Blairstown Township School District
Blairstown Elementary School Vail Pre‐School for the Handicapped
School Budget 2008 – 2009
PUBLIC HEARING March 27, 2008 7:30pm Blairstown Elementary School Library
Election Date April 15, 2008 2:00pm – 9:00pm
Community Center – Districts 1 and 5 Blairstown Municipal Building – Districts 2, 3, & 4 Blairstown Board of Education
Mr. Kenneth Bertholf, President Mr. Joshua Benson Mr. Rick Dieffenbach Ms. Dolores Lascari Ms. Maddie Merkle Ms. Betsy Reilly, Vice‐President Mr. Douglas Merkler Mr. John O’Toole Ms. Leslie Ruben Ms. Margaret McLain, Hardwick
ADMINISTRATION Mr. W. Michael Feeney, Superintendent Ms. Rosemary Goodman, Principal Ms. Jean Brown, Business Administrator
Blairstown Township School District School Budget Statement 2008 – 2009 The Blairstown Township Board of Education presents a grand total operating budget for 2008‐2009 in the amount of $8,332,649 with a tax levy increase of $81,519.00, 1.8% over 2007‐2008. The estimated tax increase is .9¢ per $100 assessed valuation. The Total General Current Expense increase is $533,683 (7%). One hundred forty thousand dollars ($140,000) has budgeted for out‐of‐district placements in 2008‐2009 for special needs students. This is a 100% increase over the 2007‐2008 budget. One additional teacher will be hired for 2008‐2009 to address needs in our special education program for children with learning disabilities. Two major capital projects are planned for 2008‐2009. Seventy eight thousand dollars ($78,000) is dedicated to the conversion of the original heating system in the grade four classroom wing from steam to hot water. This project was initiated in 2007‐2008. Forty eight thousand dollars is budgeted to replace a 1980 boiler that began to leak in December 2007. The Board is projecting a 93% increase in tuition to the Ridge and Valley Charter School over the 2007‐2008 budget due to an increase in the number of Blairstown children attending the charter school. Seventy thousand dollars is earmarked. With only ten Blairstown children attending RVCS there is no corresponding savings in operating costs for Blairstown Elementary. Blairstown is benefiting from a 20% increase in state funding for 2008‐2009 in the amount of $275,228. These funds have been guaranteed for the next two years. Blairstown was awarded this increase due to our low per pupil costs, special education programs, all day kindergarten program, and an increase in the number of children receiving free and reduced lunch. Blairstown Elementary continues to operate at a very high academic level. Ninety five percent (95%) of students in grades three through six scored at the proficient or advanced proficient level in science, ninety three (93%) in mathematics, and ninety‐one percent (91%) in language arts literacy. Blairstown Elementary consistently meets Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) under the federal No Child Left Behind act (NCLB). The Blairstown Township School District operates a fiscally sound school system. The 2008 Comparative Spending Guide developed by the New Jersey Department of Education lists Blairstown’s budgeted total per pupil costs for 2007‐2008 at $9,680, which is $1,751 less than the state average of $11,431 for K‐6 school districts. Blairstown is ranked 5th lowest in per pupil expenditures when compared to the sixty two K‐6 school districts in New Jersey. Blairstown Elementary works closely with its Parent Teacher Group. Our school benefits greatly from PTG donations that help pay for computers, cultural events, class trips, playground equipment, and many other enhancements over the years. Volunteers energize our school community and help reduce staffing costs by working thousands of hours in our classrooms and library. PTG annual monetary donations average between $20,000 and $25,000. I would like to thank the Blairstown Board members for the many hours they devote to the children of Blairstown and Hardwick, ensuring a sound education for our children at a reasonable cost to taxpayers. Please vote on the school budget and for school board members of your choice on April 15, 2008. Respectfully, W. Michael Feeney, Superintendent
Source
2007‐2008 Budgeted Amount
Blairstown Township School District Revenues – Comparative Analysis 2007‐2008 and 2008‐2009 2008‐2009 2007‐2008 2008‐2009 Budgeted Percent of Percent of Amount Budget Budget
Description
Local Tax Levy Tuition
$4,555, 030 $1,493,653
56.5% 18.5%
$4,636,549 $1,662,087
53.6% 19.2%
Blairstown property owners ‐ residential and business Revenue mainly from Hardwick. It covers regular education and special education programs for children attending BES and Vail. Hardwick pays for its own transportation. Total revenues from all state sources, including aid for transportation, bilingual, core curriculum standards, special education, etc. This is a 20.6% increase in state aid
State of New Jersey
$1,335,964
16.6%
$1,611,192
18.6%
Budgeted Fund Balance
$235,098
2.9%
$244,548
2.8%
These revenues were carried over from the 2007‐2008 school year resulting from cost saving measures throughout the year and contingencies that did not occur. These funds come from the federal government and must be spent for targeted programs such as drug and alcohol prevention, academic remediation, special education, etc. (NCLB, IDEA) Funds received from Frelinghuysen for Child Study Team services and reimbursement from other school districts for personal care aides. Also, interest earned from investments.
Federal Aid
$299,403
3.8%
$310,658
3.6%
Miscellaneous
$134,827
1.7%
$178,233
2.1%
Total Revenues
$8,058,975
100.0%
8, 643,307
100%
Blairstown Township School District Revenue Sources 2008-2009
Federal Aid, 3.6% State Aid, 18.6% Fund Balance, 2.8%
Misc., 2.1% Tax Levy, 53.6%
Tuition, 19.2%
Blairstown Township School District Revenue Sources 2007-2008
Federal Aid, 3.8%
Fund Balance, 2.9%
State Aid, 16.6%
Misc., 1.7%
Tax Levy, 56.5% Tuition, 18.5%
Blairstown Township School District Appropriations – Comparative Analysis 2007‐2008 and 2008‐2009
Category % of Total 2007‐2008 49.3% % of Total 2008‐2009 48.9% Description
Instruction
Benefits
17.8%
18.3%
Support Services
10.3%
10.2%
Operation of Plant Administration
6.2% 6.6%
6.2% 5.9%
Transportation
3.8%
4.5%
Special Revenue
3.8%
3.6%
Charter School Food Service
0.5% 0.2% 2.4%
0.8% 0.1%
Equipment & Facilities Acquisition & Construction
2.4%
This category includes all regular education, special education, bilingual education, and remedial education salaries for teachers, classroom aides, and substitute teachers, in addition to classroom supplies and assemblies. It also includes salaries and supplies for the counselor, librarian, and curriculum coordinator. This category includes negotiated healthcare benefits for all full time staff including medical and dental. It also includes Board FICA, disability and pension contributions, etc. This category Includes salaries and supplies for the school nurse, speech teachers, personal care aides for disabled children, and the Child Study Team. It also includes contracted services for occupational, physical and speech therapy, staff training expenses and costs associated with pre‐first orientation, and the sixth grade promotional exercise. This category includes custodial salaries, cleaning supplies, building and equipment maintenance costs, and heat and electricity. This category includes salaries for the superintendent, principal, business administrator, and secretaries. It also includes costs for office supplies, telecommunication costs, postage, dues, legal fees, and audits. This category includes the cost of all regular, special education, and non‐ public bus routes. It also includes bus driver’s salary and costs to run and maintain the school owned mini‐van. This category includes salaries and supplies for the following federal grants: IDEA (special education), Title I (remedial math program), Title II (class size reduction), Title IV (drug free), and Title V (class size reduction). This category includes tuition projected for ten Blairstown students to attend the Ridge and Valley Charter School. This category includes all costs related to food and food preparation including salaries for cafeteria staff along with a management fee to Dowling Food Services. This category includes costs for equipment and major building renovations.
Blairstown Township School District Appropriations 2007-2008
Equipment & Construction, 2.4% Charter School, 0.5% Special Revenue, 3.8%
Benefits, 17.8%
Food Service, 0.2% Instruction, 49.3% Administration, 6.6% Transportation, 3.8% Operation of Plant, 6.2% Support Services, 10.3%
Blairstown Township School District Appropriations 2008-2009
Equipment & Construction, 2.4% Charter School, 0.8% Special Revenue, 3.6%
Benefits, 18.3%
Food Service, 0.1% Administration, 5.9% Transportation, 4.5% Operation of Plant, 6.2% Support Services, 10.2%
Instruction, 48.9%