2009 Cranbury School Budget
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PostPosted: Tue, Mar 10 2009, 1:47 pm EDT    Post subject: Re: 2009 Cranbury School Budget Reply with quote

neighbor wrote:
Where can I find the proposed budget with last year's actuals? Line by line...?


I don't believe they've released that to the public yet. I am waiting for it too. You can see this years's budget compared to last' years on their website but not this year to next year...

Even when you can see it line by line it won't help you know what increased, like salaries, may be state contract mandated versus at the discretion of the school.
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Michael



Joined: Thu, May 29 2008, 8:55 am EDT
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PostPosted: Thu, Mar 12 2009, 1:04 pm EDT    Post subject: Re: 2009 Cranbury School Budget Reply with quote

http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2009/03/12/cranbury_press/news/doc49b9388657933536609389.txt
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PostPosted: Thu, Mar 12 2009, 2:43 pm EDT    Post subject: Re: 2009 Cranbury School Budget Reply with quote

Interesting that Jamesburg is getting 700% the rate of state "aid" per student as Cranbury. Or put another way, our Cranbury tax dollars are going to the state to subsidize other school districts. We give far more than we get, so the "aid" we are getting is really nothing of the sort -- it is actually a "tax" to support other districts. Yet the State feels the best way to reduce property taxes is the take high performance / value ratio districts like ours and consolidate them into other, often less effecient districts. Yeah, that makes sense...
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Cranbury Press
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PostPosted: Thu, Mar 12 2009, 6:15 pm EDT    Post subject: Schools get state aid numbers Reply with quote

Schools get state aid numbers
Thursday, March 12, 2009 12:36 PM EDT
By John Saccenti, Managing Editor

Local school districts can expect to get the same, if not more, in state school aid this year.

State aid figures released Wednesday show that Cranbury and Monroe will receive the same amount in state aid for the 2009-10 school year as they did for the current year while Jamesburg can expect to receive about $230,000 more.

According to the figures, Cranbury can expect to receive $769,042 in state aid, the same as it received for the current school year. Of that, it will receive $321,757 in transportation aid, $381,573 in special education categorical aid and $65,712 in security aid. The aid amounts to $859 per student, according to the figures.

Jamesburg can expect to receive $4.689 million in state aid, $234,493 more than it received for the current school year. Of that, the district will receive $4.02 million in equalization aid, $289,438 in transportation aid, $470,053 in special education categorical aid and $137,771 in security aid. The aid amounts to $5,897 per student.

School Business Administrator Tom Reynolds said the school board expected to have a budget workshop after The Cranbury Press’s mid-afternoon deadline to discuss how the money would be used.
Monroe can expect to receive $4.668 million in state aid, the same as it received for the current school year. Of that, it will receive $2.043 million in transportation aid, $2.226 million in special education aid and $398,375 in security aid. The aid amounts to $878 per student.

http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2009/03/12/cranbury_press/news/doc49b9388657933536609389.txt
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Cranbury Press
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PostPosted: Thu, Mar 26 2009, 3:20 pm EDT    Post subject: CRANBURY: Tuition drives school plan Reply with quote

CRANBURY: Tuition drives school plan
Thursday, March 26, 2009 1:03 PM EDT
By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer

CRANBURY — The Cranbury Board of Education plans to present this year’s proposed $17.6 million budget to the public Tuesday.

As proposed, the budget will set the tax rate at 90.95 cents per $100 of assessed valuation, according to a press release from the Board of Education.

Under that rate, the owner of a home assessed at the township average of $636,540 can expect to pay $5,789 in school taxes for the 2009-10 school year, an increase of about $349, according to Joyce Picariello, the district’s business administrator.

The budget will increase the total general fund from $16.672 million by about $1 million, translating into a 1.6 percent increase in the tax levy, according to the release.

”This budget is as responsible a spending plan as we could draft while preserving the educational priorities that have made Cranbury School a model in the state,” said Board President Joan Rue in a press release. “The unprecedented circumstances of this year required us to make hard choices. Through a line by line review of all our spending, we were able to keep the tax levy increase to a bare minimum — even in a year when the town’s overall property wealth fell by almost 3.5 percent.”

Ms. Rue stressed the board succeeded in trimming the spending plan without being able to touch the two largest line items in the budget, the Princeton High School tuition and staff and salary benefits, according to the release.

The amount Cranbury pays for students to attend Princeton High School increased by 9 percent, from $16,749 to $17,608 per student for 2009-10, Ms. Picariello said.

The amount the district pays in wages and benefits has increased by 2.9 percent, from $8,255,062 to $8,492,571, she said.

These line items alone accounted for 76 percent of the total budget, Ms. Rue said.

The fund budget, or surplus, saw an increase from $268,197 to $398,197 while the debt service also saw a slight increase of about $2,300 to $910,826.

In their efforts to limit spending, board members decided on a 34 percent cut in textbook purchases, a 15 percent cut to the technology budget and an 11 percent cut to supplies.

Board members also have been reevaluating some of the district’s anticipated expenditures and upgrades, a number of which have been postponed during this tight budget season.

”Slowing down upgrades of projects like SmartBoards (a type of electronic chalkboard for classrooms) is a hard decision, but one that was made easier when we consider the sacrifices we know our constituents and neighbors are making this year,” said Lynne Schwarz, chairwoman of the board’s Finance Committee, in the release.

The district also hopes to save money by consolidating bus routes that serve the Cranbury School, routing students on five rather than six buses in the coming year, the release stated.

School officials also have been exploring and expanding shared services wherever possible, it stated.

Superintendent John Haney said that, despite the difficult economy, Cranbury School will continue to maintain the highest level of instruction and curriculum. He said further cuts might have started to impact programming, staffing needs and the students, according to the release.

”Despite flat funding from the state, the Board of Education has made sound budgetary decisions that allow for the success of our children while showing respect for the taxpayer.”

The board plans to present its 2009-10 budget to the public at Cranbury School, 23 N. Main St., during Tuesday’s 7 p.m. meeting.

http://www.centraljersey.com/articles/2009/03/26/cranbury_press/news/doc49cbb4746f129347968937.txt
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Guest






PostPosted: Thu, Mar 26 2009, 3:51 pm EDT    Post subject: Re: CRANBURY: Tuition drives school plan Reply with quote

Cranbury Press wrote:
The budget will increase the total general fund from $16.672 million by about $1 million, translating into a 1.6 percent increase in the tax levy, according to the release.


The Cranbury School is increasing spending by 5.27% from last year compared to this year.

Really lighted chalk boards? Is that really needed? That seems like a want and not a need. Will lighted chalk boards really increase our childrens test scores?

It makes me wonder where else they could cut further. Seems like there is alot of fluff in the school budget not to mention they need to begin talks on renegotiating the contract with Princeton HS.
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Guest






PostPosted: Thu, Mar 26 2009, 3:58 pm EDT    Post subject: Re: CRANBURY: Tuition drives school plan Reply with quote

Cranbury Press wrote:
The amount Cranbury pays for students to attend Princeton High School increased by 9 percent, from $16,749 to $17,608 per student for 2009-10, Ms. Picariello said.


The School Board needs better negotiators. How could we accept a 9% increase? Princeton HS need our students and our dollars. Isn't this public schooling? This is getting awfully close to private school prices.
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Guest






PostPosted: Thu, Mar 26 2009, 4:34 pm EDT    Post subject: Re: CRANBURY: Tuition drives school plan Reply with quote

Guest wrote:
Cranbury Press wrote:
The amount Cranbury pays for students to attend Princeton High School increased by 9 percent, from $16,749 to $17,608 per student for 2009-10, Ms. Picariello said.


The School Board needs better negotiators. How could we accept a 9% increase? Princeton HS need our students and our dollars. Isn't this public schooling? This is getting awfully close to private school prices.


Is this accurate? I had heard that Princeton does not need Cranbury kids and that because of their increased enrollment might be closing the deal to allow Cranbury kids to attend their school in the future. I have no facts to this just have heard this rumor.
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Guest






PostPosted: Thu, Mar 26 2009, 4:50 pm EDT    Post subject: Re: 2009 Cranbury School Budget Reply with quote

This proposed budget translates to a 5.3 % increase from last years budget. That is nearly double the rate of inflation during a time when unemployment is skyrocketing and people are losing their jobs. How can the school board think they can sell this to Cranbury taxpayers ?

I can't wait to vote against this budget. Taxpayers should be sending a signal to the Cranbury School Board that the party is over - time to wake up.

Wage increases should be frozen during such tough times. Do our teachers need a raise more than our children need books ? Has Cranbury Township even considered another option to paying Princeton HS 9% more ?
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Guest






PostPosted: Thu, Mar 26 2009, 10:01 pm EDT    Post subject: Re: CRANBURY: Tuition drives school plan Reply with quote

Guest wrote:
Really lighted chalk boards? Is that really needed? That seems like a want and not a need. Will lighted chalk boards really increase our childrens test scores?


What are you talking about?

First of all, the article references "smart boards" not lighted chalk boards or lighted chalk. SmartBoard makes a white board and projector system that integrates with a laptop in the classroom and allows for Interactive learning programs. They are pretty useful and are already in some Cranbury classrooms.

Second, the article listed it as an example of a budget cut. Which I agree with given the tough times and the other increases in expenses.
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Guest






PostPosted: Thu, Mar 26 2009, 10:04 pm EDT    Post subject: Re: 2009 Cranbury School Budget Reply with quote

How long is the term of the deal with Princeton? I presume we lock them in for long terms, like 5-10 years at a time?

And it doesn't make any sense to accept a large increase unless we get something in return like a long guaranteed lock-in. The trade-off should be 10 years of guaranteed continuation.
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Guest






PostPosted: Thu, Mar 26 2009, 10:18 pm EDT    Post subject: Re: 2009 Cranbury School Budget Reply with quote

Guest wrote:
How long is the term of the deal with Princeton? I presume we lock them in for long terms, like 5-10 years at a time?

And it doesn't make any sense to accept a large increase unless we get something in return like a long guaranteed lock-in. The trade-off should be 10 years of guaranteed continuation.


wonder what will happen to real estate in cranbury if kids were sent to hightstown???
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Guest






PostPosted: Thu, Mar 26 2009, 10:29 pm EDT    Post subject: Re: 2009 Cranbury School Budget Reply with quote

Guest wrote:
Guest wrote:
How long is the term of the deal with Princeton? I presume we lock them in for long terms, like 5-10 years at a time?

And it doesn't make any sense to accept a large increase unless we get something in return like a long guaranteed lock-in. The trade-off should be 10 years of guaranteed continuation.


wonder what will happen to real estate in cranbury if kids were sent to hightstown???


I wonder how much Monroe would charge? They are building a second high school.
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Guest






PostPosted: Thu, Mar 26 2009, 10:30 pm EDT    Post subject: Re: 2009 Cranbury School Budget Reply with quote

My child is no where near HS age, however, I remember the days of Lawrence. I know people who went to Hightstown under the old agreement. There is no way I want a repeat of this situation. I'd negotiate the PHS deal, but I would not look at this as something to take off the table. From real estate prices to our kids, Princeton is a very valuable asset.
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Guest






PostPosted: Fri, Mar 27 2009, 1:20 pm EDT    Post subject: Re: 2009 Cranbury School Budget Reply with quote

Correct me if I'm wrong; Hasn't the Princeton HS increased our tuition every year over the last 3 years?
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Guest






PostPosted: Fri, Mar 27 2009, 1:34 pm EDT    Post subject: Re: CRANBURY: Tuition drives school plan Reply with quote

[quote="Guest"]
Guest wrote:

First of all, the article references "smart boards" not lighted chalk boards or lighted chalk. SmartBoard makes a white board and projector system that integrates with a laptop in the classroom and allows for Interactive learning programs. They are pretty useful and are already in some Cranbury classrooms..


A smartboard is not a necessity and maybe a cool addition to learning. However, this is just a tool and there is no proof that using one will increase testing scores of our children. To me that is a want and not a need.

With the school asking an addition $1 million, residents out of work and many others taking a pay cut; I don't think the smartboards or any other non-necessity item should be even considered by the school board.

We are a small town and need to look not only at this year's budget, but we need to plan ahead and view expectation for the next 5 years. What will happen if COAH hits us, will our schools need to consolidate, will cranbury have to build a new HS? With the Cranbury school to constantly ask for $1 million extra per year over the last 3 years; when will the increased spending halt?
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