Comet Spinner Wins by a Landslide in Jefferson School Election

While their moms, dads and other grown-ups went to the polls Tuesday for the November General Election, students in West Caldwell were learning the results of their own election.

This is the third year students in first through fifth grade have had the opportunity to vote on something meaningful to them. This year, the stakes were high, as voters were allowed to choose among three options for a piece of playground equipment.

Essex County Clerk Christopher Durkin, who lives in West Caldwell, and his staff brought a real voting machine to the school Friday and children were instructed on how to use it to cast their votes for a District 4 Freeholder, which song to perform at the holiday concert and which piece of playground equipment to buy with funds raised at last year's Tricky Tray.

An overwhelming majority of students chose the Comet Spinner as a new piece of equipment to be installed in their playground. A total of 216 votes went to the Comet Spinner, with the KidForce Spinner Seat receiving 24 votes and 23 votes going to a Drum Table. See a video clip of the Comet Spinner here.

Funding for the playground equipment was made possible from proceeds from the Jefferson Home and School Association (H.S.A.) Tricky Tray fundraiser held last year. Additional money from the fundraiser went to document cameras and overhead projectors for the classrooms, indoor and additional outdoor recess equipment and mini-grants for Jefferson staff members to spend on classroom resources.

In addition, Jefferson’s music teacher, Elsie Timpson, offered the students a chance to vote on the song to be performed at the holiday concert. The kids chose “Jingle Bell Rock” over three other options.

Of course it wouldn’t be an election without politicians. Because the school serves students in both Caldwell and West Caldwell, it was decided to have the students vote for their choice for District 4 Freeholder. Republican Joseph Chiusolo beat out West Caldwell resident and Democrat Leonard Luciano.

To get into the spirit of the election, students "campaigned" with a poster contest. The Jefferson School staff prepared the students for the election.

Durkin also gave each voter a pen commemorating the event. The pens say, “I voted Jefferson School Jaguars November 4, 2011.”

The students voted throughout the day and celebrated when the results were announced by Principal Timothy Ayers.

Here are the results of the 263 ballots cast in order of number of votes:

Question #1: Your Choice for District 4 Freeholder
Joseph Chiusolo (R)    144
Leonard Luciano (D)   102

Question #2:  Your Choice for Song Students will Perform at Holiday Concert
Jingle Bell Rock    137
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree    92
Up on the Housetop    22
Jolly Old St. Nicholas    11

Question #3: Your Choice of Playground Equipment
Comet Spinner    216
KidForce Spinner Seat    24
Drum Table    23