Budget Goals Maintain a flat budget without impacting students - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Readington Township School District Budget for 2014-2015 PRESENTED TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION MAY 6, 2014

Budget Goals  Maintain a flat budget without impacting students’ academic experiences.  Balance class size guidelines with scheduling efficiencies  Enrich students’ academic experiences  Support Curriculum Renewal  Expand Mandarin program at RMS  Implement Full Day Kindergarten  Continue to implement the district’s Strategic Plan

Enrollment Forecast  Anticipated K through 8 enrollment = 1649 (45 students under the demographer’s projection, though K enrollment continues to grow each week.)  971 Elementary School Students (1035 this year)  678 Readington Middle School School (703 this year) This represents a 3.5% to 4% decrease in enrollment.

Proposed Additions at No Cost  Increase in Mandarin for all Middle School grades  .4 increase, offset through other reductions  Full Day Kindergarten (approximately 4 new positions)  Achieved through re-assignment of current staff members ; neutral budget impact

Revenue Sources  State aid: $1,482,420.  Tuition, Fees, Interest, and Surplus Withdrawal: $2,213,807.  Grants (NCLB, IDEA): $406,877.

Continuing Cost Containment  Cooperative purchasing  School Alliance Insurance Fund  Middlesex, Somerset, and Hunterdon County Ed Services Commissions  Readington Township (Fuel, salt)  Shared services projects  Shared Transportation Department with Branchburg  Technology services provided to Tewksbury  Readington Township Recreation (Facilities Use and Improvements)  Investors Banking (through joint RFP)  Elimination of midday Kindergarten bus routes: $74,050.  State ROD grants and Capital Reserve for facility upgrades.  Energy savings through SEE program: $62,815.

Positions Eliminated or Reduced  One general education elementary position – due to enrollment  French position at Readington Middle School  District wide: 1 Music position, 1 Special Education position  Retirements which will be replaced at lower salaries Approximately $350,000.

2012-13 Positions Eliminated  Three general education elementary positions – due to enrollment  Two positions at Whitehouse School  One position at Holland Brook School  Science Resource position at Holland Brook School  French position at Holland Brook School  Part-time Technician

2013-14 Positions Eliminated  Three general education elementary positions – due to enrollment  One full time position at Whitehouse School  One full time position at Three Bridges School  One full time position at Holland Brook School  Spanish position at Readington Middle School  District wide: 1 Art position, 1 Physical Education position

2014-15 Positions Eliminated  One general education elementary position – due to enrollment  French position at Readington Middle School  District wide: 1 Music position, 1 Special Education position

Enrollment Specifics French Enrollment at RMS Music Enrollment  Rising 6 th grade: 36 students  50 elementary classes next year across TBS, WHS, and HBS (49)  Rising 7 th grade: 35 students  Related arts classes meet once a  Rising 8 th grade: 47 students week for 45 minutes  Full time teaching schedule = 30 Will be scheduled as two French classes weekly classes at each grade level, making for a total of 6 classes of French at RMS. This equates to one teaching position; This equates to two full-time we currently have 2 French teachers elementary Music teaching positions; on staff. we currently have 3 full-time elementary music teachers on staff.

Current Elementary Music Teacher’s Schedule TIME M T W Th F 8:05-8:18 Morning Duty and Announcements 8:20-9:07 PREP Morning K PREP Grade 1 (JT) PREP (VS) 9:09-9:56 PREP Grade 1 (KO) PREP Morning K Pre-School (KD) 9:58-10:45 Grade 2 (SD) PREP Grade 2 (CM) Grade 2 (AE) Grade 2 (AB) 10:45-11:15 Lunch (Monday - Friday) Full Teaching Day = 6 classes daily 11:20-11:50 Lunch Duty (Monday - Friday) Contractual Prep Time = 53 minutes daily 11:55-12:25 Lunch Duty (Monday - Friday) 12:25-1:12 Grade 3 (JN) Grade 3 (DK) Grade 3 (CL) Student Voice Afternoon K (VS) 1:14-2:01 Grade 1 (PC) Afternoon K- Pre-School PREP Grade 1 (EM) (KD) 2:03-2:50 PREP Grade 2 (LW) Grade 2 (AK) PREP PREP 3:00-3:05 Dismissal

How do we compare to surrounding districts? District Once a week Every 6 days Length of class Branchburg X 40 minutes Flemington X 45 minutes Delaware Township X 42 minutes Kingwood Township X 40 minutes Tewksbury X 40 minutes West Amwell X 50 minutes East Amwell X 40 minutes Lambertville X 40 minutes Montgomery Township (K-12) X 40 minutes Chorus before school Madison (K-12) X 40 minutes Chorus before school Somerset Hills (K-12) X 45 minutes Readington Township X 47 minutes

District Music Concerts  Concerts are planned cooperatively by the music teachers and school principals.  Holland Brook and Readington Middle Schools traditionally hold winter and spring concerts.  In the fall of 2012, the principals of Three Bridges and Whitehouse Schools partnered with their music teachers to transition from a December concert to a March “Festival of the Arts” program.  Evening event would be more accommodating to families;  Opportunity to showcase art, Spanish, technology, and P.E. instruction;  Minimized the need for children to miss instructional time to prepare for the concert – a concern expressed by many primary grade teachers;  Well-received as siblings from other schools and relatives can attend.

What happens at the upper grades? Holland Brook School (One full-time Band Teacher)  Weekly music instruction with recorder and choral focus.  Strings instruction begins in 4 th grade in January; band instruction begins in 5 th grade. Lessons are during the day.  Full band/orchestra meets before school at HBS when preparing for concerts. Readington Middle School (Three full-time Band/Chorus Teachers)  Students have A/B day classes in Band, Chorus, Orchestra, General Music, and Art.  Full band/orchestra meets after school weekly at RMS.  Viking Singers : a special after school group for students who cannot fit Chorus into their schedule.

What additions are being planned for next year?  With reduced numbers heading into RMS, the Orchestra teacher will have time for 5 th grade strings lessons at HBS, which will aid in transitioning students into RMS Orchestra for 6 th grade.  Natural Trumpet is being considered for a “mini - course” experience at HBS during the day taught by the HBS Music/Band teacher.  Additional performance opportunities through school athletic events, Patriots Stadium, Memorial Day parade, etc.  Curriculum renewal begins next year, which is the appropriate time to evaluate and make recommendations for the program districtwide.  Under consideration for 2015-16, begin instrument instruction in 4th grade.

Operating Budget Tax Levy Budget Year Total $ Change % 2009-2010 $27,038,539 2010-11 $27,703,081 +2.5% 2011-12 $27,426,050 -1% 2012-13 $26,586,701 - 3% 2013-14 $26,582,012 0% 2014-15 $26,582,012 0%

Total Taxes including Debt Service Budget Year Total Taxes Difference $ Difference % 2009-10 $29,157,442 - $1,031,675 - 3.4% 2010-11 $29,592,975 - $435,533 - 0.15% 2011-12 $29,609,399 + $16,424 + .055% 2012-13 $28,780,939 - $828,460 - 3% 2013-14 $28,764,420 -$16,519 - .057% 2014-15 $28,680,635 -$83,785 - .3%

State Aid and Tax Levy – General Fund Budget Year State Aid Tax Levy 2009-10 $2,285,066 $27,038,539 2010-11 $773,527 $27,703,081 2011-12 $974,702 $27,426,050 2012-13 $1,489,922 $26,586,701 2013-14 $1,449,600 $26,582,012 2014-15 $1,482,420 $26,582,012

Proposed Tax Rate YEAR TAX RATE AVERAGE TAX 2010 – 11 $1.0373 $4070 on average assessed home of $392,400. 2011 – 12 $1.0765 $4052 on average assessed home of $376,400. 2012 - 13 $1.087 $3995 on average assessed home of $367,300. 2013-14 $1.085 $3905 on average assessed home of $360,000 2014-15 $1.0773 $3,877 on average assessed home of $359,900

School Impact on Property Tax SCHOOL PORTION OF PROPERTY TAX (Portion of Operating Budget Funded by Taxpayers) 2006 2009 2013 43% 41% 40% Readington School District Over the past several years, the Readington Township Board of Education has succeeded in lowering the district’s portion of the Local Property Tax. The remainder of the tax bill distributes funds to Hunterdon Central Regional HS, local open space, municipal and county needs.

SUMMARY Please call or e-mail me if you have any questions! Barbara Sargent bsargent@readington.k12.nj.us 908/534-2195 x1