Board of Education Issues Statement on 2015-16 Budget

The West Orange Board of Education issued a statement regarding the 2015-16 budget after presenting its final budget at a meeting last week.

The final budget presentation on Wednesday, April 29, addressed the budget and mission of the school district.

“The school district is a complex, integrated system consisting of multiple tasks and responsibilities within the realms of personnel, finance, technology, academics and students,” Ronald L. Charles, president of the board of education, said. “The Board believes that the educational process in our school should be supported by educators, students, parents/guardians, and the entire community, for a commitment to today’s education is a commitment to society’s future.”

The board of education said the budget enables the school district to operate responsibly and achieve its goal of constantly improving how it meets the academic, social and emotional needs of students in a safe environment. The BOE said its mission is to support each and every student to achieve in a learning environment that reflects continuous and sustain improvement from one year to the next.

“The budget, for the first time, is developed with a ‘0’ based philosophy, requiring an intensive review of input submitted by our administrators, supervisors, and teachers,” Charles said. “The Board of Education continues to take its statutory charge very seriously. The Board understands the need to keep taxes stable and remains cognizant of the economic climate at the local, state, and national levels.”

The 2015-16 budget includes an operating budget increase of 0.52 percent and total budget increase of 0.19 percent. The BOE said the increases demonstrate fair and reasonable increases, while allowing for maintenance and improvements to the school district.

The increased budget will provide for safety and security enhancements, including card readers to specific doors at all schools and upgraded security cameras, and enhanced technology, including 2,000 Chromebooks for teachers and students in grades 7 through 12, iPads, Smartboards and more, the district said.

Additionally, the budget will support district-wide capital improvements on roofs, structural and electrical upgrades, asphalt and concrete, and asbestos and floors.

The total tax levy for the 2015-2016 school year will be $131,410,895, with $126,326,356 going to the general fund and $5,084,539 going to the debt service fund, according to the school district. The tax levy for the 2015-2016 school year is an increase of $1,272,954, up from $130,137,941 in 2014-2015.

Read the entire statement from the West Orange Board of Education here or read the entire budget, visit the West Orange School District website.