The Board concluded a review process that began last September and adopted a 2010-11 school budget that represents a decrease in budget-to-budget expenditures, a decrease in the tax levy, and a decrease in the tax rate borne by community taxpayers. The process encompassed a series of formal school program reviews this past fall and ended with several meetings with extensive public commentary. The end product strikes a balance between core district values, such as maintaining favorable class size, and the fiscal realities that affect everyone in the nation.
Core elements of our school program have been reaffirmed and remain unchanged. The 2010-11 school budget maintains class sizes in the low twenties and academic support services (“skills classes’) in small groups. Cherished field trips to the farm, Philadelphia, Williamsburg, and Washington will continue. The Middle School will still offer a full range of modified sports for all interested students. The budget also sustains elective opportunities and extra time for science instruction at the High School. All in all, we have been able to keep our promise to “bring out the best in each student” by supporting a comprehensive range of programs and services.
Yet this significant reduction in expenditures involves difficulty and pain. After a careful review, the Board has determined that partial outsourcing of custodial services presents significant economic advantages ($320,000) and can also meet our standards for quality, flexibility, security, and safety. We expect to award a bid for these services later this spring. Focusing on non-instructional areas, the Board has also asked the administration to trim the clerical workforce by at least 2.7 positions. Other cuts include a 10% reduction in equipment, supplies, and textbook accounts; combining certain 6-12 curriculum leader and team leader positions; eliminating assistant coach positions in modified basketball, lacrosse, and field hockey; and consolidating club advisers at the high school. In these areas, the level of supervision may change, but the full range of options for students will continue. The approved budget also incorporates a discontinuation of the Foreign Language in the Elementary School program.
The Board acknowledged two specific efforts to address budget challenges. Board member Tom Kenney thanked the administrators for their voluntary giveback of a 3.75% raise in 2010-2011. Board President Rick Rugani expressed regret for some public remarks at the March meeting that singled out the secretarial staff. He went on to introduce a retirement incentive designed to offset potential reductions in force in the clerical unit. The Board adopted the incentive plan.
Superintendent David Quattrone thanked the Board for its efforts to maintain unified community support through many public sessions and conversations with constituents. At the end of a comprehensive review process, the Board of Education presents the community with a budget that acknowledges the financial difficulties that surround us and at the same time protects the instructional core – academic challenge for all, a full range of opportunities to develop individual talents, and support and preventive approaches to ensure success for all learners.
The most recent budget presentation can be found here.
