Monmouth Regional High School, which educates students from the towns of Tinton Falls, Shrewsbury Township and Eatontown, had its $25.4million spending plan voted down in the April 15 election.Of the 1,954 residentswho came out to vote at the polls, 51.04 percent voted no on the 2008-09 school budget.

Business Administrator Maria Parry said that Eatontown and Shrewsbury Township were the towns that voted against the budget.

"I think sometimes people take their frustrations out on the school budgets because it's one of the few budgets that can be voted on," Parry said.

She added thatMonmouth Regional had faced a similarly close vote for the 2007-08 budget, but had been able to see that budget passed.

There will be a meeting with the municipalities to decide if cutswill bemade aswell as howmuch to cut, and the budgetmust be settled by the May 19 statutory date, Parry said. Three three-year-termseats and one twoyear term seat were decided by the school board elections for the Monmouth Regional school district. JoEllen Wernikowski won 56.5 percent of 970 votes cast to represent Tinton Falls for a three-year term. For Eatontown, Joseph P. Gaetano won a threeyear seat on the board with 52.2 percent of 607 votes. Mary Anne Linder was also elected to represent Eatontown, filling an unexpired two-year term with 60.4 percent of 553 votes. Steven B. Seavey ran uncontested for a three-year term to represent Shrewsbury and received 53 votes.

Shrewsbury Township and Tinton Falls voters additionally cast their ballots for the Tinton Falls Public School District to approve a $17,580,444 tax levy and a $28.2 million spending plan for 2008-09with 55.56 percent of 1,303 residents voting yes.

Five contestants ran for the four open seats on the Tinton Falls Board of Education, which was composed of three threeyear terms and one one-year unexpired term. NicoleAlfano was elected to fulfill the one-year term,winning 57.39 percent of 988 voters cast.Board President PeterKaravites and Steven Schertz ran uncontested for full terms to represent Tinton Falls. Tracey Johnson also ran uncontested for a threeyear term to represent Shrewsbury Township.

Oceanport residents accepted a school tax levy of $7,256,612 and an $8.7 million spending plan for the Oceanport Public SchoolDistrictwith 61.34 percent of 554 voters approving the spending plan.

Board PresidentRichardMcKenna along withRobertHuber and ChristopherMcCrae ran uncontested to retain their seats on the Oceanport Board of Education.

The Fair Haven Public School District sawits local tax levy of $10,556,142 and total budget of $11.5 million approved by 59.06 percent of the 342 residents who cast votes.

Current board members Lee Clay, Kelly Zaccharo andMary Chiarella all ran uncontested to hold on to their seats on the Board of Education.