During a public forum on the 2013–2014 school budget on Tuesday, March 12, board members presented the preliminary budget of $67.6 million, a 1.92 percent increase from last year’s budget.
The tentative budget, which was approved by the board on Tuesday, March 5, by a vote of 7–1, includes a 1.61 percent increase in school taxes for the average assessed home ($445,776), or a $108 increase. The 2013–2014 tentative budget also includes a $133,877 decrease in debt services, or a 2.83 percent decrease; a $2.1 million increase in budget revenues, or 3.59 percent; and a $1.07 million increase in the general fund tax levy.
According to business administrator Lynn Shugars, the average assessed homeowner would pay $6,820 in school taxes for 2013–2014.
The kindergarten pilot program and Delanco Township shared service arrangement increased the school district’s revenue by $243,057 over last year. Shugars said the switch from the state’s School Employees’ Health Benefits Program to Aetna is saving the district approximately $1.2 million in health benefits.
Board president Don Mishler said the change in health plans had a great impact on the budget numbers.
Recently, the school district discovered that, for every dollar it contributed toward the state plan, employees were only getting back 80 cents, or 45 cents less than before.
“By switching plans, there is a significant cost savings, and at the same time we have Aetna’s agreement to provide equal to or better than services,” Mishler said. “Employees’ health care premiums will decrease because the cost of the plan went down.
“Without it, our budget would have been much different.”
The kindergarten pilot program, which is expanding the current half-day program to an extended day program, is a positive addition in the school district, Mishler said.
Although there is a significant increase in budget revenues, savings due to changing health-care plans and a decrease in debt services, Mishler said the budget allows the school district to maintain programs.
“While the increase is under cap and relatively small, it allows us to maintain the programs that we now have.
“But it doesn’t allow us to enhance them in any significant way. In that respect, I think you would categorize it as a tight budget,” Mishler said.
The budget also includes some technology infrastructure improvements, replacing two school buses, maintaining transportation at the 50/50 outsourcing level, no capital investments, four teaching staff cuts based on demographics and three support staff cuts.
The public hearing for the budget will be on March 27, at 7:30 p.m. in the media room at William Allen Middle School.
To view a full copy of the proposed budget and the presentation made at the public forum visit www.moorestownsun.com.
Other meeting news
A new program will take effect starting March 27, extending the school day for children who need extra help in the classroom.
Superintendent Brian Betze said the Academy of Excellence program is a Moorestown Education Foundation-funded program to help all students in the district.
He said all children learn differently and the school district should offer more programs to help all levels of learning.
“We also learn at different rates,” Betze said, adding it might take one child longer to learn something than another.
He said the program is meant to help “both children that are struggling and those that are high achievers.”
Betze said the $47,482 program would be broken down into two five-week sections. The first part of the program will include supplemental classes geared toward math reading and writing, while the second five week are enrichment programs.
Betze said teachers are currently working on topics for the enrichment programs and will have an update as soon as they are finished.
He said the supplemental classes do not require a new curriculum and the enrichment programs will be academically based.
The extended school day program will be operated in all four elementary schools. Students must be selected by a teacher to join the supplemental programs and will be taught by Moorestown teachers, Betze said.
“These teachers know our kids. We want these teachers working with our students before and after school,” he said, adding transportation will be provided for students who wish to attend the programs in the late afternoon.
In the future, Betze said he hopes this pilot program will allow the school district to expand classes to Upper Elementary School and the high school, as well as include more programs and extend the learning day.
As for the program’s development, Betze said there would be ongoing assessment of student progress.
“We should know what’s working and what is not working in two weeks,” he said.
More information about the program is posted on the Moorestown Public School’s web at www.mtps.org.
