The East Windsor Regional school board said its hard to meet the state’s spending cap.
By: David Pescatore
HIGHTSTOWN Board of Education President Bruce Ettman is outraged over the rising costs the district must face in the 2003-2004 school budget.
"If you look at this budget, the large increases are in the factors we do not control," Mr. Ettman said at a special meeting Monday to discuss elements of the budget.
He referred to a 19.23 percent increase in the district’s upcoming insurance cost, a 4.21 percent increase in transportation coats, and the rising cost of special education.
"We can’t increase our budget more than 3 percent without a bond referendum, but if the insurance companies and out of district schools have no such cap, then something has to give," Mr. Ettman said.
Business Administrator David Shafter said one reason for the rising insurance cost is that the companies are "losing money on investments and still trying to recoup losses from September 11th."
Board member Robert Laverty suggested the district might need to reduce spending on equipment in order to maintain optimum class sizes in the K-5 grade levels.
Mr. Ettman responded by calling for a change in the way the district is funded.
"We didn’t create this funding structure. We can’t control how many special education students we have, or what our experts say the kids need. The high school really needs new bleachers, but we may not be able to afford them. That just cries out for a change," he said.
Assistant Superintendent Gale Tapper announced there would be no new teachers hired at either the middle or high schools, despite expected enrollment increases at both schools. Ms. Tapper said additional teachers were hired last year for both schools to handle expected increases in students from new housing developments. She said that since those developments were delayed, the schools already are adequately staffed to deal with projected spike in enrollment.
Mr. Shafter announced that a room in the Perry L. Drew School, currently used for the Turning-Point program, is being converted into a music room. The program provides care, at the parent’s expense, for half-day kindergarten students while they are not in school. The district is working on a deal with St. Anthony’s church to continue the program.
The district will be purchasing six 54-passanger buses to replace vehicles that must be replaced by state law. By law, buses must be replaced when they are 12 years old, regardless of condition.
Mr. Shafter suggested that the buses should be replaced sooner so that the district could enjoy some resale value.
"If we replaced them every eight years, the savings in maintenance costs and the income from resale would be better for us," he said.
Mr. Shafter said that the district collects approximately $1,000 from the sale of a 12-year-old bus. New 54-passanger buses cost $56,000 each.
Monday’s meeting marked the second discussion of elements of the 2003-2004 budget. Other items of the budget discussed Monday included testing, basic skills, the bilingual program, out of district placements, special education, facilities, technology and special schools.
At the board’s next meeting, Monday, Feb. 10, officials hope to be able to announce how much state aid the district will receive.

