Dear Editor:
I ask all members of the public to join with me and the Hoboken Board of Education in support of the school budget on Tuesday, April 21.
For the last two years the board has worked closely with the superintendent to present to the voters a good budget, a budget that is responsible and works to right size the district’s staff and expenditures. This budget provides the resources for a high quality education for our students and reasonable growth for our taxpayers.
The budget for next year reflects a decrease of 2.81 percent in the tax rate. This decrease in the tax rate was achieved by cutting expenses. The cuts include the elimination of nearly 20 positions to make sure the district is correctly staffed. The budget also reflects funding for new programs throughout the district, including peer-leadership training in the middle schools, increased offerings in Saturday U and the Johns Hopkins program, Read 180, Lit Life and new electives in the high school. This budget reflects hard work aimed at controlling spending. With your support that hard word will continue as we move into the future.
Please join me in voting Yes for the school budget on Tuesday, April 21. Polls are open from 2 to 9 p.m. Thank you.
James Farina
Member, Hoboken Board of Education