By AUBRIE GEORGE
It’s time to head to the polls, Moorestown.
Tomorrow, registered voters can cast their vote on whether or not the Moorestown Township Board of Education’s proposed 2011–12 school budget tax levy should pass. Residents can also vote to fill three open seats on the Board. The race for the seats is not officially contested, but there is a resident vying for election as a write in candidate.
Keep in mind this year’s election is on a Wednesday, not a Tuesday, as has been the case in the past.
The Moorestown Township Board of Education has proposed a 2011–12 school district budget tax levy that bears a net increase of $695,983, or 1.19 percent, over last year.
The tax levy is budgeted to the 2 percent cap, but is offset by a debt service decrease of $366,711. According to district Business Administrator Lynn Shugars, the district’s debt service, which includes money to be paid from old bond referendums including principal and interest payments, is beginning to decrease.
As a result of the budget’s proposed tax levy, residents in the average assessed home of $534,100 would pay an increase of $80 per year, or $6.67 per month, in school taxes, if the budget passes at the polls.
This year’s budget includes the elimination of 31 full time equivalent positions for the coming school year, reductions that will result in elimination and modifications to programs across the district.
Reductions include the elimination of two full time equivalent teaching positions in the elementary schools based on enrollment projections, one auditory impairment interpreter because the program is being eliminated across the district, one teacher and one paraprofessional position due to the elimination of the pre first program, one challenge program position, and one world language teacher.
At Moorestown Upper Elementary School, two FTE teacher positions and one secretarial position will be nixed due to enrollment projections and efficiencies. A technology teacher will be eliminated, modifying technology as a stand-alone program, and one world languages teacher position will be eliminated.
At the William Allen Middle School, one family and consumer science position will be eliminated, in addition to one careers teaching position, and one world languages position.
Cuts at Moorestown High School include the elimination of a secretary position, one building manager position, and a family and consumer science position.
At the administrative level, one transportation secretary, a technology administrator, an assessments and evaluation administrator, and an education supervisor will be eliminated. In addition, six buildings and grounds positions will be outsourced. The cuts also call for the elimination of the auditory impairment program, nixing all of the interpreter positions across the district.
To offset costs, and in an attempt to generate revenue for the long term, the district plans to implement a student activity fee for the first time ever. Fees will be capped at $600 per family. The fee schedule includes a $200 fee for each high school sport a student plays and a $200 annual fee for each student that participates in the theater programs at the high school. Middle school sports will cost $100 each and there will be a $100 annual fee for theater. The UES will also incorporate a $50 annual fee for theater.
Even though the district received a $617,070 increase in state aid this year, the impact of last year’s massive $3.5 million cut is still being felt. Married with increased costs in health benefits, declining student enrollment, a declining ratable base throughout the township, a smaller surplus, and a new law that does not allow the district to raise the amount to be raised through taxes more than two percent, the district continues to face challenges, according to officials.
In addition to the proposed tax levy, residents will also vote to fill three, three-year seats on the Board. Incumbent Board President Don Mishler and Vice President Christina Zajac are up for re-election, and new candidate A. Leigh Powell is also in the running. Current Board member Larry Friedman’s seat is set to expire, but he withdrew his name from the race. Oakmont Drive resident Chris Moye is vying for election as a write-in candidate.
Polls will be open tomorrow from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Click here to locate your polling place.
