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MILLSTONE: School district facing project shortfall in 2013-14

Resignation leaves vacancy on board during budget season

By Jane Meggitt, Special Writer
   MILLSTONE — Although preliminary figures indicate the 2013-2014 Millstone school budget is facing a $688,434 shortfall, the school board is planning no school tax levy increase for local taxpayers.
   At the Jan. 28 Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Scott Feder stressed the draft budget had very preliminary numbers, representing close to a 3 percent over the current budget’s figures.
   ”No one says we’re presenting a $688,434 increase to the public,” Mr. Feder said. The current 2012-13 budget is $32.7 million budget, of which $26.3 million is raised by the local tax levy.
   Business Administrator Bernard Biesiada said Gov. Chris Christie will introduce the state budget Feb. 26, and school districts should receive their state education aid figures two days later, which will clarify the local budget situation. The Millstone School District has until March 5 to send its preliminary budget to the county office of the state Department of Education.
   The Board of Education plans to hold a public hearing on the school budget sometime between March 21 and 28. As long as the budget doesn’t exceed the state-set 2 percent cap on tax levy increases, it does not need voter approval and can be adopted by the board after a public hearing.
   Mr. Biesiada gave a 2013-2014 budget presentation, which showed district revenues decreasing by $464,943, which coupled with an appropriations increase of $223,491, creates a total projected shortfall of $688,434.
   The budget assumes flat state aid at $4,746,839; a 25 percent reduction in federal funding, which this year totaled $450,000 in two different programs; and a reduction in the amount of tuition the district pays to the Upper Freehold Regional School District (UFRSD) for Millstone students attending Allentown High School.
   Mr. Biesiada’s presentation noted several current obstacles facing the board in its budget planning, including new required budget software; a 15 percent increase in employees’ health and prescription insurance costs, which currently total $716, 864; and capital projects totaling $70,000 that deal with health and safety issues.
   Unfunded mandates that require additional spending include state-required teacher evaluations; Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) standardized testing; security and unknown technology requirements.
   Major changes in revenue for the district from last year include a total decrease of $337,953 in tuition from other educational agencies; a $40,000 drop in interest income; a $20,000 drop in rental income; and a $27,000 drop in miscellaneous receipts. Major changes in the spending column include $950,420 less for tuition expenses due mainly to declining Millstone enrollment at Allentown High School; an additional $116,060 for special education support services; and an additional $43,045 for classroom instruction.
   Budget season is among the busiest for Board of Education members, and now the nine-member board is temporarily down one person. Mr. Biesiada announced the resignation of board member Denise Touhey on Jan. 28.
   President David DePinto read Ms. Touhey’s resignation letter, in which she stated her new job as principal of Deans Elementary School in South Brunswick and family obligations no longer allows her time to serve on the board.
   Mr. Biesiada said he would send out notices to local papers regarding the available seat, requesting that interested township residents submit their curriculum vitae for review by 4 p.m., Feb. 7. While the board has 60 days to interview and select a replacement, members said they wanted to move as soon as possible.
   The interview process for potential board members will be conducted in public at 7:30 p.m. during the Feb. 11 Board of Education meeting. Mr. Biesiada said the person selected by the majority vote of the board would serve until January 2014. Potential candidates for the Board of Education must be at least 18 years old, a resident of Millstone for at least one year, and not have any pending legal claim against the school district. School board members are volunteers who do not receive a salary.