School tax rate to increase by 8 cents
By: Lea Kahn
Township voters embraced an 8-cent tax increase for schools Tuesday as part of the $44.5 million school budget for the 2000-01 academic year.
Voters also returned two incumbent school board members and elected a newcomer to the Lawrence Township Board of Education. The terms are for three years. There was no contest for the three available seats.
By a vote of 716-501, voters approved the $34.3 million tax levy to support the $44.5 million budget for 2000-01. The remainder of the budget revenue comes from state and other sources, including $2.4 million in tuition payments from Washington Township to send high school students to Lawrence High School.
The spending plan passed in five of the six voting districts. The budget was narrowly defeated — by a vote of 89 “no” votes to 83 “yes” votes — in District 2, which covers part of the southern end of the township at the Slackwood Elementary School.
School district officials were both pleased and grateful that voters approved the tax levy to support the 2000-01 school district spending plan.
“I always hope for a good outcome, but I don’t take anything for granted. I am grateful that the voters supported the school district,” said outgoing Superintendent of Schools Dr. Claire Sheff Kohn.
“I am especially happy because it means the new superintendent will have a solid financial base for going forward,” said Dr. Kohn, who is leaving the Lawrence school district to pick up the reins in the Princeton Regional school district July 1.
In the school board election, incumbent school board members Michael Winka and W. Michael Brindle received 980 votes and 961 votes, respectively. This is Mr. Winka’s second term, and Mr. Brindle’s fourth term.
Newcomer Michael J. Wilson received 963 votes. Mr. Wilson will replace outgoing school board member Dr. Ellen Giarelli, who did not seek re-election.
The newly elected school board members will be sworn into office at the annual reorganization meeting May 1. The 7:30 p.m. meeting will be held at the Lawrence High School Library.
Of the 15,995 registered voters in Lawrence Township, 1,222 cast their ballots — or a 7.7 percent turnout rate. This is a lower turnout rate than the average of 10 percent, school district officials said.
As a result of Tuesday’s vote, the property tax rate to support the budget will go up from $1.41 per $100 of assessed value to $1.49. This means the owner of a house assessed at the township average of $155,000 will pay $2,309 in property taxes — up from $2,185 last year.
School board President Gerri Hutner said she was pleased with the results. Although the voter turnout was small, the voters’ approval of the budget shows that school district officials prepared a fiscally responsible budget, she said.
Ms. Hutner praised Dr. Kohn and School Board Secretary/Business Administrator Nicholas Puleio for preparing a budget that kept expenses low, even though more staff is going to be hired next year.
“Speaking on behalf of the school board, the community is behind us and they will show their support as we go forward with the upcoming (school bond) referendum,” she said. “Everyone realizes we have been very honest and responsible in planning for the schools.”
Mr. Brindle and Mr. Winka said their top priority is to find a replacement for Dr. Kohn who is leaving the top administrative post, effective July 1.
“We need to find a new superintendent and come to some resolution of the space problem. Those are the two biggest things facing the school board at this point. Finding a new superintendent is No. 1 on the burner,” Mr. Brindle said.
Growing enrollment means the school district will have to build a new school or expand some of the existing ones, he said. There is a need for more square footage, based on all of the information and reports the school board has received, he said.
“We will have to distill it all down and go to the public with a proposal. It’s not just at the high school. There are some space problems at the intermediate school and the middle school,” Mr. Brindle said. “People keep moving into town with children and we have to provide for them.”
Mr. Winka agreed that hiring a new superintendent is at the top of the list for the 2000-01 edition of the school board. It also is important to find replacements for Lawrence High School Principal Anthony Watson and Assistant Principal Evelyn DiMaria, both of whom are retiring this year.
Putting together a school facilities referendum to deal with the growing space crunch at Lawrence Intermediate School and Lawrence High School also is important, Mr. Winka said. It is one of the key reasons he sought re-election, he added.
Mr. Wilson could not be reached for comment.