The Holmdel Township Committee unanimously passed a resolution to reduce the $56 million 2010-11 school budget by $1,011,695 at a special meeting May 18.
Voters rejected the district’s proposed $48,192,066 tax levy by a 1,433-1,809 vote April 20.
After the budget failed, Deputy Mayor Patrick Impreveduto and Committeewoman Janet Berk met with Township Administrator Joseph M. Annecharico and the Holmdel Board of Education regarding district spending for the upcoming academic year.
The township also held a public forum on May 6 where residents made comments and suggestions about the school budget.
“I can assure you we tried to be as fair as possible,” Berk said, addressing the public. “I can also assure you that these types of expense reductions we are saving in our resolution are exactly what we are doing comparably to our own [municipal] budget.”
The township resolution calls for a reduction in the number of administrators and non-essential repair work, including one assistant principal for a savings of $110,000, a reduction of $195,000 for maintenance of school facilities, $88,095 in central service salaries, and $120,000 in reductions for security salaries.
Four teachers at salaries of $37,500 would be reduced, as well as $125,000 for improvement of instructional services, $50,000 in undistributed instruction programs, $15,000 in support services, $20,000 for staff training, $40,000 in general administration, $40,000 in noninstructional aide salaries and other miscellaneous expenditures.
The township resolution notes savings will result from retirements of four teachers, who will be replaced at lower salary levels. The resolution also recommends that teachers forgo their 2009-10 retroactive pay raise.
“We worked hard on this budget and we think it’s a fair reduction,” Impreveduto said. “Mind you, we did not cut any academic, co-curricular or extracurricular programs. We are not recommending any cuts in those areas. Our cuts, as Janet [Berk] mentioned, strictly dealt with our buildings and grounds, repairs, a couple thousand [dollars] of budget items here and there, and some salaries on an administrative level.”
The school budget subcommittee, comprising Impreveduto and Berk, took the district’s 86.5 percent state aid reduction — a loss of $2,540,463 — into consideration.
“I do thank the Board of Education for their cooperation,” Impreveduto said. “I know this is not easy for them. I have been on that side and it’s difficult. Hopefully they will prevail and education will stay the quality that it is in Holmdel, and we will all move forward from here.”
Had the budget passed, the spending plan would have generated a 3.5 percent tax increase, or an increase of 4.24 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.
Under the proposed Township Committee resolution, spending would be reduced by 2.6 cents to 1.6 cents, a 2 percent reduction in the tax levy overall, according to Impreveduto.
Following the Township Committee meeting, board President Ray Tai announced the Holmdel Township Administrators Association (HTAA) volunteered to take a wage freeze for the upcoming academic year at a special Holmdel Board of Education held May 19.
The administrator’s bargaining unit would also include a 1.5 percent reimbursement of health care costs.
“We really appreciate that they are not only taking a job without an increase, but they are doing the 1.5 percent nonsalary contribution to the health benefit,” Tai said.
The Board of Education is presently reviewing the recommendations by the Township Committee and is scheduled to announce its decision to accept the cuts at its regular business meeting on May 26 at 7 p.m. at Holmdel High School.
“We will go with Michael [Petrizzo], the business administrator, and review the cut and recommendation from the Township Council,” Tai said. “Also we will see how we can minimize the impact to our students.”
Denise King, the Holmdel Township Education Association (HTEA) president, asked if the Board of Education could comment on the specific line item recommendations from the township, and Tai said the board is still reviewing the information and could comment at this time.
In response, King explained that many of the cuts — particularly in the teacher, noninstructional aide and maintenance worker categories — are cause for concern.
“I wasn’t asking about cuts in personnel, but that is what they recommended,” King said.
Every district employee was sent a notice of nonrenewal on April 30, which the HTEA saw as a departure from the union’s collective bargaining agreement in the past.
The union members are currently working without a contract in place, King explained.
“The first thing was the breakage for retirees, then there was $120,000 security for the high school and the fact we never got a raise yet, and you want us to give that back too,” she said.
The Board of Education and the HTEA are negotiating on an expired contract and have entered fact-finding, a legal mediation process.
“There is a process in developing a budget, and the same process will be used for developing this revised budget,” Tai said. “I don’t see any difference in the current [negotiation] situation and past practice.”
King asked how the union members should provide input about the cuts, and board member Mike Sockol said the board welcomes suggestions.
“Obviously by looking at the budget, we are going to do whatever it takes to try and retain staff,” Sockol said. “The staffing of this particular district is critical in helping maintain the excellence of the district.”
He added, “Obviously we have a challenge based on the decision made by the Township Committee last night [May 18]. But if you are asking us, Do we want to hear suggestions?, of course we want to hear suggestions.”
Board member Robin Wetmore stated that Holmdel would not be appealing to the Monmouth County executive superintendent.
Before the proposed tax levy was announced, Superintendent Barbara Duncan addressed hundreds of teachers, residents and members of the HTEA at the May 12 Board of Education meeting, addressing the decision to send notices of nonrenewal and the budget in general.
“I am sorry for the pain this is causing,” Duncan previously stated. “I am sorry for the sleepless nights, and I’ve had many myself. We have a fabulous school district. I don’t think there is any district that compares to Holmdel. Everyone in this audience has contributed to that. Believe me, I take no satisfaction in what has to be done, but I will tell you this … in good times, it is easy to lead. It is the difficult times like we are experiencing now that leadership is not easy.”