Superintendent Alan Fegley late Friday night issued the following statement about the school budget and upcoming budget meetings. The next meeting of the school board will be an emergency meeting this Sunday at 2 p.m.
Dear Haddonfield School Community,
I wish to begin by thanking everyone who has written to me since Wednesday — 500 and counting. Your e-mails of support, concern, encouragement, condolences, and thoughtful suggestions for fundraising, cuts, and specific recommendations have been overwhelming. Given the incredible number of e-mails, I was not able to respond individually as my time has been spent developing a budget to address the 1.5 million dollar cut in State Aid (100% of the State Aid Haddonfield receives) the District learned about late Wednesday afternoon. I further thank the educational leaders of Haddonfield, faculty, staff, board members, parents, and the general Haddonfield community for everyone’s thoughtful work over the past 36 hours. The collegiality in the face of a significant challenge reminds me why I have and continue to value working in Haddonfield. The budget reduction recommendations that I will be making in the next few days will be significant. Everything — operations, programs, positions (administration, staff, and faculty) is “on the table.” Reductions will be made in all areas.
As part of the Board’s continuing efforts to keep the Haddonfield community informed, an emergency BOE meeting has been scheduled for Sunday, March 21, 2010, in the HMHS Library from 2:00 to 5:00 PM. At this meeting I will outline all budget reduction recommendations for the Board and community. While the budget discussion on the 21st is the 6th public budget discussion the Haddonfield Board of Education has held, it is the first since the state announced a 100% reduction in State Aid for Haddonfield. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Immediately following the Board meeting the budget presentation will be posted on the District Website so everyone is able to access this important information.
The Haddonfield Board of Education will hold a budget meeting on Monday, March 22, 2010 to approve the tentative school budget for the 2010–2011 school budget. The start time of the meeting has been changed on Monday. The meeting will begin at 5:00 PM with an executive session. At 7:30 PM the Board will begin its public discussion of the Tentative 2010–2011 School Budget. The Board must vote on the school budget this evening so that it may be sent to the County Superintendent for review and approval.
On Thursday, March 25, 2010, in the HMHS Library, the Board will hold it preliminary BUDGET HEARING. This meeting will begin at 7:30 PM. A full discussion of the 2010–2011 School Budget will take place with the Board taking a preliminary vote on the school budget.
Finally, on Friday, March 26, 2010, in the HMHS Library, the Board will approve the 2010–2011 School Budget.
Everyone is encouraged to attend all of these important meetings.
Many have asked what they can do to become involved in voicing their opinion about the recent budget situation. I was contacted by Assemblyman Louis Greenwald on Thursday. He told me that he was holding a public meeting on the state budget situation on Wednesday, March 24, at the Scottish Rite Theatre in Collingswood. For confirmation regarding the public meeting please go to http://www.lougreenwald.com/. In addition, citizens are encouraged to write to representatives, senators, the Commissioner of Education, and the Governor to express their opinion. For mail and e-mail addresses of the legislators go to http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/members/legsearch.asp.
Again, I thank everyone for all the e-mails I have received. I again ask your understanding for me not responding individually, but I assure you that I have read each and every one.
Alan
Alan D. Fegley, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Haddonfield Public Schools
