Mount Olive School
Administration To best respond to 2nd
Question defeat
By Richard Johnston
MOUNT OLIVE (4/22/08) - Now it’s time to deal with
the aftermath of the defeat of the second question on
the Board of Education ballot last week.
The second question proposed an additional $482,254
to fund programs mostly in the Middle School. Among
them the gifted and talented art program; the athletic
program; funding a guidance counselor for the elementary
schools, a counselor at the Middle School’ partial
funding for extra curricula club activities at the
Middle School and High School and hiring four bus
drivers and the leasing of two buses to eliminate double
bus runs in the elementary schools.
The
question was approved
1767 to 1624 (absentee ballots included)
but it needed 2,034 to meet the 60% approval require by
the state so it failed by 267 votes….and homeowners will
save $2.09 a month in their real estate taxes.
The total budget was $79.2 million. The amount to be
raised by local taxation was $53,189,867. The
$26,010,133 difference is the amount the district
receives in state and
federal aid and debt service. The base budget was
approved 1897 to 1511 including the absentee ballots.
Schools Superintendent Dr Rosalie Lamonte and
the members of the school board breathed a sigh of
relief at the outcome of the main budget and thanked the
voters who approved it. However, several board members
were disappointed at coming so close on the second
question. President Bill Robinson was critical of the
state mandate that second questions on a ballot had to
gain 60% approval. “It’s just not fair,” he said.
The
tax levy increase under this budget was up just $988,035
over last year or a 1.89% increase. The school
cost is approximately 66% of the total municipal budget.
This year’s budget produced the lowest increase in
nearly a decade, according to Dr. Lamonte.
The
school tax impact on this budget is $1,434 per $100,000
for a house assessed at $380,300, the average home value
in the township. Taxes will be about $350 over last year
or about $5,455.
Early
on, to arrive at the $79.2 million, the school
administration and the board agreed to cut some 50 staff
positions…22 teachers, 25 teacher aides, one librarian,
two administrative positions, three support personnel
and to charge a $100 a year parking fee for about 200
students. Department chairpersons also will be teaching
more classes than before. A roof on the Mountain View
School which was to cost $248,000 was again put off for
another year.
There are some 14,304 registered voters in the
township and just 3,384 voted. That’s about 24% of those
eligible to vote….but it’s an improvement over last year
when just 19% voted. The average voter turn out in
districts throughout the state is much lower… just 14%
Actually a 24% turnout was good, Dr. Lamonte said.
As a result of the second question’s defeat
Middle School athletics cannot be offered this year or
next. There are 13 sports teams affected, each with
between 12-25 students.
Dr. Lamonte suggested the students could participate in
the sports in the township’s recreation departments if
their parents can afford it or intramural programs may
be organized. She said the amount saved would be about
$106,000.
The
gifted and talented art program is an elective subject
with approximately 25 students affected. Dr. Lamonte
said they will be moved into the school’s existing art
program.
The savings will be $48,243.
Clubs, all of which had enthusiastic participation
in the Middle School, are eliminated. Among them were
the Literacy Club, Computer Club, Environmental Club,
Drama and Theater Tech. Club. Some of the high school
clubs include: Pep Band, Ski Club, Bowling, Amnesty
International and TATU (Teens Against Tobacco Use). The
number of members in each club varies depending on the
activity but the numbers range from 15 to 100 students
(the main one being the Ski Club).
One elementary
school counselor is cut as well as one middle school
student assistance counselor. These counselors run
prevention programs and assist students to make good
choices. For example, counselors help students deal
with situations of harassment or bullying, peer pressure
to try drugs and/or alcohol, family conflicts, divorce
and other life changes. And they also assist students to
resolve conflicts peacefully.
No bus drivers were laid
off but no additional drivers can be hired for single
elementary bus runs. There are many double runs which
mean that students arrive and are dismissed at staggered
times, causing some to have to wait for others before
instruction can begin, or others must wait in school
longer before dismissal. The board cannot purchase the
additional buses that would be required to avoid the
double runs.
Boards of Education are the only agencies that voters
have the opportunity to vote on their budgets and many
feel voters take out their frustrations with taxes on
the school budget.
The
school boards labor under severe restraints imposed by
the state, among them mandating increased pension costs
and imposing budget caps that in many cases severely
hinder quality education. For the past seven years
enrollment in all of Mount Olive schools has increased
every year. The district, by whatever agreement aid is
decreed, the township was supposed to receive 24% of the
cost of educating each child. Mount Olive has absorbed
a significant number of children and did not receive
additional funds until this year when the state
increased funding by $1.5 million, then required the
district to return more than $1 million of that amount
back to the taxpayers. The state, according to board
members, who complain has gypped Mount Olive and most
other municipalities out of millions of dollars in aid
that they should have gotten.
The state provides
Mount Olive with 24% of its budget, or currently about
$19 million.
In
the election of trustees last week, the three incumbents
who ran unopposed were re-elected: Rob Mania led with
2,183; Daniel Amianda got 2,041 and Mark Werner, 1,993.
These returns include absentee ballots.
