On March 28, the Holmdel Board of Education approved a general fund levy of roughly $44.4 million to support our district’s 2007-08 budget, and a separate question of $1.9 million to support new initiatives in technology, reduce class sizes, and enhance our health services and the security of our students. On April 17, Holmdel citizens will be asked to show their level of commitment to our children’s education. I urge you to vote yes on both the regular levy and the separate question.
Our district has long educated high-achieving graduates at a below state average cost. For example, nearly 19 percent of this year’s senior class earned National Merit recognition, an honor achieved by only 5 percent of their peers statewide. Last year our average SAT score placed us 12th overall – and fifth among nonvocational schools – in New Jersey. Even so, our comparative per-pupil cost was nearly $700 less than the state average.
For several years now, the growth of school budgets has been capped around 4 percent. Unfortunately, our costs have increased more rapidly. As we all know, health insurance, utilities and fuel costs are up sharply, and salaries and benefits have increased at above-cap rates. On the income side, state aid has been flat for five years, plus the state has shifted to us pension contributions they used to make on our behalf. The net result is that fixed costs eat up more of our budget each year. This has meant less and less money is available to maintain programs, much less fund the improvements and upgrades that have given our students the high-quality education which first attracted most of us to Holmdel.
We have worked hard to stretch the dollars you have entrusted to us. We are part of purchasing co-ops for fuel, natural gas and school supplies, and share facilities and personnel with the township. We buy computers, equipment and other goods through the county improvement authority, which offers very low interest rates. We have refinanced our bonds twice to save money. We have had to cut teachers and other staff.
Now our students need your help. Our computers have aged to the point where they hurt our rankings in NJ Monthly. Our class sizes have grown to unacceptable levels. We want to increase the security of our schools, and reduce class sizes to permit more individualized instruction. We want to phase in new computers and interactive technology to enhance learning and prepare our students for college and the world of work.
These goals can only be accomplished with your support. These are costly projects, but without them I firmly believe our children’s education and the reputation of our schools will suffer. Please join me in voting yes for both the budget and the separate question April 17.
Barbara Garrity
Holmdel Board of Education member