GUEST OPINION
By Linda Mitchell
Citizens of Hopewell Valley: Do you expect a significant decline in the cost of gasoline? Do you expect the price of electricity to drop? Do you expect healthcare costs to take a surprising nosedive? Your Board of Education doesn’t either.
The fixed costs for running a district, along with the increase in state unfunded mandates and other state restrictions, have made operating a school district in New Jersey within the dictated budget restraints nearly impossible. Impossible that is if you wish to maintain the quality of the facilities, programs and resources for staff and students that Hopewell Valley expects. The current budget, passed by voters in April, contained a state-determined cap allowing a 3 percent increase. Already the state has further reduced next year’s budget cap to a 2.5 percent increase.
That is why school districts such as ours must, from time to time, ask the taxpayers to understand the severe need for a referendum. This is the district’s best method to fund some of the important items that can not be squeezed into an annual budget. Further, a referendum at this time affords Hopewell Valley the opportunity to receive state grant funds toward these long-term investments. On Sept. 28, voters of Hopewell Valley will be asked to consider an important referendum for our community. All items have been painstakingly chosen from a larger list of possibilities and align with our Strategic Plan. There is no fluff in this referendum.
In the last few weeks, you have seen Guest Opinions written by several fellow members of the school board. Each person has discussed the details related to one category in the referendum. For your convenience, these articles are available on our school district Web site, www.hvrsd.k12.nj.us, under the heading of Referendum Pages.
Specifically, I wish to share information related to the expenditures in the referendum that relate to our music education program. Six years ago, at Timberlane Middle School, there were 130 sixth, seventh and eighth grade students participating in the band program. This year, band membership will exceed over 200 students. There is a serious shortage of instructional and rehearsal space for these musicians. The referendum would provide for a new band room that can hold 94 musicians per grade, an instrument storage area, a small office and a soundproof lesson room that holds five students at a time. With these improvements, the middle school orchestra that has been practicing in the school’s lobby, can then take over the old band room. In the past six years, this orchestra has grown from 45 students to over 108. As Peter Griffin, the visual and performing arts supervisor, so aptly said: "This is the type of problem you want to have."
Besides this construction at Timberlane, the referendum contains funding for the creation of Advanced Placement classes in music theory and advanced levels of band and vocal music, all at the high school level. As always, these items speak to our continued striving to meet the individual needs of all of our students. In the last few years, the number of students participating in the choral program has tripled. During the same time frame, the high school band expanded from 60 members to 110. Compared to nearby districts, Hopewell Valley was found to be significantly lacking in the variety of classes needed to provide ample differentiation in music instruction, supporting the wide range of abilities and goals within the high school.
The music facility and program improvements discussed here are estimated at approximately $900,000 of the referendum, and will immediately impact over 500 students at the middle and high school levels. That does not even speak to the huge wealth of musical talent and interest we have brewing at the elementary level. Clearly this is a sound investment, and will provide continuous instructional resources for the elementary students heading to Timberlane all the way up to and including our most advanced music students at the high school.
In Hopewell Valley we expect our schools to be strong and the students to graduate with a fine education. We must continue to invest in the maintenance of our facilities. We must be sure our programs and resources grow and evolve so that all students are current in their knowledge and training. Also, we must jump at this rare opportunity to receive $4million in state grant funding towards eligible costs within this referendum. The $15.5 million referendum that will be before you on Sept. 28, asks your support for upgrading aging facilities, maintaining effective class sizes at the growing middle school, continuing the progress in upgrading our technology, and providing the high school with differentiated music education.
It is in everyone’s interest to have a strong and vibrant school district. Those of us on the school board, take our responsibility to the taxpayers and the students equally seriously. We ask that you take the time to learn about the referendum, and be an informed voter on Sept. 28.
Linda Mitchell is a member of the Hopewell Valley Regional Board of Education.