School board approves $175M tentative budget Proposed budget comes with lower increase than the one defeated last year BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer WOODBRIDGE - The Township Board of Education approved a $175 million tentative school budget at a special budget meeting last week that increases taxes by $97.50 for the average homeowner. "This has been one of the lowest budgets in recent years," said Schools Superintendent Vincent Smith at the special meeting on March 12. "This is a tentative budget that can still see changes to it. We have worked hard in reducing areas and line items to serve the students as well as the taxpayer." The proposed budget for the 2007-08 year is $175,028,093, up $6,824,207 from last year. The school tax rate will rise 11 cents from $4.25 to $4.36 per $100 of assessed valuation. The average home is assessed at $75,000. The school district received 11.1 percent for state aid funding after five years of no increase. Historically, the district has received less than average state aid funding. New curriculum initiatives are being developed as well as four new high school athletic programs this year. The curriculum initiatives include a language arts workshop for seniors, reading and writing workshop for grade four; connected Math II for grade seven, special education math geometry for juniors; everyday math for grade two, math ASI for freshmen, Advanced Placement environmental science, civics for grade six, Chinese for grade seven; and Chinese Level II for the high school. "There was a lot of discussion to get everyday math for grade two into the budget for the 2006-07 school year," said Lois Rotella, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. "I'm happy to say we have added it into the 2007-08 budget." Rotella also said Chinese was well received this past year as a pilot program in Colonia Middle School and Colonia High School. The four new high school athletic programs include swimming, volleyball, ice hockey and winter track. "We are lucky to have big savings for our new ice hockey program," said Smith. "Mayor [John E.] McCormac has made an agreement with United Skates and a commitment to us that the teams will receive no charge for ice time when they practice and for games. There will be one team for boys and girls." School officials said shared services and interlocal agreements have helped the school district. Middlesex County has provided $1.9 million to the school district to renovate the two baseball fields; one softball field; and a soccer field at Woodbridge High School. Bids have gone out for those projects. The township agreement with the Denver-based distribution facilities developer ProLogis in January has provided $5 million to the school district to build a new track at Colonia High School, build five tennis courts at John F. Kennedy Memorial High School in Iselin, and installation of synthetic turf on the Woodbridge High School football field. The district has shared services and interlocal agreements with the township Cable TV 35 and 36, the computer resource program, maintenance and grounds equipment, fiber optics technology and the Woodbridge Fire Department. Advanced Practice Nurse Health Services for students with the Central Jersey Visiting Nurse Association, the "Y's Up" GEPA-Prep after- school program for all district middle schools with the Woodbridge YMCA; the "Fit Kids Program Project" and professional development with Educational Technology Training Center [ETTC] in East Brunswick are all being shared. Last year's defeated budget came as a shock, but school officials are confident about this year's budget. "Taxes are still going up, but there is a difference between $112.50 [for the average homeowner] last year and $97.50 [for the average homeowner] this year," said Smith. "It's important for everyone to take a look at the budget and ask questions." The school district will hold two public budget hearings at 7 p.m. on March 19 at Avenel Middle School and at 7 p.m. on March 26 at Avenel Middle School. If you are unable to attend the hearings, e-mail questions to school_budget@woodbridge.k12.nj.us. For more information visit www.woodbridge.k12.nj.us. School budget elections will be held on April 17. Residents can register up to 21 days prior to Election Day [March 27, 2007]. Voter registration and absentee ballot applications are available at all Woodbridge Township Schools; the Woodbridge Township School District Administration Building on School Street; at Town Hall, 1 Main Street; and online at www.state.nj.us/lps-/elections/vote_doe.html or www.sta-te.nj.us/lps/elections/electionshome.html.