Budget Plan Proposed For Cranford Schools

Officials bracing for state aid losses to the Cranford School District breathed in relief when the money tide turned in their favor last week – the township received an extra $519,472 increase.

The  for the next school year, approved by the Board of Education at a Feb. 28 meeting, will funnel $259,736 to resident tax relief and the rest to hiring back staff – one full time math and science supervisor position, two part time teachers, two part-time academic coaches and three teachers at the elementary level.

"The budget was developed and built originally under the assumption that we might possibly have a loss of aid," explained Business Administrator Robert Carfagno at a Board of Education meeting Monday night. "It was a pleasant surprise to get a positive for a change, considering what we went through last year."

Besides state aid worries, school administrators also had to bear in mind the state-imposed 2-percent cap on property taxes. Business Administrator Robert Carfagno explained that the proposal more than meets the state requirement, below the maximum by $352,141.

"(It) would have increased taxes further if we were to go to the maximum tax increase allowed by current state law," he explained in an e-mail to Patch.

Next year's property tax rate: Administrators project the tax rate, currently $2.773 per $100 of assessed property value, will increase by 10 cents next year – a far cry from last year's $209.84 tax rate increase.   

Appointments: Superintendent Gayle Carrick explained that the proposal to add a science and math supervisor would be welcome workload relief, in the wake of last year's state aid cuts of $2.5 million – when about three supervisor positions were axed.

The literacy coach, also sliced from the budget last April and brought back in the proposal, instructs teachers on best instructional practices – a component that Carrick cites as very important to teachers and principals.

"One of the things we are looking at in great depth this year is literacy, early childhood literacy, addressing literacy significantly in first grade, and we want to continue to provide all our teachers with a great deal of skill in the area of reading and writing," Carrick said.

Carrick emphasized that the two part-time teacher appointments proposed in the budget plan will not be assigned to a particular school in the district.

"It gives us the flexibility to schedule these people where we may need," Carrick said, adding that since the positions are part time it's "also a cost savings because we’re not looking at benefits."

The school district will also be looking into bringing on a part-time professional development coordinator as the staff considers expanding teacher learning programs in the district. 

Conflicting views: Board member Mary Sudiak added that she'd like to see more discussion on what items should receive money as the Board of Education moves forward with the budget proposal. 

"I'm not sure I'm sold on all these other positions," she said, citing the remodeling of science rooms at the high school and extracurricular clubs as two areas that could also benefit from the funds.

Board member Michael Caulfield also questioned the academic coach  appointments in a dire budget year.

"Is this the right time to bring back a math and literacy coach? That’s for us to decide," he said.

Carrick defended the coach proposal, saying that undergraduate programs as a general rule do not provide teachers "with the academic skills they need for reading and writing," and "it does not mean teachers aren't doing their darndest."

Middle school sports: Officials also said they discussed restoring the middle school sports program – cut in its entirety last year – but ultimately decided to let the program rest in peace as funding might dry in the future.

"We found that while we have the money this year we might not have the money next year," Carrick said.

What's next: The public hearing on the proposed budget will be held on March 28 at 8 p.m. in Lincoln School. The residents of Cranford will vote on the final budget proposal on April 27.