Working to Reach Our Goals

1. Working to Reach Our Goals WATCHUNG BOROUGH PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2009-2010 BUDGET

2. BOARD OF EDUCATION Karen Cassidy, President Susan Diana, Vice President Kathleen Caldas Aaron Campbell Bradley DeLamielleure Mary Lou DiRosa Charles Neiss Kim Otto Wendy Robinson

3. ADMINISTRATION Dr. Mary Louise Malyska, Superintendent Dianne Faucher, Board Secretary / Business Administrator Mary Nunn, Principal of Bayberry School Charles Miller, Principal of Valley View School Dr. Barbara Resko, Director of Special Services, Curriculum, Grants, and Staff Development

4. The Board of Education’s Objectives for the 2009-2010 school budget are to: • Improve upon our excellent academic standards and programs • Maintain reasonable class size • Present a challenging curriculum in preparation for high school • Create a responsible budget for our schools with minimal monetary impact on taxpayers

5. Watchung District Goals • To implement curricular initiatives and staff development opportunities to advance student performance. • To increase and improve communications with the community. • To implement sustainable energy practices. • To improve efficiencies resulting in reduced tax impact.

6. ENROLLMENT

7. EXPENDITURES GENERAL FUND $250,837 Capital Outlay $1,986,061 Employee Benefits $1,240,707 Operations / Maintenance $939,749 Administration $6,791,977 Classroom Instruction / Student Support

8. Classroom Instruction and Student Support • Regular Instruction $3,656,359 • Special Education $1,988,758 • Pupil Transportation $401,995 • Nurses & Physician $118,510 • Guidance $162,733 • School Media Centers $308,325 • Improvement Instruction $133,447 • Staff Training $21,850 TOTAL $6,791,977

9. Instructional Improvements • New Full-time Math Position at Valley View to Replace LAL and Computer Teacher • A Full-time Teacher of German • One Additional Special Education Teacher at Valley View • Additional Co-curricular and Athletics Activities • Additional Staff Development

10. Instructional Improvements • New Math Position at Valley View • New German Texts • Additional Music Instruments at Bayberry • Additional Music Instruments at Valley View • New Gym Equipment at Valley View and Bayberry

11. Instructional Improvements • Additional Special Education Aides • Additional Teacher Workshops • Continuing Speakers for Staff Development • Test Review Materials and Programs

12. Other Cost Drivers • Additional PERS Pension Liability • Special Education Transportation Contractor Increase • Bathroom Renovations at Valley View and Bayberry • Pre-K Special Education Tuition • Valley View Art Room Steel Shelving • Valley View Furniture Requests (Desk, Chairs, Table, Whiteboards) • Valley View Shed for Storage

13. Administration • General $376,801 • School $351,559 • Business $201,389 • Information Technology $10,000 TOTAL $939,749

14. Operations and Maintenance • Maintenance $102,560 • Operation of Facilities $1,138,147 TOTAL $1,240,707

15. BUDGET EFFICIENCIES • Energy Audit - State Grant Program • Energy Purchase Consortium - ACES natural gas and electric • Shared Services - Transportation jointures - Insurance pool - liability and worker’s compensation - Cooperative purchasing

16. BUDGET COST-SAVING MEASURES The Board of Education continues to explore cost-saving measures. Shared partnerships are sought at the local, the county, and the state levels as follows: • Participation in E-Rate (Educational Rate Program for savings on telecommunications) • Participation as a member in the Diploma Joint Insurance Fund program to reduce insurance costs • Shared professional development training costs with other school districts that results in savings to the district • Acceptance of special education tuition students from other public school districts that results in reduced education costs • Cooperative ventures with other public school districts to transport out-of-district special education students to reduce transportation costs • Participation in ACT (Alliance for Competitive Telecommunications) to reduce telephone costs • Triple-tier bus routes for regular education, a shared service with Watchung Hills Regional High School • Cooperative agreement with 29 districts through MUJC for staff development, transportation, and curriculum enhancements. • $500,000 Grant from MUJC

17. REVENUE ANALYSISGENERAL FUND • Local Tax Levy $9,606,630 85.70% • Withdrawal from Capital Reserve $247,250 2.21% • Budgeted Fund Bal. $636,827 5.68% • Miscellaneous $52,800 0.47% • State Aid $665,825 5.94% __________________ • TOTAL $11,209,332 100.00%

18. The Borough experienced a decrease in its taxable property base. The tax levy increase this year will be 1.66%, which is an increase of just $70 on the average Watchung Residence. We are below CAP, requesting no additional monies through waivers. We will maintain efficiencies at every level of our budgeted expenditures.

19. Remember to Vote! Polls are open between 7:00 AM and 9:00 PM VALLEY VIEW SCHOOL APRIL 21, 2009 • Three Three-year Terms on the Board of Education THE BUDGET BALLOT QUESTION RESOLVED, that there should be raised for General Funds $9,606,630 for the ensuing school year (2009 - 2010).

20. We Thank You!