Voters Will Decide School Budget Fate on Wednesday

On Wednesday, voters will also have to make a decision in regards to the $25,917,317 proposed school budget for the 2011-2012 which has a tax levy, or amount to be raised by local taxes, of $23,876,774, which is up about 1 percent from last year.

If approved this will cost the average taxpayers an additional $4.50 per month, or roughly $54 per year based on the average home value of $436,000.

During last month’s public budget hearing, Dr. Mark Porto, superintendent explained that the board was able to be creative in providing programs and instruction, while staying below the 2 percent cap. The district would not lose programs and many courses would be added such as six AP, or advanced placement courses, he explained.

Porto added that the district did not anticipate any change in tenured teaching staff for the next year. The district plans to add a biology/life science teacher for AP biology, a business teacher and a gym teacher for the middle school/high school.

More technological advancements are planned for the new year in additional to instructional programs such as personal finance and career exploration for grade 9 students and more electives for seniors such as journalism and aviation physics.

Porto explained that the board decided not to go to the full 2 percent cap opting instead to bank funds so that they will be available in the future when needed.

In 2010 the state had slashed the district’s state aid amount by more than half. This year Governor Chris Christie agreed to increase aid to all school districts and Heights received an additional $234,072 in state aid, for a total of $649,140 for the 2011-2012 school year.

The board of education has been actively seeking new methods for generating revenue for the district. Recently the district entered into a shared services agreement with the South Hackensack school district  allowing them to use Heights’ accounting and financial services at a cost which benefits this district.