May, 2008
President - Steve Beatty

On April 15th, I was driving around the township and borough of Bridgewater and Raritan respectively going from one polling location to another.

It was the culmination of almost a full years work to ensure that we got the 2008-2009 school budget passed.

A sense of altruism drove our efforts, as we know all too well from last years failed budget the impact that the cuts that follow have on our schools and the nearly 10,000 students of
the district.

But we must also remember that we, the staff of the district account for 80% of the budget with our salaries and benefits. Working as hard as we did to pass the budget was a true labor of love.

Through an intensive campaign, we had over 100 volunteers from the staff and community work the tables at back to school nights, pour over thousands of pages of voter lists, and man the tables at the polls to make sure we got out our “yes” votes.

As one volunteer told me as she sat at one of these tables, “I’ve never been more proud to be a member of the BREA than today.” It was an expression of the satisfaction from helping our cause, and serving the kids that we teach and support every day.

However, as we know, it is usually the work of a few on behalf of the many that gets the job done. So as you think about the summer, and the inevitable start of a new school year, remember that we are only as
strong as our weakest link.

Resolve to help out and volunteer that precious asset of time to the BREA for all the right reasons.