The district will submit its 2018–19 yearly budget to the state on March 29
The Burlington Township Board of Education addressed the 2018–19 budget at its Feb. 28 meeting, where Superintendent Mary Ann Bell informed the public the district will likely remain underfunded.
Bell said the board held two public meetings to discuss the 2018–2019 budget and has begun to review information pertaining to the district’s financial statements and current budget. Delays in the schedule have resulted from Gov. Murphy’s address, which will not occur until March 13. The district will not know its state aid until March 15, at which time the board can reassess and submit its budget back to the state on March 29.
The district has lost more than $3 million in state funding in previous years, and is working actively with legislators to remedy the lack of funding. The district still has items that have not been restored from the 2010–2011 budget, including free pre-kindergarten and assistant coaches.
“As a district, we face another tight budget. We are looking at various options that will allow us to present a balanced budget to the board and community,” Bell said in her report. “I don’t believe any district in the state has been as comprehensive in their budget reporting as Burlington Township. We have worked very hard to address the idea that we are an underfunded district. [Board Secretary Nick Bice] and I attended the session in Delran, and we have been very active working with our legislators.”
Coupled with renewed school safety concerns in the wake of the Parkland, Fla., mass shooting, Bell said the district is working diligently to bring security considerations to its budget planning. On the weekend of Feb. 24, a student sent two “concerning” emails from a group account to students in the middle school and the high school. The incident was reported to police and school officials immediately, and it was decided there was no threat to student safety.
“I have had parents come up to me and ask, ‘How are we going to protect our kids?’ We have tried very hard to respond to that,” she said.
Everything the district does is performed with safety in mind, and it has worked closely with security experts and township first responders over the past decade. The district also employs a student assistance coordinator, resource officers and has mental health support in place for students.
“The more pride our students have in our schools and our buildings, the less likely they are to do anything that acts out. We have had crisis teams in many times. I believe in the measures we put in place, I absolutely believe in our first responders in this town, and the most important resource we have is a vigilant community that reports information,” Bell said.
In response to the Parkland tragedy the increased anxiety over safety felt by parents and students across the U.S., the district has invited Jeff Gale, head of NJDOE Department of Security and Emergency Preparedness, to deliver a presentation on March 7. Students, staff, parents and community members are encouraged to attend the school safety and security presentation at the Performing Arts Center at 6:30 p.m.
Due to a large anticipated attendance, registration is required. For more information or to register, visit burltwpsch.org.
