Board of Education to Present Proposed School Budget Tonight

At tonight's public hearing, members of the Board of Education will present the 2011/2012 proposed school budget and welcome feedback from residents.

Although the board originally proposed , the proposed budget now includes

“The included the release of state aid numbers and New Providence is very fortunate to have an increase in state aid from $0 last year,” said John Wolak, Finance Chairman, at the Feb. 28 Board of Education meeting.

The Finance Committee recommended that $10,000 be allocated toward the technology budget so the board can begin to replace outdated computers and hardware, Wolak said. The remaining balance of state aid, $312,610, will actually decrease the tax levy by 0.02 percent.

This is the second consecutive year that New Providence has not received full funding from the state, according to a document written by members of the Board of Education. While the $322,610 that New Providence is receiving this year is approximately 78% less than the district's 2009/2010 state aid allocation, it is still an increase from last year's state funding.

At several Board of Education meetings over the last two months and in the document, Board members made it clear that all current curricular and co-curricular programs will be maintained for students.

Aside from tonight's budget presentation in the high school cafeteria, the Board of Education has proposed the following Budget Presentation Schedule:

• Tuesday, March 29: Borough Council Meeting, Council Chambers in the Municipal Center, 7 p.m.
• Monday, April 4: Joint Meeting with NPHS and NPMS PTAs in the High School Media Center, 7 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 5: AWR PTA in the AWR Cafeteria, 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 6: Salt Brook PTA in the Salt Brook Cafeteria, 7 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 13: Senior Citizens Center, 11 a.m.
• Tuesday, April 26: Phone-a-thon at Prudential Building, 6 p.m.
• The Budget Election has been set for Wednesday, April 27, 2011.

For more information on the 2011/2012 proposed school budget timeline, summary and expenditure summary, and to view the 2010/2011 school budget, visit the Board of Education's website. Check New Providence Patch on Friday for a recap from tonight's public hearing.