Montgomery sets review of rejected school budget

Subcommittee to give progress report Wednesday.

By: Kara Fitzpatrick
   MONTGOMERY — Wednesday’s Township Committee will include a snapshot of the progress that has been made in reworking the rejected school budget since it was voted down on April 19.
   The report will be given by a governing body subcommittee, which consists of members John Warms and Mark Caliguire. Mr. Warms said the update is not likely to include many details.
   "It will be just a progress report in what we’re doing to analyze the budget," he said.
   In an election that created unprecedented turnout — more than 33 percent of registered voters showed up to vote — the $67.9 million budget was turned down by a 2-1 margin. In addition, voters tossed out the $391,705 second question — which would have provided each high school student and teacher with a laptop computer — by a margin of 6-1.
   Information on specific cuts will not be revealed this week, said Mr. Warms.
   Mr. Caliguire agreed. He said information regarding particular line items won’t be divulged. But, he said, "administrative is the area where we are going to first and foremost look" to make cuts.
   Given the turnout during last month’s election, Mr. Warms and Mr. Caliguire said they expect a large attendance at the Township Committee session. "I’ve heard from a lot people who say they are going to be there, so I think there will be a good representation," Mr. Caliguire said.
   During last week’s Board of Education meeting, newly elected President Rich Specht appointed a four-member subcommittee to assist the Township Committee in determining factual information and educational impact when reviewing the budget.
   Sitting on the subcommittee with Mr. Specht are long-time member Reginald Luke, Vice President Andrea Bradley and new member Charles Jacey. Selected members of the administration, including Superintendent Stuart Schnur, will collaborate with the subcommittee.
   Although the Board of Education subcommittee will meet with selected Township Committee members, its role is specific, said Dr. Schnur.
   "The subcommittee’s role is to respond to questions related to educational impact," Dr. Schnur said at the last Board of Education meeting. "That’s all they want. Period."
   The Township Committee must act on a revised budget by May 19. After that deadline, the board then has 15 days to notify the municipality if it will accept the numbers determined by the committee or if it will appeal to the state commissioner of education.