Residents press board on rising energy bills, transportation staffing and future capacity

During the public-comment period, several Mount Olive residents raised operational and long-term-planning concerns with the board.

Energy costs and audit request: Resident Martin Welsmuller (25 Wickers Avenue) asked the board for a further review of rising energy expenses and whether solar fields and current contracts are offsetting utility bills. Welsmuller noted several large utility entries on the district’s bill list and asked whether an audit could identify why energy spending has increased. The superintendent responded that the district has engaged Amaresco to perform an energy audit and that the district is reviewing utility usage as part of long-range planning.

Transportation staffing and abolished positions: Welsmuller and others asked about personnel changes in the transportation office. The resident noted recent praise for a transportation employee earlier in the year and asked why the board was abolishing positions such as the coordinated dispatcher and transportation secretary. The superintendent said the department was being reconfigured to meet the district’s changing size and needs; the board advised that personnel matters were under the district’s administrative purview.

Scoreboard and revenue opportunities: Resident Tony Strelacci urged the board to accelerate plans to activate the high-school stadium scoreboard as a revenue source. Strelacci said the scoreboard could generate advertising revenue and urged the district to model programs used by neighboring towns that have monetized scoreboard advertising. Board members said proposals and vendor materials had been reviewed and that implementation work is underway.

Referendum and long-range facilities planning: Multiple speakers urged the board to act promptly on long-range capacity planning and a possible facilities referendum. Strelacci and another resident, Martin Walsmuller, warned that limited developable land in the township could constrain future school-building opportunities and urged the board to coordinate with township officials and the public well before a ballot question. One speaker recommended a referendum focused strictly on classroom additions rather than a broader package of projects.

Special-education and safety concerns: A parent, Brianne Diletto (1 Renault Drive), asked the board to examine systemic special-education compliance issues, citing repeated delays in evaluations, inconsistent incorporation of parent input and concerns about handling incidents involving students with disabilities. Diletto requested a district compliance audit, improved data tracking and targeted staff training. The board accepted the comments for the public record and noted the district’s ongoing work on related policies.

Board members acknowledged the concerns, cited existing strategic planning work on energy and long-range facilities, and said relevant staff would follow up. No immediate board action was taken during the public-comment period; the items raised were entered into the public record for further administrative follow-up.