Egg Harbor Towhship

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The Tuesday, March 25, 2008 Board of Education (BOE) meeting was brief but important. Dr. Heery gave a presentation on the proposed 2008-2009 School Budget. There were 7 people in the audience; 2 reporters, 1 Central office employee, 2 people who attended the budget process (including myself) and 2 people who came to hear what the Superintendent had to say. I find this sad that a community that complains about the taxes shows so little interest in how a major portion of our taxes are being spent.

It’s no surprise that our district has grown 34.7% in the last 7 years. Even with the building slow down, there was a increase of 339 students between 10/15/07 and 10/15/08.  We have the “honor” of being the second largest growth district in the state. It is estimated that the district will add 353 new students next year.

The proposed budget was decreased by 6 million dollars and isn’t even at the cap allowed by the state as the goal of the budget process was to keep the tax increase as low as possible. The proposed per pupil cost only increased by one dollar over last year. Out of the 104 similar K-12 districts in the state, 85 spend more than our district.

What about the 6.5 million the district received in aid? 5.3 million will be eaten up by the increased costs for contractual salaries, health benefits, pension contributions, social security taxes, insurances( liability, property, auto, student accident), utilities, and diesel fuel. It costs $470,596 to send 74 students to the Atlantic County Vo-tech alone. It’s another $1,859,854 to send students to the Atlantic County Special Services Schools. Education of a student in juvenile detention facility costs the district $207,333. I could go on and on.

If you’re interested in the actual costs for the 07-08 budget and the proposed budget by categories, visit the school website at eht.k12.nj.us, click on district resources, and then on User Friendly Budget Advisement under the N-Z column. Voter registration and voter absentee ballot forms are also downloadable from the N-Z column.

Starting April 1st, a presentation of the proposed budget and information on the separate question will be seen on EHT TV or channel 2 at 6, noon, and again at 6 PM.

The vote will be held on Tuesday, April 15. It’s always the 3rd Tuesday in April as dictated by the state. You will vote on the proposed school budget and also on the separate question which deals with 39 projects for a cost of $27,925,041.00 but the state will pay $15,559,671 if it is voter approved. If not, many of these repairs and projects can not be put off any more and will cost the district full value. Some of these projects include replacing the original boilers at Slaybaugh and Davenport, HVAC upgrades, solar panels for all schools except Eagle Academy, security upgrades, roof repairs and other maintenance repairs.

There were no questions or comments from the public during the public portion of the BOE meeting.

Under personnel:

·        Susan Connor Zaccagnino was approved as an Assistant Girls Lacrosse volunteer

·        John Morrison was approved as an Assistant Boys Track Volunteer

·        Nicole Salvia is replacing D. Kelusak who resigned as Head Coach Girls Track at the Alder Ave. Middle School.

·        Jennifer Martin, Social Worker at the Alder Ave. Middle School, revised her maternity leave from 4/7 to 3/31/08.

·        Noelle Caucci, Advanced Science at Alder Ave. Middle School, will be on maternity leave beginning 5/12 and will return 8/2/08.

·        Karen Throckmorton, Remedial Services at Slaybaugh Primary, submitted her letter of retirement, effective 7/1/08.

·        Vici Butler, Music at Slaybaugh Elementary, submitted her letter of retirement, effective 7/1/08.

Candidate’s Night is Thursday, April 3rd at 7 PM in the BOE room of the Alder Ave. Middle School. This is an opportunity to help you decide who you’d like to represent you on the BOE. Members of the audience will write their questions to all candidates or an individual candidate which will be collected and given to a moderator to read. Mary Anne Spiker, Jack Haines, and Pete Castellano are running for re-election while Ted Pugliese and Ed Bonek are newcomers. If you have questions but are unable to attend, please email them to me at SRfromEHT@aol.com or call 653-2009.

      The next BOE meeting will be April 8th at 8 PM in the Alder Ave. Middle School BOE room. The other BOE meeting in April will be on the 22nd.  The BOE meeting are the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month.

            Please mark your calendar and remember to vote on April 15th.

                       

 

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