Local Girl’s Lemonade Sweetens Lives For Hospitalized Kids

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By Cheryl Conway

Delicious is her ice-cold lemonade sold on a hot day, but not as sweet and refreshing as the story behind her stand to use proceeds to buy presents for children in the hospital during the holidays.  

About 200 customers recently visited Liv’s Lemonade Stand on Deerpath Drive in the Cloverhill section of Flanders. Olivia Geftic, who just turned 11, held her second annual sale on Sunday, August 21, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

The sixth grader at Mt. Olive Middle School raised $3,000 this year from her one-day shop. She sold lemonade, iced coffee, fizzy drinks, cookies, cupcakes and her handmade bracelets. 

All proceeds are going to be used to buy holiday gifts for patients at Goryeb Children’s Hospital in Morristown.    

“I have been selling lemonade for two years; I do it once a year,” says Geftic. 

“I sell lemonade ($1), iced coffee ($3), fizzy lifting drinks ($3), chocolate chip cookies ($1), strawberry short cake cupcakes ($3) and bracelets ($2).  

“Last year we made about $3,000 and this year we made about the same,” she says.  

“My mom said we spend about $300 on supplies.” 

With help from her older brother, cousin and best friend, as well as her mom and mom’s friend, Geftic has become a successful non-profit entrepreneur. 

“I mix my own lemonade, we baked our own cookies, we buy premade iced coffee; our fizzy lifting drinks were blue raspberry, strawberry and fruit punch Koolaid ice cubes in Sprite,” she explains. “My mom’s friend Yami makes the cupcakes for the lemonade stand each year.”  

She continues, “My brother Eamon, my cousin Sammy Dandy and my best friend Shiloh Moy were my helpers this year.  My cousin Sammy is 12 and lives in Hillsborough and my best friend Shiloh is 10 and lives right down the road.”  

Why Donate to Goryeb Children’s Hospital 

All of “the proceeds go to buying gifts off the Goryeb Children’s Hospital holiday wish list,” says Geftic.  

“I picked Goryeb Children’s Hospital because they took care of my brother when he needed help and good doctors,” she explains. 

Her brother Eamon is 13 and will be turning 14 in November. He “has needed doctors at Goryeb since he was a baby.  My mom said, "he needs continued care for a rare mitochondrial disease.”

The siblings’ efforts are straight from their hearts. “I buy from their holiday wish list (from places like Amazon, Walmart and Target) and my brother and I deliver the gifts to the hospital in December,” she explains.  “I want to give kids what they want for what could possibly be their last Christmas.”  Geftic’s hard work and efforts have graciously paid off. She has raised $6,000 in proceeds from hosting Liv’s Lemonade Stand just two times, in back-to-back years. “I made beaded bracelets; I made about 100 throughout the year,” she says. “I taught myself how to make my bracelets. Each bracelet takes me about five to ten minutes, depending on the bracelet.

Serving his 15th year on the Mt. Olive Board of Education with his fifth term soon to end, Dr. Anthony Giordano is sunsetting his time on the board by running for a final one-year term.  

“I’d like to stay on one more year as a resource,” explains Giordano, 49, of Budd Lake. As a senior board member, the longtime elected leader hopes to continue to serve as a mentor to guide new BOE members.  

“We have four new board members,” he explains. “It is difficult to have a boatload of new board members on.”  

Giordano is vying against two other candidates for the single one-year term in the November 8 school board election. Six other candidates, meanwhile, are running for three seats that carry a three-year term.  

As a Mt. Olive resident since 2004, Giordano has seen immense change and growth in the township, and particularly the school district during the past 18 years. As an elected volunteer serving on the BOE since 2007, Giordano has been instrumental in helping to implement those changes and watch the school district blossom.  

Educator and Leader  

Through his expertise working in education and excellence in leadership, Giordano has played an integral part in the school district’s growth and progress.  

Giordano has been elected to five consecutive three-year terms: 2007-2010; 2010-2013: 2013-2016; 2016-2019 and 2020-2022. During those 15 years, his fellow board members nominated him to serve as board president for seven years in a row. In 2017, he stepped down as president to work on his doctorate, but then in 2020 and 2021, he stepped back up to lead the BOE.  

“My greatest asset is my leadership,” says Giordano.   

In addition to serving as a leader and mentor to these newer board members, Giordano would like to see a few more “things” go through before he ends his time on the board.  

“There are things I’d like to see go through,” says Giordano, such as passing a new referendum, as the monies for the middle school referendum are coming due.  The district is in need of additional instructional space, as well as, athletic space for its sports programs. With that referendum money, there would be no increase to taxpayers, he explains.   

Like the other leaders on the BOE, keeping taxes down is always a priority but Giordano shares the truth that “I will always support a 2% cap increase.”  

He says people who run for BOE to keep taxes down “are lying.” Salaries go up, benefits go up, “oil and gas goes up, everything goes up. Two percent covers our employee raises and benefits. Every district is like that. Students, staff and facilities are most important.”   

Every year, the school district has to decide on purchases. 

“Some groups will not agree with the jumbotron,” just like some disagreed with MOHS Marauder Stadium, and the dome and the premier arts center.  

“It’s a balancing act,” says Giordano. “One year you spend in one area,” and the next year spend it in another area. “You’re never going to do that,” avoid a tax increase. But leaders can decide “to spend it in the most efficient manner that benefits our students.”   

Education, Skills and Experience  

Working in education throughout his professional life has been an advantage for Giordano as he is vastly knowledgeable about the operations of a school district.   

He currently serves as superintendent of the Mansfield School District in Warren County, a position he has held for the past five years.  

Giordano has a bachelor’s degree in history from Rider University; a master’s in special education from New Jersey City University; a second master’s in educational leadership from Centenary University; and a doctorate in educational leadership also from Centenary University.   

He worked his way up throughout his career in several school districts starting out as a paraprofessional for students with autism, to a special education teacher, school counselor, supervisor, vice principal, principal, director, executive director to his current role as a superintendent.  

“I love being an educator,” says Giordano. “It’s the greatest profession.”   

Working in several districts also widened his scope.  

“You learn different things by being in different districts,” says Giordano. “It gives you a different perspective.”   

Running for the BOE was the next best thing he could do to spark change and growth.  

“This was a perfect way to give back,” says Giordano. “We were poised to take the next step. I wanted to bring a new perspective to the board.”  

Accomplishments, Goals  

When Giordano first began on the BOE, he says there was “zero to little curriculum in the elementary schools.” Since his time on the board, “every student has access to a robust curriculum now,” he says.  

MOTSD also introduced STEAM and STEM during his tenure.  

There was only one curriculum page of AP courses at the high school when he began, and now that curriculum and course offerings has expanded astronomically, he notes.   

“Students, staff and buildings are the “three greatest assets,” of a school district. The priority has been to budget money for materials and staff, and to improve facilities to better serve the students, he explains.   

“We were focused on those things,” says Giordano. “We weren’t the wild west anymore. We had the greatest growth,” that started under the leadership of former MOTSD Superintendent Dr. Larrie Reynolds.  

“When he started, we were at the bottom of the barrel,” says Giordano. Other towns, such as Randolph, Roxbury and Hackettstown, were “laughing at us.” When Reynolds came on, “he made it more robust; raised our standards.”  

He increased testing with more exams, raising students’ performance in all grades.  

Giordano says the greatest growth for MOTSD was in 2011- 2017.  

“We started to grow; we started this process,” he says.  

After all of the growth in facilities, programs, testing and curriculum, MOTSD has become a leader in which other districts strive to become.  

And under the current leadership by MOTSD Superintendent Dr. Robert Zywicki, “We are being more specific in our subgroups, such as special education, African Americans, and English Language Learners.  Also under Dr. Zywicki, an increased focus on Social and Emotional learning, HIB (Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying), and character education is happening.”   

Giordano’s goals have always been to create a more robust curriculum, continue to be “fiscally responsible,” and “meet the needs of our students and staff.” 

He says, “We have a highly paid staff and we expect a lot from them. We’re going to ask a lot of them but we’re going to take care of them.  Without our exemplary staff our students would not have the success they have had!”   

Improvements, Challenges  

Giordano did not have too much to criticize in terms of improvements and challenges.   

“I think we’re doing a great job,” he says. “We need to continue to grow in every aspect.” Continuous district/school improvement is his goal.   

“Our district leaders are always looking at data.”  By looking at the data, leaders can see what areas need improvement in curriculum, courses and improved technologies. 

The Equity Task Force was created to ensure equity throughout the district, from its curriculum to its staff.  

“All means all,” says Giordano. “Is our staff across the district reflective of our student populations?” The goal is to be equitable for all students, he says, adding that he wants to see the district “continue to move in that direction.”   

Dealing with COVID was clearly a challenge faced by all school districts, dealing with protocols, masks, testing, sanitizing, and now more so than before, the anxiety felt by students, teachers and staff, and even the reduction of teachers and aids, he says.

With her children’s education always a priority, this Budd Lake mom is running for a one-year term on the Mt. Olive Board of Education to make a difference. 

Annette Mendez, 43, seeks her first seat on the BOE and shares her platform and ideas for improvement and change. She is running against two other candidates in the November 8 school board election for the one-year term; six other candidates are vying for three seats that carry a three-year term.  

“I am running for a one-year term simply because I want to show the township that I can make a difference,” says Mendez who has lived in the township for six years with her husband and their three children. “This will also give me time to learn and grow in the position as I look toward a three-year seat.” 

A member of the Parent Teachers Organization at Tinc Elementary School and an educator in children’s development, Mendez is schooled on what the issues are within a district and has suggested solutions.   

“This will be my first run, but my children’s education has always been a top priority for me, and I stay abreast of the latest news, policies and issues bought up at the BOE level,” she says.  

Her main reason for running for the BOE “is to bring the focus back to our most precious commodity- our children,” says Mendez.  “I want to make sure our children are excited and happy to go to school.  I want teachers and students to feel supported, appreciated and heard.  We have a long way to go but I have promises to keep...promises I have made to myself, to my family and to the people of Mt. Olive Township.” 

Education, Professional Background, Family, Other Involvements  

Mendez holds a bachelor’s in family and child life studies from Montclair State University; and graduate certification in developmental modules for autism intervention. 

She currently works for Child & Family Resources in Mount Arlington. 

“I am their lead trainer,” she says.  “I provide all the professional development training for all of Morris County.”   

Being a mom and a wife is her other big role.   

She is married to Damian Irizarry, who works as a guidance counselor at Dover High School. 

“After being the schools only male counselor for the last six years, he recently won Educator of the Year; we’re so proud of him!” she says about her husband. 

They have three children in the Mt. Olive school system: “My oldest, Davian Xavier, is a junior at MOHS; my middle, Dalila, is going into 3rd grade; and my youngest, Sofia, is entering 1st grade.  Both my girls attend Tinc Road School.” 

Juggling a job while raising three kids did not deter Mendez from serving on the PTO executive board for Tinc Road School. 

“I served as their communications person,” she explains. “I assisted with making flyers to promote all of the activities that were taking place during the year.  I also assisted with their Scholastic Book Fair for the fall.  The schools Parent and Teacher Organizations do so much to help the parents and the schools and Tinc Road PTO is comprised of the best group of women I have ever met; They truly go above and beyond for the staff and students.”  

If elected to the BOE, Mendez plans to use her skills and expertise in her new role. “Having been an educator and now being a parent, I am in a very unique position to understand the needs, concerns and wants of both parties,” says Mendez. “I have extensive knowledge on child development and what exactly is going on in our children’s brains-how they develop and how their brain works.  As a professional development trainer, I am kept abreast of the latest and most effective best practices in child development.”  

Mendez’ Campaign Platform For BOE  

“My platform consists of three critical elements for school success,” she explains.  These elements include putting students first; advocating to improve the MOSD culture; and increase parent involvement. 

“First, putting children first,” Mendez explains. “There is more than one kind of student in Mt. Olive.  What about those children who don’t play sports, how are they celebrated? What about those students who join our Real-World Connections classes, participate in Play Unified activities, or drama? I want to be the voice for ALL our students and not just one group.  We have some amazing, talented, hardworking students in Mt. Olive.  I want to ensure that they have their platform also.”  

The second element of her platform includes: “Advocating for improved culture and climate for our staff.  I am concerned that in addition to experiencing a teacher shortage (ask any educator), we are experiencing a mass exodus of educators in our township.  I am that voice to advocate for promoting the internal capacity for leadership in a culturally responsive environment.  To paraphrase Simon Sinek, my goal would include supporting the superintendent in identifying opportunities to make people better. This is an extraordinary district, with extraordinary teachers—they should be treated as such.”   

The final element of her platform includes “involving parents in meaningful ways, beyond school fundraising and parent-teacher conferences.  Research is very clear that schools, and students thrive when there is a healthy home school partnership.  I want to be the voice on the Board of Education advocating for those who feel that no one is listening to them. After all, parents are their child’s first teacher.” 

Desired Improvements, Challenges and Ideas for Change 

Mendez suggests greater activities offered for more diverse groups and more engagement with the entire community rather than just the school community. 

“Our schools should be the focal point of the community,” says Mendez. “I would like to see more activities in our schools that reflect the growing diversity that exists in our town.  I would like to see our schools embrace the unique differences that each student brings to the table, whether you are an ESL student new to Mt. Olive, a member of the LGBTQIA community, or Black, Indigenous Person of Color. 

“I would also like to discuss ways in which our schools can schedule for activities to attract community members throughout Mt. Olive,” she adds. “Often the only people who go to school events are parents of children in the district; I feel we should open that up more to those in the community.” 

Some of the challenges Mendez points in the MOSD include instructional space and too much time on devices.   

“Our biggest challenge, for me, is instructional space,” says Mendez. “When my daughter entered kindergarten, she had 11 children in her classroom, when my youngest entered just two years later, she had 22 children in her classroom.  Now I understand this is a class size statement and not a space statement, however, as class sizes balloon then there will be a need for bigger instructional spaces.  The board recently discussed this issue, and I would like to be a part of the team that promotes facilities expansion and a possible referendum.”  

As a solution to improving this spacing issue to accommodate large class sizes, Menendez says: “We would need to evaluate and assess the current infrastructure, demographic study and see how best to proceed with a referendum to address these issues.”  

Another concern is the amount of time students spend on their devices vs. traditional learning.  

“My biggest concern is the amount of time our younger students spend on Chromebook vs. the amount of time they spend collaborating and learning how to work in groups,” she says.  “Technology is a magnificent tool; it has enriched our lives exponentially.  It offers us access to an endless amount of information but in the realm of education, it is our responsibility to remember that before technology becomes a benefit to our students; they need to master their core skills and creative thought processes first.  They must learn how to be observant, how to think critically for themselves, how to identify and solve problems.  This happens when we engage students in real-world problem-finding, problem-solving, experiential learning activities, that promote synthesizing information, collaborating, experimenting, propelling forward towards discovery and new learning. 

“When we take our children to the pediatrician and they ask me ‘how much screen time do they get? and I reply ‘they are on EVERYDAY for at least 50 minutes,’ my pediatricians face is one of shock!”   

She explains further: “Now, I know what most are thinking, “STEAM is the future” and I agree wholeheartedly but STEAM and let’s say, Lexia (an online phonics program at the elementary schools) or ST Math (where children and parents are answering questions for Gigi to move along, with ZERO instructions) are two different things.  STEAM is hands on-Lexia and ST Math are not.  

“When our students are engaged with screens, they are being entertained, yes, but the information is pouring into their brains in one direction only,” she explains.  “They are not producing their own thoughts; they are not being creative or curious about the world around them.  They begin to lose dexterity, hand eye coordination, spatial awareness and start to lack imagination, these are all core skills that they will need if they are going to do well in STEAM subjects.” 

Mendez’ suggested solution for less screen time would be: “To find a multisensorial approach to teaching while integrating technology responsibly.”   

Mendez would also like “to see more concrete programs that deal with the social emotional development of our children.” 

She says, “In order for us to graduate students ready for the workforce we need to help them master those soft skills that employers are looking for.  Have you ever encountered an adult who is just yelling at a fast worker, or an adult who becomes completely deregulated when their sports team does not win?  Well, had that adult, as a child, been taught to recognize what their body is feeling, how to control their emotions, how to see things from another’s perspective or how to talk things our via conflict resolutions, chances are we would have far fewer of these “Karen situations” as todays youth have coined it.”   

When it comes to curriculum, Mendez would rather keep more of the general and honor courses, while also adding in more challenging courses, so all students can learn at various levels.  

By Cheryl Conway

A new fountain recently installed at Turkey Brook Park in Budd Lake has been partially gifted to Mt. Olive Twp. by a lake consultant who was impressed by The All Veterans Memorial and all that it reflects. 

Lake Consultant Larry Kovar of Aquatic Analytics donated $6,000 to the project because he was “moved by the atmosphere of the environment” at the AVM, announces Mt. Olive Twp. Business Administrator Andrew Tatarenko during the August 9 Mt. Olive Twp. Council meeting. 

“This reduced cost is a tribute to the Veterans Memorial and Mt. Olive Township for supporting and honoring all our Veterans that served to protect the Constitution of the United States and the hero's that gave all for our freedom,” states Kovar, who has been mitigating, testing and treating Budd Lake. 

The fountain was installed a few weeks ago in the retention basin adjacent to the AVM, says Tatarenko, “however is not currently running.  The pond needs to be treated first to kill off the algae so it doesn’t clog the fountain pump.” 

The full cost was $16,490 and was installed by Aquatic Analysts. 

“Since we purchased the fountain from Kovar, he deducted $6,000 as a “donation” to the project,” confirms Tatarenko. The township paid the remaining $10K, he adds. 

A bid was not required for the fountain because the “project was below any purchasing threshold,” he says.  

“The fountain assists in the process of moving the water which enhances the habitat, provides aeration which creates a healthy ecosystem, decreases mosquito activity and is aesthetically pleasing,” says Tatarenko.  

“There are some fish in the pond that residents have brought in from other bodies of water, bass, sunnies, blue gills,” he adds. “We do allow fishing.” 

It was the fishing in the pond that had concerned AVM Founder Charlie Uhrmann years ago. 

“There’s bass and coy in there,” she says. “When people catch fish they eat the fish; children fish.” Chemicals dumped in the pond could contaminate the fish and destroy the chestnut. 

She was grateful when “They did put signs up that say catch and release,” she says. “You can’t eat the fish.”  

She had mentioned an idea of the fountain to the mayor, she says, and he told her he would look into it. She thought it would be a “nice” touch being right next to the AVM, and the new prayer garden that was just unveiled this past May. 

According to Tatarenko, it was Mt. Olive Twp. Mayor Rob Greenbaum’s suggestion to move forward with the fountain.  

“I walk the park every morning,” says Greenbaum. HE says, he “thought the fountain would be aesthetically pleasing and help with the algae growth.” 

Uhrmann was most pleased when she learned about the fountain addition. 

“I’m so glad,” says Uhrmann. “I asked for the fountain in February. “It’s adjacent to the AVM, but not part of it. We asked the town to add it; we wanted it for the dedication of the Prayer Garden. 

“I’m delighted that it’s there,” she adds. “We did have a problem with the chestnut and algae. I’m just happy as can be that it’s in.” 

Thinking about the POW/MIA 24-hour Vigil, and the fountain running, she says “It will really give it life. I’m ecstatic that it’s in.”   

A bit modest that it was the AVM that sparked the donation, she says “I’m happy the AVM continues to move and inspire people. That was the intent; that’s why we built it.”   

Health & Wellness Center Update 

The township is moving along with its plans for a new Health & Wellness Center as an addition to the existing Senior Center.  

Tatarenko updates the township of its progress at last month’s meeting. 

Its original plan for one level has grown into possible plans to add a second level to expand recreational space to residents. 

“A Steering Committee was put together and the topic of a second floor and basement came up that now is the time to maximize the space,” he says. 

“It is anticipated now that the second level would be used for indoor recreational activities/programing,” he says.  

“The cost is still be developed but current estimates are between $1.8 million- $3.6 million,” he adds. “The lower end of the price range was for a one-story building, the high end included the second floor but I don’t have a price yet with the basement.”  

He says once he has “a more definitive plan” he will present it to the council.  

Funds for this project could come from a partial grant as well as the township budget.  

“No funds have been committed to this project yet; a grant has been applied for in the amount of $1.9 million,” says Tatarenko. “If the Mayor/Council decide to move forward with this project it would be bonded for in the upcoming budget.” 

If all goes according to plan, this new center can become reality next year. 

“Final plans should be ready this year and construction can start as early as next spring,” says Tatarenko.  

Booth Restrictions 

Booths organized at recreational events in town have been restricted to businesses only.  

The new restriction was raised at the Aug. 9 council meeting by a local resident during the public portion of the meeting. 

Budd Lake resident Irene Sergonis mentions how she has lived here for years and was never restricted in hosting booths. She is an active member of the Mt. Olive Democrats, a non-profit organization. 

“I’ve lived here for 42 years,” she says. “We used to have community fairs to host booths. Right now we are limited to get access to put out our message. I really don’t think it’s fair.”  

She says Mt. Olive Democrats is a voluntary association. “We have a hard time reaching people.”  

Sergonis suggests that “maybe we can a have a separate area for non-profits? This is something we could look into.” 

During an interview with “Mt. Olive Online,” Sergonis provides more insight into her concern.  

She says Mt. Olive Democrats “started hosting booths at the 2017 Carnival and since then have hosted booths at the Carnival, Food Truck & Fireworks Festival, Sesquicentennial Bash and Oktoberfest. We missed hosting at Carnival in 2020 because of Covid.  There were no vendor booths for the Carnival in 2021 and I was informed that the town will no longer have vendor booths at the Carnival when I asked to reserve a spot for 2022 but that we could apply for other events.   We last hosted a booth at the Block Party in June 2022.” 

She says she “emailed Recreation Department in beginning of August to reserve a spot for the Food Trucks & Fireworks Festival and Oktoberfest and was informed that only businesses could host a booth as directed by the Mayor and Administration.”
Mt. Olive Twp. Council Vice President Alex Roman was unfamiliar with the new restrictions and expresses his dissatisfaction. 

“This is the first time I’m hearing about this,” says Roman during the meeting. “I’d like to know when this was decided?” 

Greenbaum says he made this decision and provides his reasoning: “At our events, we are not able to control the activities when opening it to non-profits.” He says there are “different types of groups which would take away that cohesiveness, so I excluded all non-profit groups.”  

Mt. Olive schools are back in session as students, teachers, staff and faculty returned to half days this past week and plan to return to full day after Labor Day on Tuesday, Sept. 6. 

First day was August 31, the earliest schools have ever started in the MOSD. 

While schools were off during the summer, school board leaders still gathered at their monthly meetings, hours on end, discussing a multitude of topics from the new scoreboard, gymnastics program, secretaries’ salaries, lack of school aids, building renovations, referendum for more space, personnel, legal issues and so much more.  

After filling up a notebook from issues, comments and debates, “Mt. Olive Online” focuses in on just a few in the story below. To catch up on those summer meetings, visit https://www.youtube.com/c/MtOliveTelevision

click on the meetings to watch or listen. 

Scoreboard 

Those who have been keeping score of the new scoreboard project at Mt. Olive High School know there have been two opponents: Those who disagree and question the spending- Vs.- those who support the “jumbotron” saying it is a win-win situation for MOSD. 

After all the back and forth, the latest news is the new scoreboard is in and working at the MOHS Marauder Dome.  

“It was delivered on Saturday morning,” says MOSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Zywicki during the August 22 BOE meeting. “It’s here. It’s going to be working Friday night” at the kickoff MOHS football game.    

“It’s eventually going to look like Giant Stadium,” he says, but for now it is a giant scoreboard, the “largest single screen scoreboard at a high school.” 

Down the road, MOHS students will be interviewing coaches and players on the field; there will be playbacks; announcements; advertisers; mini commercials and so much more. 

The scoreboard is the limit! 

“We’re gonna get there in six months,” he says. “We still gotta learn the system students will use the cameras and do on field interviews. Students in TV studio classes, marketing, economics and accounting will get to use real life skills through use of the scoreboard. 

“It’s going to be the kids running it,” says Zywicki. “It’s going to be embedded in our curriculum” and incorporate project-based learning. 

Zywicki provides some background of the scoreboard project. 

He says in 2019, he spoke to the Mt. Olive Chamber of Commerce so explore “how can we give back and support our kids?” 

The idea came up to bring back the Ed Foundation. Zywicki serves as the mediator aka “messenger boy” between the Ed Foundation and the BOE. 

At the January 2020 BOE budget meeting, the idea for the giant scoreboard was proposed and the BOE approved the project; but during the summer of 2021 the project was cancelled as a result of the pandemic. The Geodome “was the only project that went through.” 

Zywicki says “I killed the project in 2020 because of the pandemic.”  

That was when the Ed Foundation got on the scoreboard and offered to raise the funds through business sponsors to pay for the jumbotron, explains Zywicki. 

Faced with supply chain issues, however, Zywicki pushed out the completion of the project advising all that it should be in “by the last game” in October.  

“I like to under promise, and over deliver,” says Zywicki, and that he did. 

“But it’s here” now, he says surprisingly. 

The cost of the project is to be shared between the BOE and the Ed Foundation, which has a main purpose of supporting scholarships to students and teacher professional development. 

Two sets of funding are forthcoming from five to six companies “on deck” which proposed $50K in donations, totaling $300K; as well as the Chamber of Commerce willing to sponsor 60, 30-second advertisements funneling in $120K in revenue, Zywicki shares.  

The confusing part is that the BOE “was going to pay for it,” but then the volunteer group, the Ed Foundation, “stepped up to pay for it.”  

MOSD “still owns the asset” of the scoreboard, and the Ed Foundation is paying the district back for any expenses it has to concur until sponsorship monies and advertisers are finalized.  

“We are purchasing it and then the Ed Foundation is collecting donations,” he says. 

“Just like the dome, it will take time “to make revenue from the scoreboard,” explains BOE member Dr. Anthony Giordano at the July 25 meeting. “The contract says we split proceeds 50/50, but we have a safety net; if foundation missed a payment, we pay it.”   

“I have not been a fan since day one because of the cost to the taxpayers,” says BOE member Dr. Antoine Gayles at the July 25 meeting. Cost for the scoreboard originally came in at $450K and “we were told we’d get huge donations from community businesses. We also asked for letters of intent from hundreds and hundreds of advertisers who wanted to advertise. We don’t have letters of intent from these advertisers. 

“Coming out of COVID, I didn’t think it was fair that this board would lay that kind of burden on the taxpayer; yet we are saying we’re going to make payment,” says Gayles. “I don’t think that’s the right way to do business.”    

“The real problem is we need a scoreboard,” BOE member Lisa Fenton says at the July 25 meeting. As a sports mom, she says, “I don’t need a grandstand score board,” but with the one that was there “it’s hard to see the score.”    

“I respect what you are saying,” says BOE member Chris Zeier, “but things change; I regret voting for it. It’s when you buy something under a pretense which you specifically sold and none of that is coming true. I voted yes, I’m angry at myself.”  

Adds BOE member Bill Robinson: “The Ed Foundation really hasn’t raised any money, not the kind of money we are talking about. They do get donations. We’re expecting $400K in donations from one entity. It’s important because it looks nice but I don’t know how much we will make as far as ads are concerned. 

“We should look at it long and hard again now that we’re getting back to some normalcy,” says Robinson.  “Ed Foundation was always for the students; it was not meant to raise money for this. We’re not going to get that kind of money from the Ed Foundation; it should stay raising money for students.”   

During the public portion, Karen Fiumara of Flanders expresses her concern over the scoreboard purchase. She thanks Gayles and Zeier “for continuing to speak up about a substantial amount of money that has been evaded.” 

Fiumara questions the BOE on how many donations have been made for the scoreboard? How much is in the Ed Foundation? And if the scoreboard has been purchased? 

She says, “As a parent and not particularly a Mt. Olive sports parent, it seems like an extraordinary amount of money with a lot of glitz and glamour. I take issue with things being sold with taxpayers’ dollars. 

“I would like to know how much it would cost to tell a couple of teenagers to flip the boards like they used to when I was in school,” says Fiumara. “We’re arguing over hundreds of thousands of dollars for a scoreboard that could be minimized, that doesn’t need to be the most exaggerated thing in 50 miles for high school sports. 

“This is ridiculous and we are paying for it,” says Fiumara. “Please, please, please get the answers that have been asked before you move forward any further.”        

To provide some clarity to these concerns, Brian Schaechter of Flanders, who is a former BOE member and previous president of the Ed Foundation, explains the  role of the Ed Foundation and support of the scoreboard.    

Schaechter explains that the Ed Foundation serves as a revenue generator for scholarships. He says “nothing was evaded” with the foundation’s plan to fund the scoreboard. 

He says the scoreboard was delayed six to eight months because of the supply chain issues. A shovel was not even placed into the ground for the electrical work. 

“You’re asking someone to sell advertising space in vaporware,” says Schaechter. “You guys got to stop picking on the Ed Foundation when their cause is strictly to give scholarships. 

“Help support the Ed Foundation; don’t trash it,” says Schaechter. “You trash it; there’s a lot of misinformation.” 

The deal is: “There is an agreement,” says Schachter. “It’s an asset owned by the board of education. You get to keep it. It doesn’t fold up and move. It is here for the people of Mt. Olive…just like all of the other assets of Mt. Olive.”  

He says, when it shows up there will be a sponsorship by a large company as well as several other people, says Schachter.  

“You’re not entitled for letters of intent,” concludes Schaechter. “Stop asking for them. You’re just not entitled to it.”    

Ed Foundation President Howie Weiss provides a clearer explanation during a telephone interview with “Mt. Olive Online.” 

“Mt. Olive is so fortunate” to have the Ed Foundation, says Weiss, frustrated by the lack of support by some BOE members. “Their obstacles are not slowing us down.”  

The benefit of the Ed Foundation is “it’s a source of revenue; source of income,” says Weiss. It supports scholarships and last year gave out three; two went to graduating high school students and the other to a nurse to pay for her attendance on a Holocaust trip. 

In regard to the $400K to pay for the scoreboard, Weiss says “we have the support; we are in contract with folks. Burden to taxpayers is short.”  

He says half of the project expense was already committed before the scoreboard had electricity. 

“Big time corporations for a four to five year commitment,” plan to support the scoreboard, says Weis.   

In addition, the educational benefit to students such as those taking TV production, or marketing and creating ads; students acting like reporters… “it’s endless,” says Weiss.  

The opportunity for advertising can be at football games, cheerleader and band competitions, graduation ceremonies, Weiss continues. 

“That scoreboard can be operational, producing funds for 40 years,” he says. “It’s going to pay for itself and then make money. There’s no downside to this. Every single nickel going back to the children in scholarships,” not just for high school, but all kids grades K-12.   

“For Board of Education not supporting this, is insulting,” says Weiss. “I’m thankful the BOE agreed to do this but we need their support. They made their commitment to move forward with this.” 

He says the only obligation of the Ed Foundation to the BOE is to report the finances involving the scoreboard once a year in August, once the funds are collected. 

“I’m not going to destroy this effort,” says Weiss. “I’m not letting anyone derail me. We are marching full steam ahead. 

“We are so excited about this scoreboard,” says Weiss, whose children attended the MOSD schools years ago. “My effort is to see this project through…to be able to give back. I’m going to see this through. 

“We’re going to continue to do what we do,” concludes Weiss, “because we’re doing the best for the kids.”