Facing possible extreme cuts next week, the Board of Education amended its 2009-2010 budget to reflect changes imposed by the county superintendent of schools.
Working to meet tight deadlines because the state had been late in announcing aid to the school district, school trustees passed a $122 million budget that may face heavy cuts when it is reviewed by the Board of School Estimate at the April 2 meeting.
Mayor Mark Smith has said his aim is to keep taxes from rising this year.
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Since Mayor Mark Smith has said his aim is to keep taxes from rising this year, School Board President William Lawson said he expects Smith – who heads the Board of School Estimate – to impose cuts.
In passing the budget, the board attempted to pass a separate addendum to cover a $1.5 million insurance increase. But the county superintendent said the increase needed to be included within the budget. However, Bayonne was allowed to break out other items in an addendum to the budget to cover the purchase and replacement of textbooks, lunch duty, teachers’ salaries, capital outlay, sports programs and salaries for technology teachers.
Business Administrator Clifford Doll said because Bayonne Medical Center is no longer in contract with Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the district premiums have skyrocketed.
Doll said he tried to reach out to the one insurance company still doing business with the hospital, only to learn that the hospital intends to cancel that contract as well.
Under Horizon, the per day hospital cost for school employees using the hospital was $1,200. Without the contract, the school district could face a cost of as much as $11,000 per day.
Although BMC has assured the school district that employees will pay the same out-of-pocket expenses as they would if under contract with an insurance provider, Doll said discussions with the hospital over setting a specific rate have not been fruitful, and that the district’s cost for Horizon has jumped because of the number of employees using the hospital.
Because the county superintendent of schools needed to review the budget, the Bayonne trustees passed the budget on March 12, which includes a variety of items such as a possible addition of a fourth grade level to Public School No. 14.
Prior to last year, P.S. No. 14 served as the district’s “gifted and talented” school. But with the construction of a new building with additional room, the school has also taken on the function as a neighborhood school. The district intended to add a grade each year until the school accommodated pre-k through eighth grades the way other neighborhood schools currently do.
Although most of the trip costs were covered by grants, board approval is needed to cover expenses to send one teacher to New Orleans for the National After School Conference on April 2, and another teacher to the BOOST Conference in Palm Springs on April 22.
The board was also being asked to pay for expenses of about 18 school staff members for a Spring Training Institute trip to Atlantic City on April 23 and 24.
Schools Superintendent Dr. Patricia McGeehan said the trips to New Orleans and Palm Springs are paid for out of grant money received, and attendance at the event is required as part of receiving the grant. If a person doesn’t go, the district loses the grant
In passing the budget last month, the trustees said delaying the addition of a fourth grade is possible for reducing costs. At the March 26 meeting, however, trustees voted to fund possible interview sessions for the potential hiring of teachers for the fourth grade.
Business Administrator Clifford Doll said that if the board decides not to start up the fourth grade program, the interviews will not be conducted, and the funds set aside for the interviews would remain in the salary line item of the budget unspent.
Another area the board is considering are the all-day pre-k programs, returning the district to a half-day program instead.
Other matters
At the pre-meeting caucus on March 26, Lawson asked to table several resolutions.
Lawson asked that the board seek an local alternative to a proposal in hiring a Jersey City police officer to provide an anti-drug program for the school district. He said he would rather hire someone local and perhaps at less of a cost.
Last year, the City of Bayonne did away with the Cops in Schools program, which included the D.A.R.E. anti-drug program.
“I know the funds for this come from a Municipal Alliance Grant,” he said. “But this doesn’t come around until next October and I would like to see if we can get someone local.”
Lawson also raised a red flag over several trips for teachers and others the board was asked to approve.
He said he objected to the late notice that put the board in a position to pass or reject these proposed trips without having had time for extensive discussion.
Although most of the trip costs were covered by grants, board approval is needed to cover expenses to send one teacher to New Orleans for the National After School Conference on April 2, and another teacher to the BOOST Conference in Palm Springs on April 22.
The board was also being asked to pay for expenses of about 18 school staff members for a Spring Training Institute trip to Atlantic City on April 23 and 24.
Schools Superintendent Dr. Patricia McGeehan said the trips to New Orleans and Palm Springs are paid for out of grant money received, and attendance at the event is required as part of receiving the grant. If a person doesn’t go, the district loses the grant.
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.