Tentative school budget outlined at Board meeting

At last night’s Board of Education meeting, Princeton Regional Schools outlined a preliminary budget for the 2011-2012 school year that minimized impact on student and faculty while working within the recently legislated 2% cap on school tax increases.

(Click here to see the preliminary 2011-2012 school budget)

“It does not slash programs for students, and it does not repeat the losses in 2010-2011,” Judith Wilson, Superintendent for the Princeton Regional Schools (PRS) district, told the Board and the roughly thirty community members present at the meeting, held at John Witherspoon Middle School.

In particular, three new faculty positions in math and social studies were created at Princeton High School to address the problem of overcrowded classrooms.

Despite an anticipated budget gap of $2-3 million, Princeton Regional managed to present a balanced budget statement, with cuts mainly in administrative and service costs.  It was also helped in part by higher-than-expected savings from privatization and layoffs and retirements in the past cycle, as well as a recoup of 20% of the $3.7 million in state aid that had originally been lost.

However, Wilson emphasized that it still provided little room for capital projects apart from top priority health and safety issues, describing the budget as “conservative” and on a “tight margin.”  She added that the increasing transfers of funds to charter schools – now over $4.9 million - as required by state law, contributed significantly to district costs.

In response, the district is looking at private revenue sources, including foundations and grants, to fund needed initiatives otherwise impossible under the limited annual budget, such as further integrating technology into the school environment.  Several Board members highlighted during the meeting the considerable support from the Princeton Education Foundation.

“We need to be a lot more aggressive and creative, to look for other revenue streams,” said Wilson.

The Board approved the tentative school budget yesterday night, to be reviewed by the Borough and Township Councils for legal compliance.  A public hearing presenting the budget is scheduled for March 22, 2011.

“Tonight is not so much about the content but to highlight the meaning behind it,” said Wilson of the proposed budget, promising more details at the hearing.  The current budget stands at $80,280,690, with a local tax levy of $62,190,302, a 2.52% increase from last year.

The Superintendent added that this would be asked as a single question on the ballot.  She had previously proposed a $1.5 million second question.  This would have added just over $90 each to the basic tax impacts of $102.92 and $97.69 for Township and Borough residents respectively.

“It is not the climate to have a second question.  The needs exist but cannot be met at this time,” Wilson explained.

The Board took pains to reassure the public that the administration was putting in hard work to ensure that money is spent wisely.

“I feel very strongly that we have financial responsibility to taxpayers.  We are all taxpayers ourselves,” said Daniel Haughton, a Board member on the Finance Committee.  Haughton added that the district was currently exploring the feasibility of using solar energy and heating in school buildings in an agreement with the Municipal Township, a measure that could save a lot of money in the long run.

Apart from releasing the budget statement, the Board of Education also approved a new Civility policy, to promote mutual respect and orderly conduct among students, employees and the public.

“We’re an educational community, with an obligation to model civil behavior for students,” said Walter Bliss, chair of the Personnel Committee.  “Our vision for the Princeton student is one who models civility in all aspects.”

In other district initiatives, Princeton Regional Schools is working with Princeton University to establish a Princeton Teaching Academy, to train and develop a pool of teachers for public schools, further innovate teaching methods and technology, while continuing improvement for existing staff.

The public forum component of the Board meeting saw several members affiliated with the Valley Road School-Adaptive Reuse Committee (VRS-ARC) as well as non-profit organizations such as School Plus, which runs enrichment programs, and the Princeton Arts Council, speak passionately about preserving the old Valley Road School Building.  Outlining a breakdown of major repair and renovation costs, they argued that the VRS-ARC proposal to turn it into an educational community center was financially viable, with many non-profits already expressing interest in tenancy and funding.

“I’ve constantly looked for places, we need a bigger space to do educational programs in healthy eating,” said Judith Robinson, who runs the Princeton Farmers Market by the Princeton Public Library.  “Europe is preserving buildings, but we’re knocking them down.”

About the Author

Audrye Wong

Princeton University, Class of '13