School Budget Goes to Voters on April 27

The Board of Education voted in favor last night of the 2011-12 budget, which carries a school tax increase of $111 on a home assessed at the township average of $75,000.

Voters will come to the polls between 2-9 p.m. on April 27 to decide on the $192,479,838 million spending plan, which maintains services and brings in items that were cut last year.

This was made possible by the district’s receipt of $19,414,560 in state aid for the 2011-12 budget year, a $1,757,518 increase from last year.

Schools Superintendent John Crowe has said he was happy for the increase in state aid, but remained reserved since the district still remains underfunded.

Crowe said the way the state has treated the district is “unacceptable.”

He said after they finish the budget, the administration will continue the fight for its fair share of state aid as well as develop a five year plan as they move forward in the district. Items that will be looked at for the five year plan include moving towards online textbooks.

The items that will remain and have been restored in the budget include the gifted and talented arts program; freshman and middle school sports; Algebra 1 for grades eight and nine; chemistry R/S; Intervention Language Arts three; 21^st century literacy centers; courtesy busing for elementary students; calculators for middle school students; mathematics for grade 7; literacy coaches for Non-Title 1 Schools; substance abuse counselors, elementary music; elementary guidance; and poly-vision boards at the elementary schools.

School officials presented the budget, which sees increases to the district’s fixed costs, which include hospitalization in the amount of $1,401,409; special education tuition in the amount of $200,839, PERS Pension in the amount of $332,580; PERS Social Security in the amount of $68,638; and utilities of gas and electric in the amount of $70,270.

The district continues to see shared services and interlocal agreements with the township. Some of these include local Cable TV 35/36; the Woodbridge Reads program; custodial, paving, and custodial services; maintenance and grounds equipment; the Port Reading library as a school library facility, the joint use of the Evergreen Center in Colonia, the grant writer; and free ice time at the Woodbridge Community Center for the three district high school hockey teams for their games and practices.

The district’s three high school swim teams also get free pool time for their meets and practices at the Woodbridge YMCA and 7^th graders receive free membership at the Y.

The district has an interlocal agreement with the township and the County of Middlesex for maintenance of recreational facilities at Woodbridge High School including the two baseball fields, softball field and soccer field.

During their presentation, school officials honed in on the accomplishments made at the schools this year, including the New Jersey ASK top rank scores at Pennsylvania Avenue Elementary school No. 27 for grade 4 in mathematics; and the New Jersey ASK top rank scores at Lynn Crest Elementary school no. 22 for grade 5 in mathematics.

The Lynn Crest Elementary school also was named a Blue Ribbon Award school this year. It was one of 304 schools nationwide selected of only 10 in New Jersey and two in Middlesex County. Avenel Middle School received the National Title 1 Distinguished school award this year. It was one of 73 schools selected nationwide and only one of two New Jersey schools selected.

Colonia High School earned six awards including a first place win at the New Jersey Bioscience forum and 15 Woodbridge High School students received grand awards through the Young Science Achievers program. Thirty-three high school students among all three high schools in the township were named Edward J. Bloustein Distinguished Scholars.

Students also enrolled in 21^st century life and career programs earning Microsoft Office 2007 specialist certifications.

For more information about the budget visit the district’s web site at www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us.