School Elections: The OPS Budget and Candidates

• During the week, each day we'll bring you a recap of the local school budget, the funding formula referendum, and BOE candidates. Today, we start with the Oradell Public School budget and uncontested Board of Education race.

The budget: $10,097,001

The tax levy: $9,653,205 (under new mandated 2% cap)

The effect on the taxpayer: $64.91 per household for the year (based on average assessed home of $531,810)

If approved what it includes: new instructional materials for language arts; new math and science standards implemented, advancement of curriculum and professional development

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In an uncontested race for the three three-year terms are Gregory Darien, Rita Walker and John Samuel while Katherine Norian runs for the open one-year term.

joined the Board in February to fill the vacancy left by Garrie Murphy. A resident since 2008, Derian has a degree in decision theory from Georgia State University and an architectural degree from California. He is employed with UPS in system development.

Walker was appointed to the board in September after Michael Gardner left for the River Dell Regional board. A former teacher in Alpine, Walker has been involved in education for 36 years. She holds a master's degree from William Paterson University.

Elected to the Board in 2008, Samuel is the CIO and EVP of Club ABC Tours. A former electrical engineer for Raytheon and  technology consultant for Forsythe & Lincoln, he oversees the Operations and Membership Services departments. Samuel holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Manhattan College.

Norian has been involved with both the Oradell and River Dell Boards of Education for over 20 years. She works with the Bergen County Volunteer Center.