The Weehawken Board of Education at its meeting on Wednesday introduced a $23.6 million budget for the next school year. Now, it must be approved by the acting executive county superintendent of schools, then presented at a public hearing for a final board vote, and voted on by town residents in April as part of annual school board elections.
Board officials said last week that they will not yet move the school board elections from April to November, as some other towns recently have done. A new state law gives towns that option. However, the board may consider the change for after this year.
The total anticipated school budget for 2012-2013 is $23.6 million, which reflects a net spending increase of approximately $633,000 from last year, according to the school district budget statement.
The increase in the tax levy (the total amount of taxes funding the budget) is 2.3 percent. The proposed tax levy is $17 million, which is approximately $383,238 more than the current school year.
“There’s not too much fluff in this budget,” Board President Richard Barsa said at the meeting. “It’s a pretty simple forecast of what we should expect.”
“The budget doesn’t reflect any cuts in programs,” Superintendent of Schools Kevin McLellan said at the meeting. “That’s a monumental task in this day and age.”
Explanation of spending increase
The 2012-2013 budget increase of $633,000 is a net sum that takes into account both anticipated increases and decreases is spending for the upcoming school year, said Barsa.
Significant increases include:
-Salary increases. Teachers received a two percent raise across the board, according to McLellan, and this is reflected in a total salary increase of $150,000. Administrative employee salaries are still being negotiated. However, some costs will be cut, McLellan said; for instance, this year, one teacher with a $95,000 annual salary is leaving and will not be replaced.
-Health benefits. Health benefits for school employees will require a $226,520 increase in spending, but as employees will be required to contribute more and more over the next few years, that number will come down, McLellan said. He also said that health benefit costs have gone up between 20 and 25 percent.
-Special education. There will be a $215,000 increase for special education tuition, and $60,000 for the hiring of a new special education teacher. The tuition increase accounts both for students already within the district, and for the possibility that new students with special needs might come into the district next year. A new special education teacher will be hired for Webster School (one was hired for Roosevelt last year).
-New science textbooks. The board anticipates $50,000 for an overdue update of the school’s kindergarten through 12th grade science textbooks. The district is actually participating in a program to create science textbooks “tailored to N.J. core standards, but also to the county’s needs,” McLellan said. Weehawken and countywide school administrators are in the process of meeting with Houghton Mifflin to produce these tailor-made textbooks. If they are purchased as a county, they will receive significant savings, he added.
-Smart boards. $45,000 has been proposed for the purchase of new Smart Boards, or, white boards that are computer and internet compatible. “In these modern times, this is a necessity, not a luxury,” Barsa said.
“The budget doesn’t reflect any cuts in programs.” – Kevin McLellan
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How they will pay
Besides taxes, the budget will be funded with $2.9 million in state aid. This is $125,725 more than last year.
“It’s great to get increased state aid,” McLellan said, “But let’s put it in perspective. Two years ago we lost $1.5 million.”
Tuition will also help pay for the budget. Several out-of-district students pay for the privilege to attend Weehawken schools, and this tuition is anticipated to contribute $26,400 more than last year.
The district also has some surplus funds it can use.
The school budget, if approved by the county, will be presented in a public hearing on Thursday, March 29 at 7 p.m. in the Board of Education office at Memorial High School located at 53 Liberty Place.
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