Red Bank residents at Wednesday night’s presentation on the borough school district budget, led by Superintendent Laura Morana, below. (Click to enlarge)

Hoping to whip up support for a spending plan crafted in the midst of what Superintendent Laura Morana called “incredibly devastating” cuts in state aid, Red Bank school officials brought their mini roadshow on this year’s proposed budget to voters again last night.

Appearing at the River Street Commons senior citizens’ center — once, the River Street School — Morana sought to demonstrate that her administration built its $19 million spending plan from the ground up, with an eye toward maintaining the quality of education for the two-school district.

The spending plan goes before voters next Tuesday. Bottom line, for the owner of a home assessed at the borough-average $405,000: a 3.75 percent tax increase of $77.78, or $6.49 per month.

Morana and administrator Annie Darrow fielded questions on population growth projections, curriculum choices, and the decision to cut athletic programs, which William Poku, speaking for the borough chapter of the NAACP, urged Morana to reconsider.

“Tough decisions needed to be made,” Morana said, adding that she hoped to land grants to restore some of the activities.

The forum, sponsored by the Westside Community Group, attracted about a dozen residents.

Also in attendance were school board members Ben Forest, who is the only candidate on the ballot for three available seats; Marjorie Lowe, who said she was asking voters to return her to the board as a write-in candidate; and Peter Noble.

Polling stations will be open from 2 to 9p Tuesday.

Here’s general info on school board elections: school-boards-election-faq