Long Branch Forges Ahead With School Budget, New Members

In Long Branch, some things will change, and other things will stay the same.

The Long Branch Board of Education will have a bit of a different look when the board reconvenes at its next meeting, with several new members elected to the board during Wednesday’s school board elections.

Five candidates competed in the election for three open seats. Newcomers James Parnell and Allan Menkin won seats on the board of education for the upcoming school year, and incumbent board member Armand R. Zambrano also reclaimed his seat.

Parnell was the individual with the highest vote count, with 910 ballots cast in his name. He also had the highest vote total from any reported district, with 112 individuals from District 7 voting him in. There are 17 districts throughout Long Branch where residents had the chance to vote.

Menkin was the second highest vote getter, accumulating 739 votes. Zambrano came in right behind Menkin with 665 votes.

Coming up just short this year for seats on the board of education was incumbent member Violeta Peters, who received 653 votes, and Norman Palmer, who received 496 votes.

Residents of Long Branch also had the opportunity to vote on this year’s school budget. The Long Branch Public Schools budget totals $74,517,816. Of that total, $31,570,923 - a zero percent increase from last year - will be raised from local taxpayers.

Members of the Long Branch community seemed pleased to have this zero percent tax increase from last year, as residents voted in favor of this year’s budget by a vote total of 766 to 520.

Following all of the votes coming in, announcing the budget had passed, district superintendent Michael Salvatore said he was appreciative of the community coming out to support this budget.

“We’re all pleased with the results of the budget here,” he said. “It’s encouraging to see so many people from the community come out and support what we’re doing in the district.”