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A controversial state law that caps annual school district spending increases at 2.5 percent has forced the Board of Education to place an extra question on the April ballot seeking money to pay for teachers, supplies and middle school renovations.
From NorthJersey.com March 31, 2005
By MONSY ALVARADO
STAFF WRITER
HACKENSACK - A controversial state law that caps annual school district spending increases at 2.5 percent has forced the Board of Education to place an extra question on the April ballot seeking money to pay for teachers, supplies and middle school renovations.
School officials asserted Wednesday that if voters reject the questions, teaching jobs could be in jeopardy.
"There's a possibility we would have to eliminate some teaching positions,'' said school board President Frank Albolino. "This law presents an unfair burden to public schools in the state of New Jersey. It's forcing us to do things we really don't want to do."
The law, which was passed in July, reduced the annual increases in district spending from 3 percent to 2.5 percent. The measure also requires districts to cut the budget surpluses they keep on hand to no more than 2 percent of their entire budgets next year. The limit had been 6 percent.
On April 19, in Hackensack, besides voting on the $73.2 million proposed 2005-06 school spending plan, voters will also decide whether to let the district spend an additional $627,500.
Schools Superintendent Joseph Montesano said the money would pay for four teaching jobs, most of which had been included in past budgets. But this year, if the district had left those jobs in the general fund, it would have exceeded the state cap limits, he said.
"The new law requires us to get our budget to a certain amount,'' Montesano said. "If we didn't have a second question, all those programs would be eliminated. We have no choice."
If passed, the second question would allow the district to spend $188,542 for two instrumental music teachers and one industrial-arts teacher. An additional $62,108 would be used to pay for a new speech teacher.
The positions were chosen because state law limits what can and cannot be placed in second questions, Montesano said.
"These things are not absolutely connected to the instructional day, so if in the tragic event we don't have them, we will still be able to provide the day-to-day education,'' he said.
The district also wants to use $35,500 for athletic equipment, $88,500 for replacement of classroom computers and $65,000 for student database software.
Montesano said the board also wants to convert office space at the middle school into classrooms. The Board of Education offices, which are housed in the building, would then relocate. The district is earmarking $188,000 for that purpose.
If the second question fails, the City Council will have to review it and make recommendations, just as when a budget is defeated, school officials said.