MILLTOWN — School officials presented the goals of the proposed 2014-15 school budget at the Board of Education meeting last week in advance of a March 18 public presentation.
School district goals include addressing the impact of unfunded mandates, such as Common Core State Standards and the PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) technology-based standardized assessment; complying with changes in teacher- and principal-evaluation regulations; accommodating the growing student population within existing facilities; capitalizing on state grant opportunities; and continuing to upgrade safety and security throughout the district.
School officials have not yet disclosed the financial impact of the budget.
Budget drivers include curriculum, instruction, facilities, and safety and security.
In the area of curriculum, common core math editions are being added for third and fourth grade, and materials will be added to additional class sections at Parkview School. Also, a redesign and development of the middle school mathematics curriculum and electives are proposed at Joyce Kilmer School.
In the area of instruction, Parkview School would receive additional first-grade and thirdgrade classes, a Tier III reading intervention for second and third grades, and mobile technology devices.
To address the growing student population, plans call for fourth-grade classes to be moved to Joyce Kilmer School next year. Additional mobile technology devices will be purchased for the school.
Current ROD (Regular Operating Districts) grant projects include site drainage at Parkview; HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) improvements at Joyce Kilmer; and building repointing at Joyce Kilmer and Parkview.
At Joyce Kilmer, the main entrance and board offices will be relocated, and the current board offices will be restored as classrooms.
To boost safety and security, the schools’ outside utilities would be fenced, and crisismanagement software would be purchased for both Joyce Kilmer and Parkview. Hallway surveillance cameras are proposed at Joyce Kilmer.
The Milltown school budget will have to absorb an increase in tuition payments, as the amount paid to Spotswood, where Milltown sends its high school students, is projected to increase by 6 percent. Charter school tuition is projected to double, and enrollment in the Middlesex County Vocational and Technical High School is increasing.
Superintendent of Schools Stephanie Brown said the budget presentation on March 18 will include proposed financial information. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the Borough Council chambers, 39 Washington Ave., and will be televised on Milltown TV Channel 15.