Superintendent Presents $54 Million School Budget

The Board of Education held a public hearing for the budget proposal Monday night, a document directing the finances for the upcoming 2011-2012 year in the Cranford School District. 

While last year's budget sparked layoffs, the 2011-2012 proposal, first approved by the Board of Education at a Feb. 28 meeting, adds three additional teachers and two part-time basic skills teachers. It also resurrects three positions lost last year –two part-time academic coaches for teachers in math and literacy and one full-time supervisor. It will also push $671,384 towards resident tax relief.

The hires are possible through a 1 percent return in state aid money that enabled officials to bring back positions, bumping the district up by $519,472.

Although it was a public hearing, no member of the public stepped up to the microphone to speak Monday. 

The only Board of Education member to cite an opposing view, Vice President Mary Sudiak, said that she has decided to support the proposal but is still leery about the superivsor position, who in addition to supervising math and science subjects will be asked to teach two classes. Sudiak said she believes this is too much of a burden.

"I’m not wholly sold on this proposal," Saudiak said, adding,"as we know teaching requires preparation so in truth it would result in even less time the individual would have to supervise two full content areas."

Behind the 8-ball

Business Administrator Robert Carfagno reminded the audience that over a 2-year period the school district lost $2.1 million in state aid – which means services remain reduced despite the small increase.

"Why that is important other than it being a large sum of money is that, this is the first budget we’re building after last year of having to do so many reductions and layoffs," Carfagno said. "You can slice this up anyway you want, we’re still down (millions) and that’s a big component of where we’re at today…we’re still behind the 8 ball so to speak." 

The middle school sports program is still cut out of the budget, Superintendent Gayle Carrick explained, adding that she believes the teams, pulled in by private programs and clubs that still use Cranford Cougar equipment and facilities, are functionning fine.

"With the cooperation of many many of the athletic teams and groups in Cranford and the collaboration with our athletic director Mr. Marc Taglieri, we seem to be providing an outstanding sports program for those students who are attending our middle schools," Carrick said.

Carrick hinted that the district might bring back some co-cirrcular activities such as the environmental program that did not survive last year's budget constraints. The administration would fund them using extra money garnered from teacher retirements.

"That is something that was a Board of Education goal a few years ago, and this is something we do not want to lose sight of," Carrick said of the environmental program.