Madison Schools Adopt Budget, Cut Administrators

MADISON, NJ - The Madison Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the 2019-2020 budget on Tuesday which will see $204 average tax increase and a net decrease of four administrative positions.

The jobs removed in the budget are three curriculum supervisors, the assistant business administrator, a special education supervisor, a guidance director and athletic director at Madison High School.

The budget pitch advocated hiring three vice principals for the high school and a director of special services. The three vice principals would join the high school staff and would be in charge of discipline, building operations, department leadership and programs.

Superintendent Mark Schwarz said the 2019-2020 budget has been designed to maximize program and services for students.

Currently employed by the district are Athletic Director Sean Dowling, Assistant Business Administrator Eulalia Gillia, Guidance Director Brett Levine as well as Buildings and Grounds Supervisor Michael Zulla, Supervisor of Humanities Mark DeBiasse,Supervisor of Special Services Christine Seminerio, Supervisor of Math and Business Kelly Bosworth, Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts and World Languages Stacy Snider and Technology Coordinator John LaPiere.

What supervisors would be eliminated was not specified by the district.

Tax Impact

• The 2019-20 budget requires an approximate 2.7 percent increase
• Average home value of $684,758
• Average annual increase of $204.67

Schwarz said part of the budget is finding efficiencies, which include eliminating seven administrator position while adding four, making it a net three loss. This was referred to as an integrated and aligned model:

• To enact our desired results we must align our resources
• Empowered principals are key to student achievement
• Principals and teacher leaders across schools should collaborate and coordinate efforts
• District administration should support principals who in turn support faculty
• All three levels support students and parents

Beyond the full-day kindergarten planned for the coming year, the budget includes six new courses at Madison High School, a K-5 literacy program and a new K-2 math program.

The budget documents list the 2019-20 total expenditures are $50,962,042. The less: anticipated revenues are $6,958,793 and local tax levy will be $44,003,249. The average home in Madison assessed at $684,758 will see a $204 in school taxes.

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your
local Patch site here. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter by clicking here. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading our Apple iOS app here, or by visiting the Google Play store for the Android app here.