James DeStefano EAST BRUNSWICK — Saying it's time for changes, a new slate of candidates is looking to unseat three incumbents on the Board of Education.

Gene Ryan, James DeStefano and Joseph Grekoski are running together and have established a campaign headquarters at 3 Lexington Ave. in the Lexington Downs Shopping Center.

"The Board of Education cannot continue down the path they have chosen for themselves. There has to be some sense of accountability to the people that elected them," Ryan said in a press release.

Ryan, who owns a real estate business, served a two-year term on the board from 2006-08. He said that while he supports the students and schools, he feels the board "needs a fresh set of eyes." He cited a growing number of administrators and increasing salaries, but said test scores have not been positively affected. He also said he wants to establish a clear set of criteria for awarding raises.

He said the board is straining taxpayers.

"We have a jar that can only be filled with so much," he said. Changes need to be made, he added, "but I don't think the board is up to making those changes."

Gene Ryan DeStefano, a former East Brunswick student now attending law school, said he wants to give back to the community. While he said he received a great education in East Brunswick, he also feels the administration is not making "fiscally sound decisions," and that spending is driving residents out of the township.

"I want to make East Brunswick affordable," he said.

DeStefano said the biggest change he would face as a board member is creating a sound budget while the state is in the mid of economic turmoil.

"I want to put money back in the classrooms," he said.

He believes the district needs to become more frugal.

"There is a different between needs and wants," he said.

The team has criticized the contract awarded last year to Superintendent of Schools Jo Ann Magistro as overcompensating her at a time when the economy is in tatters.

Grekoski previously served on the South River Board of Education and moved to East Brunswick about 15 years ago. A police sergeant in South River, Grekoski said he is running to improve the quality of education without putting excess strain on taxpayers.

Joseph Grekoski "It's very extravagant," he said of the board's spending, adding that he has seen his taxes nearly triple while he's resided in the township. In addition, he noted, parents now have to pay for extracurricular

activities. He said that every time the school budget is defeated, the district seems to "punish" parents by making them pay for things such as clubs and sports.

He said the child nutrition program is running in the red, and the district needs to act faster to bring Memorial School students back into East Brunswick.

The biggest challenge he would face if elected is making sure money is used for instruction, not other areas, he said.