There will be a zero-percent increase in the tax levy for Shamong residents based on the adopted Shamong Township School District budget, officials said.
The total base budget of $14,680,811 for a total local tax levy of $8,926,550 was adopted after a March 28 public hearing.
According to Interim Superintendent Dolores Szymanski, the approved budget maintains all current programs in the district, creates an in-district autism program and provides updated technology infrastructure to ensure devices can connect properly to the Internet.
“The technology in this district is exploding,” she said.
A full-time computer technician will be added for the next school year to work with infrastructure, hardware and software issues.
The district was able to keep a steady tax levy through many cost-saving and revenue-generating moves, Szymanski said.
“We always reflect on our mission statement,” and goals, she said.
Five staff members will retire at the end of this school year, she said.
The district entered into a state health benefits plan for medical and prescriptions as of April 1.
The elimination of two out-of-district placements also helps, she explained.
According to Business Administrator Michael Mados, there is a 7 percent increase in state aid this year, which is a stark increase from recent years.
He said the base budget increased by $281,156.
Teacher salaries and benefits are the biggest part of the budget, taking up about 84 percent.
Both Mados and Szymanski said the “planets aligned” in the budget process.
In a nutshell, said Syzmanski, the goals of the budget are to raise student achievement, enhance learning, continue the development of the curriculum and continued business efficiency.
The Case for Full-Day Kindergarten
Four district kindergarten teachers were on hand at the meeting to make their case for full-day kindergarten rather than the current two and a half hours.
Szymanski has been in talks with the elementary school for months and presented a pitch to the board.
In 2011, she said, 45 states adopted the Common Core State Standards to make children prepared for college and careers upon high school graduation.
The new standards are rigorous, she said.
There is a growing interest in full-day kindergarten, with 70 percent of New Jersey districts already operating the schedule 8:30 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. schedule.
“Pre-K to grade four, you learn to read,” she said. “Grade four and up, you read to learn.”
There are many advantages to the program, she explained, including a consistent schedule, a relaxed, unhurried school day, greater detection of learning problems and the ability to better develop social relationships.
Kindergarten teacher Theresa Gibbons was passionate while explaining the positives to transitioning to a full-day system.
“They can do it,” she said. “Their writing is fantastic.”
With more time, education could be expanded, she said, and “would be very beneficial.”
There would be a better pace to the day, she explained, and there would be less stress.
After a primarily positive and supportive discussion between the board members, a motion was passed to initiate the program beginning Sept. 1 in the district.
The next regular board meeting is set for 7 p.m., on Tuesday, April 24 at Indian Mills Memorial School.
