Chesterfield decides not to trim school spending

Budget rejected by voters includes 11.5-cent tax increase

By: Eve Collins
   CHESTERFIELD — The Township Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to ratify the school budget without making cuts or changes. The budget, which includes an 11.5-cent tax increase, was defeated by a vote of 178-232 in the April 15 election.
   Under the budget, a homeowner with property assessed at the township average, $210,000, will pay $2,636 in school taxes, an increase of $242. The school tax rate will increase from $1.14 per $100 of assessed property value to $1.255.
   The $3.2 million budget is within the 3 percent budget cap allowed by the state.
   School officials said they worked hard this year to propose a budget that did not include any special questions. Last year’s $2,841,818 budget included two special questions for a total of $60,254 approved by voters.
   "I don’t think there’s anything to cut," said Mayor Michael Hlubik. "The board has done a good job with expenses."
   School board President Craig Thier told the Township Committee that the district saw increases in five major areas, including salaries, health and benefits, tuition costs for special education students, transportation costs, and litigation costs.
   School district officials said employees are currently covered by state health and benefits and the district will examine other health plan options with private companies to cut costs for next year.
   The budget will maintain current school programs and revise the social studies, art, music and physical education programs.
   Dr. Gibson also told the committee that the district may have to hire a paraprofessional for next year’s kindergarten classes. The district surveys the community to find out how many children will be entering kindergarten and this year found that 47 would be enrolling in the next school year.
   If that number goes up to 50, Dr. Gibson said, the district is required by the "No Child Left Behind" statute to hire a paraprofessional for classes with 25 or more students.
   The paraprofessional would make approximately $16,000 and would receive benefits, officials said. That money would come out of the current expenses portion of the budget, Dr. Gibson said.
   The budget also includes repairs to the school roof and upgrades to lighting fixtures.
   The district will see an increased enrollment of 17 students for next year, school officials have said.