1. Verona Board of Education
Public Hearing
Budget
April 28, 2015

2. Budget Timeline November 2014
Administrative team identifies budgetary needs
December 2014
Building budgets submitted to Superintendent of Schools for review
Jan/Feb 2015
Board of Education Finance Committee meets regularly to review budget requests
March 10, 2015
Board of Education public budget work session
Adoption of preliminary school budget
April 28, 2015
Adoption of final public budget- Final Budget Presentation
April-June 2015
Public presentations
November 2015
School Board Election- Two seats up for re-election

3. What This Budget Buys Staff
New staff in HBW due to the house model proposed for next year
Reading Intervention Grades 1-4
Increase in vocal and instrumental music at VHS and HBW
Innovative Programs/ Implementation Five Year Strategic Plan and Co-curricular
Curriculum improvements, K-12
Professional Development in Reading and Writing Workshop
STEM initiatives
125 new Chromebooks to replace desktop computers
Incremental budget increase to Hockey and Lacrosse programs
Instructional Supplies and Professional Development
Reading and Writing Workshop supplies and training
Materials for Syracuse University Dual Enrollment Courses
Professional development and materials for the new AP World History and AP Human Geography Courses
Teachers attending the Columbia University Reading workshops
Reading workshops and guided reading training through FDU. It is the Orton Gillingham approach for struggling readers.
Google Teacher Academy- 16 staff members attending.

4. 2015-16 Curricular Initiatives
New Course Offerings beginning September 2015
VHS
Humanities Course, Speech Arts Course Grade 12
AP World History, AP Human Geography
Introduction to Psychology
Astronomy, Medical Biology
HBW
Technology, Education, and Design (TED): Grades 5-8
Computer Science: Grade 7
Next Generation Science Pilot: Grade 5-8
English Language Arts: A Differentiated Approach: Grades 5-6
Elementary
Project AdventureBound: Grade 4
Next Generation Science Pilot: Grades 1-8

5. 2015-16 Curricular Initiatives (continued)
Curricular Alignment of Instruction & Assessment
VHS
Introduction to Psychology (new)
CCSS: Algebra I (revision), Geometry (revision)
AP Calculus AB/BC (Collegeboard ----> UbD)
NGSS: Biology, Environmental Science, Medical Biology, Astronomy, AP Chemistry
HBW
ELA Grades 5&6: A Differentiated Approach
ELA Grades 7&8 (revision)
CCSS: Math 7 On/Above, Math 8
Technology, Education & Design (TED): Grades 5-8
Computer Science 7
Elementary
ELA K-4: Reading & Writing Project
Social Studies: Grades 3-4 (revision)
Project AdventureBound: Grade 4
Next Generation Science Pilot: Grades 1-8

6. 2015-2016 Special Services Plans
Continuing Programs
Special Education Classes (PreK-8)
In-class and Pull-out Resource Center Programs (PreK-12)
Supplementary Aides and Services (PreK-12)
Extended School Year (ESY) Program (PreK-8)
Continuing Services/Activities
Related Services (Speech/Language, OT, PT) (PreK-12)
Full-time Behavior Analyst
CHILD/Special Services Co-Sponsored parent workshops
Purchase of supplies/materials for instructional purposes
Purchase of assistive technology for instructional purposes 6

7. Proposed B&G Projects for 2015-2016
District - Replace interior doors for improved security
VHS - Automate lockdown system
VHS - Electrostatically paint 600 corridor lockers
HBW scrape/paint exterior trim
Maintenance vehicle - Utility body w/ plow
Remodel K&1 bathrooms in elementary schools
District - Shade replacement
Replace HBW stage lighting and controls
HBW – Convert room 223 to science classroom
HBW - Create STEM Lab in wood shop
Refinish (sand, paint, poly) VHS old gym, HBW gym
Re-Key District
Forest Ave - Install new flooring over existing VAT in corridors
Budget $203,000
Maintenance Reserve $65,000
Capital Reserve $89,000
Total Budget $357,000

8. SHARED SERVICES Joint snow removal with the Township of Verona
Township of Verona pays for trash removal
Pooled health, dental, workman’s comp and liability insurance with other school districts
Pooled purchasing of school and custodial supplies with other school districts
Shared costs for special education transportation with other school districts

9. Budget Facts and Constraints
Tax levy cap of no more than 2% for school budget growth pursuant to
NJ Legislation passed in 2010.
Verona has elected to use $223,839 of banked cap (this is needed due to increases in healthcare costs of between 8-9%).
The net result is a general fund tax levy increase of 2.70%.
The banked cap of $139,367 is available in for possible use.
Increase to the homeowner is $155 per home. It is the net difference between the increase in the general fund and the decrease in the debt service fund because of the bond refinancing. The average assessed home is $359,800.

10. 2014-15 PROPOSED EXPENDITURES - $31,835,7924%

11. Revenue Revenue % Local taxes 94.3% State Aide 2.9% Extraordinary Aid
0.64%
Tax Relief
0.89%
Tuition
0.59%
Miscellaneous Revenue
0.68%

12. Budget Comparison $16,694,909 $16,948,076 $253,167 1.51% $4,690,638
Current
Budget
Proposed
Dollar Change
% CHANGE
SALARIES
$16,694,909
$16,948,076
$253,167
1.51%
BENEFITS
$4,690,638
$4,747,272
$56,634
1.21%
SPECIAL EDUCATION
$6,484,422
$7,033,097
$548,675
8.46%
NON-DISCRETIONARY
(professional development, curriculum writing, custodial and maint. supplies)
$2,014,437
$1,932,998
($81,439)
-4.04%
DISCRETIONARY
(regular classroom
and co-curricular supplies)
$1,107,950
$1,174,349
$66,399
5.99%
TOTAL
$30,992,356
$31,835,792
$843,436
2.72%

13. Benefit Costs
Cost of health benefit plan. Includes health, dental and vision.
Family $26,854
Husband and Wife $22,651
Parent and child $15,269
Single $10,258
Total employee contribution for next year is approximately $1,000,000
190 staff members carry benefits at a cost of $3,212,000
61 staff members opt out and the cost is $292,000
Social security, pension and unemployment costs approx. $890,000
Workman’s compensation insurance costs approx. $200,000
Board liability and property insurance costs approx. $175,000

14. Non-discretionary and Discretionary Spending
Copier and technology leases
Staff in-service and professional development
Testing
Legal and auditing fees
Postage
Phones and internet service
Advertising
Liability insurance
Office supplies
Buildings and grounds
Discretionary
Health supplies
Guidance supplies
Library and audio visual supplies
Classroom supplies
Athletic and co-curricular supplies
Computer and printer purchases

15. TOTAL SPENDING PER PUPIL
Comparable Districts
SCHOOL DISTRICTS
TOTAL SPENDING PER PUPIL
CLASSROOM SUPPLIES
EXTRA-
CURRICULAR
AVG. PROPERTY TAXES
BERKELEY HEIGHTS TWP
18,981
181
521
11,839
CALDWELL-WEST CALDWELL
17,161
241
479
9,992
CEDAR GROVE TWP
17,371
365
446
9,885
CRESSKILL BORO
17,792
324
396
14,809
GLEN RIDGE BORO
16,623
362
470
18,212
KINNELON BORO
19,307
309
414
13,495
MADISON BORO
17,622
251
541
11,863
MAHWAH TWP
21,090
254
413
7,961
NEW PROVIDENCE BORO
16,543
245
13,091
PARK RIDGE BORO
23,340
758
602
11,417
RAMSEY BORO
19,601
213
11,606
VERONA BORO
16,219 (12)
251 (5)
387 (12)
10,593 (4th lowest)

16. College Acceptances Amherst College Loyola University Bard College
Boston University
Brandeis University
Brown University
Bucknell University
Carnegie Mellon University
Colgate University
College of William and Mary
Columbia University
Cornell University
Elon University
Georgetown University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Grinnell College
Hamilton College
Harvard College
Johns Hopkins University
Lehigh University
Loyola University
Muhlenberg College
New York University
Northeastern University
Northwestern University
Princeton University
Skidmore College
Syracuse University
The College of New Jersey
The George Washington University
University of Delaware
University of Maryland
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Pennsylvania
University of Rochester
University of Virginia
Villanova University
Yale University