BY PATRICIA KELLER
WEST MILFORD — The proposed total budget for the 2015-2016 school year for the West Milford Township School District is $75,545,363, an increase of $1,244.438 from the current year's budget. That translates into an increase of $98.06 for the owner of the average home in the district assessed at $247,000. That average homeowner will pay $4,878.25 in school taxes next year.
The total budget includes the general fund, special revenue and debt service. The general fund is where the bulk of the expenditures are. Programs, extracurriculars, benefits and transportation are all included in the general fund. Revenue for the general fund comes from taxes, state aid, tuition, fund balances and reserves.
The amount that will be raised by taxes for the general fund is $54,103,694.
West Milford Township Public Schools Interim Superintendent Anthony Riscica and Business Administrator/Board Secretary Barbara Francisco presented the district’s 2015-2016 Preliminary Budget at the board of education workshop meeting this past Tuesday, March 17.
Riscica said the 2015-2016 Preliminary Budget was created based upon district goals and student needs and performance for the approximately 3,400 students in the district’s nine schools, including Highlander Academy.
What's newNew budget items for 2015-2016 include:
implementation of a program for children with autism for students in PreK through grade 2
hiring a behaviorist for district-wide special education programs
increasing Community Based Instruction (CBI)/ Structured Learning Experience at the high school (traditional work-study program for special ed students)
new course electives at high school and Macopin School
increasing teacher use of Google Apps for Education
phasing in STEM program at Macopin School
wireless upgrades (if E-rate funding is available).
Capital projects planned include:
boiler replacements at Westbrook and Paradise Knoll elementary schools, 40 percent of which will be paid by state grants
upgrades for two science rooms to prepare for new requirements
roof replacement at Westbrook School
replacement of front steps at the high school
repairs/repaving of various parking lots.
New state standards for science on the horizon
Supervisor of Science Eric Siegal gave a presentation of new state standards for science that include more physical science, a new emphasis on engineering, and involve a more rigorous, hands-on approach for better understanding and application of science.
Over a five-year cycle, students will be expected to be able to demonstrate, build, design, create and model scientific concepts. Updated science lab space and equipment will be needed to address the new engineering component. More opportunities for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs are being developed through relationships with local colleges and universities to support STEM in after school and weekend programs for middle and high school students, and in-school programs are being developed for elementary students.
Siegal reported that STEM classrooms are being built in other school districts to address these changes in order to better meet the needs of students. School board Trustee Inga Koeppe said that the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA) is holding seminars on STEM for board members to gain a better understanding of it.
Another decline in enrollmentWith projected enrollment for the 2015-2016 year at approximately 3,600 students, there are about 60 fewer students expected than in this current year, showing that enrollment numbers have decreased for the fourth consecutive year. Francisco said that despite the decline in enrollment, more specialized classrooms and smaller classes are being utilized. The goal is set on increasing student academic achievement district wide, as well as increasing teacher and student use of technology in classrooms to meet the evolving educational needs of students. The upgrades in technology and infrastructure required by new and recent state mandated programs and assessments are also more costly per student, she added.
Trustees discuss budget, bonding
Trustee Steven Drew proposed an amendment that the board bond for the proposed capital projects instead of paying for them with the excess surplus funds that are slated in the budget. He suggested the district use the excess surplus funds for programming n place of the tax levy increase.
Francisco said the excess surplus is from unanticipated revenue and savings on previously budgeted items and must be spent within the next budget year. It was recommended by the district's auditors that the excess surplus be used for one-time major and capital improvement projects rather than for programming since programming must be funded consistently each year in order to sustain it. Without a guarantee that the same amount of money will be available the following year, any programs funded by the surplus would be in jeopardy of being cut.
In addition, Francisco said a bond referendum would take months to put together for a public vote. The process would delay repairs for up to two years.
Board attorney Joseph Roselle confirmed that bond referendums may be presented five times per year, with the next probable date not until December. Trustee Inga Koeppe said if the bond referendum failed, cuts would have to be made to programs in order to cover the maintenance and replacement costs of the building repairs.
Drew said he felt the board was going with the 2 percent cap because that's the limit allowed by law. Francisco said they were very conscious of concerns for taxpayers and are seeking only what is needed to maintain and grow programs at minimal cost.
The board voted on Drew's amendment and it failed with a vote of 5-2, with Drew and Trustee Jim Foody voting in favor of a bond. Trustees Greg Bailey, Kevin Babbitt, Debbie O'Brien, Marilyn Schultz and Koeppe voting against it. Trustees James Devor and Rodney Robbins were not present.
The board approved the preliminary budget with the same 5-2 voting result, this time with Drew and Foody voting against it.
What's nextState and federal funding amounts will not be announced until June. However, final budgets must be submitted by districts in April/May. The preliminary budget must be sent to the executive county superintendent this week for approval, but the board can amend the budget up until the final budget is presented at the public hearing, which is set for April 28.