SHARE

Election Results: Wayne Voters Reject Full-Day Kindergarten

WAYNE, N.J. – For the second year in a row, Wayne voters rejected a referendum to implement full-day kindergarten, leaving the township as the only in Passaic County without such a program.

Some Wayne voters cast their ballots at the library.

Some Wayne voters cast their ballots at the library.

Photo Credit: Lauren Kidd Ferguson
Louis Fontana, Pamela Porter, Christopher Stacy

Louis Fontana, Pamela Porter, Christopher Stacy

Photo Credit: Pam Porter For Mayor Facebook Page
James Belford Damiano, Maria Martini Cordonnier, Anthony P. Sgobba

James Belford Damiano, Maria Martini Cordonnier, Anthony P. Sgobba

Photo Credit: Facebook

With 39 of the township’s 41 voting districts accounted for at 12:17 a.m., the tally was 11,226 no votes and 8,446 yes votes.

If it had been approved, the program would have gone into effect in the 2017-2018 school year. It would have cost taxpayers $2,096,885 for the first year, or $93.91 for the average Wayne household assessed at $229,044, according to the school district.

Some voters interviewed outside of polling places on Tuesday said they hoped the referendum would pass.

“Giving kids extra education is never a bad thing,” Nick Scudillo said after he cast his vote at John F. Kennedy School.

Two parents outside the Main Library on Valley Road agreed.

“I think that is the way it should be,” said Mani Singhal, her 7-year-old son in tow.

“It is what is best for the kids,” said Gina Abdy, who has a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old. She said, if the referendum didn’t pass, she would send her children to private school for kindergarten.

Last November, full-day kindergarten was voted down 4,754 - 4,126.

“After the outcome of the last special question, and considering all other factors, the Board of Education and administration determined that full-day kindergarten is such a significant matter in the community that an additional opportunity to bring full-day kindergarten into the school system was warranted,” the district announced in a press release.

Proponents of implementing full-day kindergarten say it would better prepare students academically and socially. The district currently offers half-day kindergarten for all students. Parents and guardians have the option of adding on an additional half-day of a tuition-based supplemental instruction for a monthly fee of $250.

Voters in Clifton, Haledon, Hawthorne, Little Falls, North Haledon, Paterson, Prospect Park, Totowa, and Woodland Park also took to the polls Tuesday. Here are the results. (Note: * denotes incumbent, bold denotes winner)

Clifton Board of Education (vote for three)

  • ROSEMARY PINO* ...  8,796
  • FAHIM K. ABEDRABBO ... 6,815
  • MICHAEL J. EVANS* ...  5,008
  • GARY L. PASSENTI* ... 6,664
  • BIMAL BRAHMBHATT ...  1,758
  • FRANK W. KASPER ...  3,538
  • MATTHEW J. TRELLA ...  5,739
  • ALLISON PROSZOWSKI ... 5,423 1

Haledon Council (vote for two)

  • NEREYDA CURIEL (D)* ... 1,751
  • MOUNIR ALMAITA (D)* ...  1,748
  • JOHN BLOCK (R) ...  738
  • JACOB G. FABER (R) ... 705

Haledon Board of Education (vote for three)

  • KATHLEEN GONZALES* ... 964
  • JOYCE SMITH* ...  874
  • JOHN J. KASLANDER ... 803

Haledon – Manchester Regional High School Board of Education (vote for one)

  • JEFFREY P. FISCHER ... 1,039

Hawthorne Board of Education (vote for three) --  (12/13 districts reporting)

  • LOUIS B. TURCO* ... 3,354
  • BRUCE REICHER* ... 3,085
  • ALEX CLAVIJO* ...  3,288

Little Falls Mayor (vote for one)

  • JAMES BELFORD DAMIANO (D)... 3,250
  • PAMELA PORTER (R) ...  2,237

Little Falls Council (vote for two)

  • MARIA MARTINI CORDONNIER (D) ... 2,825
  • ANTHONY P. SGOBBA (D) ... 2,853
  • CHRISTOPHER STACY (R) ... 2,312
  • LOUIS FONTANA (R)* ...  2,391
Little Falls Board of Education (vote for three)
  • MICHAEL O’NEIL* ...  2,093
  • DIANA KRIBS* ...  1,954
  • THOMAS N. BREITWIESER* ...  1,910
North Haledon Council (vote for two)
  • HEATHER SPARANO (R) ... 2,211
  • KEITH SALVIANO (R) ... 2,151
  • MICHAEL GALLUCCIO (D)* ... 1,715
  • DENNIS MARCO (D)* ... 1,704

North Haledon Board of Education (vote for three)

  • MICHELE MANNING* ... 1,842
  • JOSEPH MANNINO ... 1,727
  • ANTHONY GRIFFO ...  1,666

North Haledon Board of Education unexpired 1 year (vote for one)

  • DONNA M. DOONER ...  1,824

North Haledon – Manchester Regional High School Board of Education (vote for two)

  • PAUL GORGA ... 1,896
  • VALDO PANZERA JR.* ... 1,749

Paterson Board of Education (vote for three) -- (67/68 districts reporting)

  • EMANUEL CAPERS ...  5,375
  • COREY L. TEAGUE ... 5,071
  • JOSEPH ATALLO ... 3,157
  • FLAVIO RIVERA* ...  6,670
  • KENNETH L. SIMMONS* ...  4,976
  • STACEY A. COLEMAN ...  3,981
  • CHRISTOPHER C. IRVING* ... 6,368

Paterson Board of Education unexpired 2 year (vote for one)

  • MANNY MARTINEZ JR.
  • ERROL S. KERR*
Prospect Park Council (vote for two)
  • THOMAS F.X. MAGURA (R) ... 440
  • ANAND SHAH (D) ...  1,335
  • ADNAN ZAKARIA (D)* ...  1,382

Prospect Park Council unexpired (vote for one)

  •  Esther PEREZ (D)* ... 1,481

Prospect Park Board of Education (vote for two)

  • WILLIAM J. WILLEMSEN* ... 398
  • JOSE PANTOJA ... 461
  • ESLLAM ZAKARIA ... 486
  • ANDRE GREER ... 439

Prospect Park Board of Education unexpired 2 year (vote for one)

  • MARIA EMMA ANDERSON* ... 418 

Totowa Borough Council (vote for two)

  •  Louis D'Angelo (R)* ... 3,347 
  • John F. Capo (R) ... 3,245 

Totowa – Passaic Valley Regional High School Board of Education (vote for one)

  • PETER A. D’ANGELO ... ... 2,170

Wayne Board of Education (vote for three) -- (39/41 districts reporting)

  • MICHAEL L. BUBBA* ... 6,393
  • MITCHELL BADINER* ... 4,531
  • JOSEPH MARSHALL ... 3,128
  • MATTHEW J. GIORDANO ...  3,489
  • CHERYL GAMBUTI ...  3,620
  • SUZANNE PUDUP ... 3,672
  • DANIEL J. CORCORAN ... 3,074
  • ROBERT PARKES ... 1,618
  • JULIA HILLJE-DARDIA ...  2,817
  • EILEEN DOMICO ...  3,211
  • ZOLTAN HERSKOVIC ... 2,489

Wayne Board of Education unexpired 2 year (vote for one)

  • Stacey SCHER ... 5,360
  • Robert ROSS ... 4,060

Woodland Park Council (vote for three)

  • JOSEPH SPINELLI (D)* ...  2,927
  • RITA PASCRELL (D)* ... 2,923
  • GARY W. HOLLOWAY (D)* ... 2,838

Woodland Park Board of Education (vote for three)

  • THOMAS BOLEN* ...  1,957
  • DINA BARGIEL* ...  1,903
  • MARK SALEMI* ...  1,833

Woodland Park – Passaic Valley Regional High School Board of Education (vote for two)

  • JACLYN LUKER ... 2,543
  • SAM YODICE, JR.* ...  1,846
  • LAURA VAN WINKLE* ... 1,418

Woodland Park School District Question 

  • Yes 1,416
  • No 2,143

Shall the Woodland Park Board of Education raise an additional $495,000 for General Funds for the ensuing school year (July 1, 2016- June 30, 2017) for the re-opening of Woodland Park Public School No.1. 

to follow Daily Voice South Passaic and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE