School Board Sets Budget Review as Top Goal

The Township Board of Education said Monday a close review of the annual school budget will be the district's top priority for the 2010-11 school year, especially in light of lost funding and state mandates that impact spending.

A second goal set during the meeting will be to examine the district's drug and alcohol education programs for students in kindergarten through high school. Board members also said they would seek to increase public participation in meetings in ways that do not incur major costs for the district.

The board's annual goals, which were discussed but not officially adopted, were similar to those presented in previous years, school officials said. A final presentation and vote are scheduled for the next board meeting, set for Sept. 27 at 7 p.m., in the auditorium at the William Annin Middle School. The public will be able to comment at that time.

The board conducts an annual review of goals for the upcoming school year. Board Vice President Bev Cwerner said the board must chose objectives that are measurable, achievable within one year and fall within the board's area of responsibility.

Board members started the discussion by reviewing its three goals from the prior school year. Board members had individually and anonymously submitted their additions and modifications to that list before the meeting, with a chance to express opinions on alternatives.

The tentative goals are:

• Goal 1: "Develop a budget model which enables a thorough and speedy analysis of the school district's priorities in light of changes in funding levels and mandates. Prior to finalizing model, review other high achieving, low cost school districts for cost saving practices and determine if Bernards Township School District should adopt similar practices to ensure that the highest priority is given to student achievement."

During the discussion, board members said the board has been diligent in pursuing the objective, despite such financial challenges as a $3.8-million loss of state funding for the current school year.

Board members also discussed ways to make the budget, as presented to the public, more "user friendly" in a way that would allow residents to understand and potentially contribute ideas.

Board President Susan Carlsson said the public usually becomes extremely involved during meetings when the budget is discussed. Given this year's cost restrictions and staffing burdens, remaking the budget into a different format might not be practical at this time, she said.

Board members also referred to a public letter written by Schools Superintendent Valerie Goger in which the superintendent said school officials have been visiting other high-achieving school districts, examining their programs and appraising the township's own school programs. Goger had written that recommendations for the 2011-12 school year could be made this fall, and those changes could be incorporated into that year's budget.

• Goal 2: "Review K-12 drug and alcohol prevention programs with the goal of recommending changes and/or improvements as necessary to address problem of underage drinking and illegal drug use. If possible, determine why Bernards Township rates are higher that the national average."

Board members agreed to review programs as an ongoing goal for this year.

• Goal 3:  Increase public participation and awareness without incurring large costs. 

The board's discussion focused on how improving communication with the public could lead to greater support and involvement with the township school system. The school district already is looking at televising board meetings on public access television, according to the discussion. Other initiatives will be examined on an ongoing basis, board members said.