rent fields in another town and absorb the cost of additional busing until the grass or sod takes hold. Remember that while it won’t cost $990,000 it wont be free! I encourage all of you who think the condition of the field is fine to attend tonight’s night’s home. We can sit together cross our fingers that no one gets hurt and watch dedicated student athletes(players/cheerleaders) as well as award wining band members compete on behalf of their school and community

This is a good opportunity to reduce government spending and replace it with private enterprise. Business people can build turf fields and run athletic programs better and cheaper than governmental agencies.

Just like my daughter and her friends compete in gymnastics at places like Northstars, there is no reason why all after school athletic programs can't be run privately, with the costs paid by the participants. Our civic organizations would be glad to help those who need financial assistance.

Eliminate all non-classroom activities, reduce taxes, and turn over the extra-curriculars to the private sector.

Thanks Craig. You've been doing great work with Rugby for years, so you know that my comments about getting the Board of Education out of the athletics and extra-curricular business isn't a criticism of athletics or marching band. It's a criticism of government trying to do too many things and doing them poorly.

Can you imagine if you had just a tiny fraction of the amount that is spent on sports to run a sports program privately? Combine that with the private donations you already work hard to raise, add user fees from parents who pay less taxes because the Board of Ed is doing less, and you would offer more for less.

f/y/i - Last night the ambulance took away a Mount Olive player who got hurt on our football field.

I just thought people might be interested in knowing that today's marching band competition was moved indoors an hour ago due to the dangerous condition of the muddy field.

Michael, the real question is why is the Board of Education even involved in marching band competitions? Stick to your mandate of providing an outstanding classroom education and leave the extra-curriculars to the private sector.

Mr. L,
I graduated from MTHS last year and am currently a freshman in the Honors Program at University of Delaware. In high school, I was also a member of the marching band for four years. From my experience with the marching band, I can guarantee that the Board of Education has nothing to do with the fact the competition was moved inside. As a former band parent, Mr. Palma posted that comment to let everyone know of the disservice that is being done not only to the Montville band, but also to the twelve other bands who are competing today by having the competition inside. I know how important this competition is to the band as a fund raising event, especially since our funding from the town was cut when the budget failed two years ago. By having the competition moved inside, the revenue that band will receive will be drastically cut.

I completely agree that the Board of Education should be held to providing outstanding classroom education for Montville Studends. However, I believe the ultimate goal should be to help students in their journey to get into their dream college. I owe my success in the college application process not only to my academic success but to my participation in extra-curriculars as well. As drum major of the band for two years, I had the leadership experience colleges are looking for when reading through applications. It is these activities that set students who are very active apart from those who focus solely on their grades.

Steven L., I am glad to hear your opinions about who should pay for what. If you feel this way, then try to move the idea forward. However, as extra-curricular activities help to build the person who graduates, and all school districts provide them because they, in fact want to graduate well rounded students, I am not so sure of the soundness of the idea. If we cut our band, sports, what's next? Art? Wood shop? Anything but math, science, or english? Does world language fall under your exemptions? REGARDLESS and WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, our CURRENT system does call for these activities to be paid for by the district less an activity fee paid by the parents of the students. So, currently we have a field and these kids right here, right now deserve to be on it. What are we gonna do about fixing it?

PS. I dont want to pay for the dog park, the senior center, or the police station or parks to be maintained. My child is older and doesnt use the latter. Can we, therefore, add exemptions to our tax bill or a use tax to those who use these and other facilities so they pay for it and I don't? I have never had a fire. How about having only people who have fires pay for the use of the equipment? Police? With all due respect, I think the current system is fine, but that is not the debate, anyway. The debate is that we had a golden opportunity to fix the field, given that our current system calls for he schools to pay for it's use. We blew it! Now, how do we fix it?

Cynthia, I beg to differ. No one DESERVES to be on a field. Our schools have taken a major detour away from their primary mission of providing an education that prepares students for life in an increasingly competitive environment.

The answer is to stop. End taxpayer funded sports, marching band, and other non-classroom extra-curricular activities. Leave those things to the private sector to determine if demand is there.

Lots of kids attend privately funded gymnastics at places like Northstars in Boonton. In Randolph there is an entire business park that has privately funded indoor soccer/lacrosse, skating, hockey, cheerleading, gymnastics, etc. If there is a demand, then the private sector will quickly meet it.

We need to rid ourselves of the notion that government/taxpayers must fund everything.

Particularly at a time when many of us are paying over 20% of our take home pay in property taxes, we simply can not afford to continue providing non-classroom activities at taxpayer expense. And schools who are constrained by a 2% cap, that is eaten away by increases in health care and salaries, are going to continue to be squeezed in their ability to meet their obligation to fund the core competencies.

The answer is to get out of the athletic and extra-curricular business, stick to the classroom, and let the private sector handle demand for athletics, etc., if demand is there.

Mr. Drexl, My wife and I voted for the turf, though our kids go to private schools. We don't have a dog in this fight.

You and the others can continue doing things the same way (remember Einstein's definition of insanity) while expecting a different result, but the fact is that voters just rejected a very reasonable plan for turf, and they've voted down two out of the past three school budgets, IIRC.

Clearly, the point of resistance has been met.

Education is the school's basic mandate. Students need to be prepared, with greater classroom emphasis, for a much more competitive work world today. Athletics, while nice and valuable, cannot continue to be funded by our taxpayers who have clearly and repeatedly indicated their displeasure.

You may not like that, but don't blame the messenger. This pattern is being repeated all over. Local property taxes have exceeded the public's willingness and ability to pay. Something has to give.

My point is that classroom education needs to be the priority for the sake of children's futures, and the future of our country. Emphasis needs to be placed there, and classroom programs expanded. Unfortunately athletics, marching band, and other extra-curriculars will have to be cut. The private sector will meet the demand if it exists.

I've said my piece. You don't have to agree, but don't be surprised and unprepared when the inevitable arrives. These programs are going to get cut. It's just a matter of when.

Mr. Drexl, Additionally, I wasn't "harping" about Northstars. I was pointing out that many parents pay for programs that the schools do not offer. There is no reason to believe it would be any different with football, marching band, cheerleading, and the rest when the schools can longer provide them because voters keep rejecting the budgets.

The businesses I mentioned in Randolph have sprung up to meet the demand.