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Schools

5 Things You Need to Know About the 2011-12 School Budget

The Haddonfield school board discussed the outlook for another difficult school budget season.

1.       Superintendent Richard Perry presented potential budget implications that could mean as many as 10.5 faculty reductions in force, as well as increased class sizes across grades K-12 and reductions in programs, athletics and extracurricular activities. Perry emphasized that considerations were preliminary and did not involve specifics with regard to which programs and extracurricular activities may be affected. Potential faculty reductions could involve two high school content teachers, two middle school teachers—which would eliminate a grade level team—and a combination of six elementary level teachers, specials and education assistants.

2.      According to the borough, the 2010 school tax rate is $1.42. The average home in Haddonfield is assessed at $491,359 and pays about $7,000 in school tax annually.

The board can elect to keep the school budget flat or levy as much a 2 percent through taxes, which is the maximum allowed by the state for school boards. In the case of the average home, a 2 percent levy would increase school taxes by about $140.

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At this time the board has not determined a levy amount or reductions.

3.       The schedule for future budget talks and public presentation of the budget is now as follows:

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Gov. Chris Christie is expected to reveal his budget proposal for the State of New Jersey on Feb. 22. The board does not anticipate recovering any of the state aid lost last year and has projected no state aid funding in this year’s preliminary snapshot. Perry did, however include the same extraordinary aid granted Haddonfield from the state last year at $241,000 in this year’s projection. The best and worst case scenarios that Haddonfield has to consider are expected to be clarified by the governor’s proposal Feb. 22.

The Haddonfield Board of Education will meet to discuss the school budget (see haddonfield.k12.nj.us/newhomepage/new_home_page3.htm) on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the high school library.

The board will meet again on March 1 at 7:30 p.m. to finalize the budget, which is due to the county on March 4.

The public hearing for the budget is planned for March 24.

4.       A $77,000 tuition student shortfall was noted in the current budget. Efforts to address the situation by attracting new tuition students are well underway. Three new tuition students in the middle school started classes within the last month, reducing the deficit of five students in 2010-11. Five senior tuition students will graduate in June, upping the ante to 10 registrants needed by 2011-12 at a minimum.

 5.       Results from the board’s first tuition student Open House were positive with over 60 people in attendance. As stated, three new middle school students have already enrolled and started classes, six high school applications, 20 inquiries and three visitors for a day have been scheduled at the middle school. One other middle school registration for fall was noted. Annual tuition is currently set at $11,250 for high school students and $9,000 for middle schoolers. The possibility of future tuition breaks for siblings of full tuition registrants is a continuing conversation.  

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