BRIDGEWATER-RARITAN REGIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT School Budget 2010-2011 3/31/10: FINAL

Development of the Budget September 26 Requests submitted by staff October 22 Budget Information Sessions for the public November Meetings with principals December 1, 10 Board Finance Committee Meetings December 15 Introduction to the Budget, presented to Board and public January 12, 26 Public input sessions at Board meetings January, February Continued review by Finance Committee Feb – April Staff and Community presentations March 16 Governor’s Budget Address March 18 State Aid Notices March 18 Tentative Budget approved by Board March 22 Tentative Budget to County Exec Supt March 23 Board meeting March 26, 31 Public hearing and Board adoption of budget April 20 Election/Budget Vote

Community Presentations Thursday, February 18, 7:00 p.m. @ Hamilton Wednesday, March 3, 7:30 p.m. @ Adamsville Thursday, March 4, 9:30 a.m.@ Van Holten Wednesday, March 10, 7:00 p.m. @ Milltown Thursday, March 11, 10:00 a.m. @ Eisenhower Thursday, March 11, 7:30 p.m. @ Hillside Tuesday, March 16, 8:30 p.m. @ High School Wednesday, March 17, 7:00 p.m. @ Bradley Gardens Thursday, March 18, 9:00 a.m. @ J.F.K. Tuesday, March 23, 6:00 p.m. @ Raritan Town Hall Tuesday, March 23, 7:00 p.m. @ Middle School Thursday, April 8, 6:30 p.m. @ Crim Wednesday, April 14, 7:00 p.m. @ High School (Athletic Boosters)

Board Budgetary Goals Involve the public in the budget process as early as possible Minimize tax increases Minimize budget increases Maintain reasonable class size, K-12 Maintain and stabilize services that meet the needs of all students, including … Special education Gifted/talented Academic support English Language Learners Implement Strategic Planning recommendations Continue improving the K-12 Language Arts Literacy program

Tax Levy Increase & Budget Increase Comparison 2009-2010 2010-2011 Adopted Budget Adopted Budget % Decrease/Increase REVENUE TAX LEVY $113,403,359 $119,016,825 +4.95% STATE AID $ 12,696,218 $ 5,431,470 -57.2% OTHER $ 802,183 $ 1,061,183 +32% FUND BALANCE $ 6,252,802 $ 3,917,403 -37.3% $133,154,562 $129,426,881 -2.80% 5

General Fund Operating Budget History Year Expenditures Increase 10-11 $129,263,024 -2.80% 09-10 $133,154,562 3.35% 08-09 $128,832,572 3.95% 07-08 $123,935,134 4.28% 06-07 $118,730,840 7.76% 05-06 $110,178,038 7.21% 04-05 $102,771,060 6.68% 03-04 $96,335,960 6.09%

Budget Reductions Chronology DRAFT #1: DECEMBER 15 $813K Initial personnel reductions (13) due to declining enrollments, low class sizes, & state regs DRAFT #2: FEBRUARY 23 TIER 1 $2.0M Due to 09-10 State Aid loss. (reduced from $4M by using 2011-2012 surplus) DRAFT #3: MARCH 9 TIER 2 $2.4M Due to projected 15% loss of 2010-11 State Aid DRAFT #4: MARCH 18 TIER 3 $4.6M Due to 55% loss of State Aid DRAFT #5:MARCH 31 TIER 3 $2.1M Increased tax levy to offset (revised) reductions, reflected $1.4M givebacks by BREA If needed… DRAFT #6: APRIL 21 TIER 4 ? If budget does not pass and further cuts are required by the Town Councils 7

Summary of Budget Reductions Reduction of 63 total teachers, K-12 (7.0% reduction) Reduction of 5 total administrators/managers (10.6% reduction) Reduction of 24 total support staff (8.9% reduction) Elimination of district custodial services, replaced with outsourcing Reduction of 6.5 reading recovery teachers, and Reading Recovery delivery model replaced with Intervention Specialists model Elimination of School Wide Enrichment in grades K-6 Elimination of 2 AI (Academically Independent) classes in 6th grade and reduction of 2 AI classes in grades 2-4 Elimination of cycle classes in 5th and 6th grade Elimination of Spanish instruction in 1st and 2nd grade Reduction of 2 librarians at the middle school and high school, reduced to one at each building 8

Summary Budget Reductions (continued) Elimination of a half-time guidance counselor at Eisenhower Reduction of a full time guidance counselor at Hillside, reduced to part-time Elimination of non-instructional assistants (library assistants, copy assts) Elimination of World Language lab assts at the middle school and high school Reduction of district secretarial staff Reductions in new textbook adoptions, staff development, technology software/hardware Elimination of middle school intramurals Elimination of district-funded middle school environmental trip Elimination of new high school or middle school band and athletic uniforms Elimination of intermediate school after school clubs and transportation Reduction of district facilities improvements 9

Summary of What Remains in Budget The 9-Period day at the high school allowing for 2 elective classes each semester Intervention Specialists for struggling students, K-12 E (Enriched) classes in science, social studies, language arts and math in 6th grade Multiple world language choices in middle school Six world language choices in high school Spanish instruction in grades 3, 4, 5, and 6 Daily world language instruction in middle school and high school AI (Academically Independent) classes in grades 2-5 Full 5-8 Language Arts adoption Instrumental music in grade 5 and 6 Ice Hockey and Winter Track at the high school Middle school athletics, clubs, and late busses

Where To Go Next if Further Cuts Are Needed … K-4 class sizes exceeding 25 5-8 class sizes approaching 30 9-12 class sizes exceeding 30 High school 8-period day High school athletics District-wide fine arts Administrative and support staff Suspending all curricular program and text adoptions

Board Options 1. Use automatic waivers to offset State Aid reduction (increases tax levy) 2. Use additional spending proposal question(s) to offset State Aid reductions (increases tax levy) 3. Use combination of #1 and #2 (increases tax levy) 4. Keep budget as is, reflecting $9.0M worth of reductions (maintains tax levy increase at 4%) 12

Finance Committee Recommendation BUDGET QUESTION: 4.95% tax levy increase Resolved, that there should be raised for the General Fund $119,016,825 for the ensuing school year (2010-2011).  It has been determined that each municipality’s share of the above-mentioned amount is as follows: Bridgewater Township     $105,129,101.36 Raritan Borough             $ 13,887,723.64 13

School Budget Average Tax Increase Base Budget 4.95% tax levy increase *Bridgewater $ 267.65 **Raritan $ 153.39 *Based on average assessed home value in Bridgewater of $424,237 ** Based on average assessed home value in Raritan of $320,306

Budget Expenditures Personnel 78.6% Transportation 6.5% Purchased Professional Services 4.2% Utilities 3.1% Out of District Placements 2.9% Supplies/Texts 2.7% Communication/Leases/Rentals 1.2% Capital/Maintenance .2% Other .7%

Comparative Costs (taken from the NJ DOE 2009 Comparative Spending Guide) BRRSD Somerset Avg. Total cost per pupil $ 12,704 (6th lowest) $ 13,146 Administrator per pupil cost $ 1,112 (3rd lowest) $ 1,395 Student to administrator ratio 214 to 1 (leanest) 169 to 1 Faculty to administrator ratio 22 to 1 (2nd leanest) 17 to 1 Total Somerset districts compared: 17

Voting History Over 27,000 registered voters: 2009 passed by 1279 votes, 5923 total votes 2008 passed by 211 votes, 4587 total votes 2007 defeated by 242 votes, 3968 total votes 2006 passed by 158 votes, 4250 total votes 2005 passed by 119 votes, 4863 total votes 2004 defeated by 146 votes, 3580 total votes 2003 defeated by 281 votes, 2495 total votes 2002 defeated by 288 votes, 3490 total votes

How to Help Become informed - Ask questions Join a campaign: BREA “Kids First”, CSA and PTO “Get Out the Vote” Reach out to the unregistered voter Registration link on www.brrsd.k12.nj.us Remember the “4-year law” Reach out to the “inactive” voter Provide an absentee ballot request form Make a call Give a ride Get to the polls Spread the Good News about BRRSD!

Annual School Election Important Date APRIL 20 Annual School Election 7:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Please remember to vote!!!