Bd. of Ed. president explains budget dilemma

On Feb. 12, the Brick Township Board of Education, administration, parents and community members came together for the second of two public meetings in less than a week. The goal of those meetings was to weigh the district's options and make some difficult decisions to balance the projected 2008-09 school year budget in the face of a $3.5 million shortfall. Another equally important aim of those meetings was to be open with families whose children attend Brick schools as well as the community at large and

listen and respond to their suggestions and concerns.

The administration did not receive projected state aid figures until Jan. 23, totaling approximately $700,000,MUCHless than we anticipated.With less aid and a state-mandated budget cap of 4 percent, we were faced with a substantial budget shortfall.

In the days leading up to the first meeting, the administrative teamwas able to find ways to trim the budget, but there was still a $3.5 million shortfall. District administrators presented options to help the balance the budget, ranging from closing schools to asking parents to pay for graduation caps and gowns.We then provided an opportunity for every parent, student, teacher and community member in attendance to make suggestions on how we could balance the budget.

The board met a second time on Feb. 12, and following additional public input, voted on a tentative 2008-09 school year budget, which was sent to the county superintendent for review on Feb. 15.As of this writing, the tentative budget is still under review by the county superintendent's office.

We have made every effort to preserve the core programs and continue to provide a quality education and opportunities for every single Brick Township student from our youngest preschoolers to this year's junior class, the graduating class of 2009.

In adopting a tentative budget of $141,058,983, the board voted to close the Laurelton School and the Primary Learning Center. The board also adopted a number of other measures to help bridge the gap including eliminating the positions of four teachers and six paraprofessionals from special education at a savings of $403,450, cutting athletic coaches for a savings of $70,000 and eliminating six new positions for a savings of $492,400.

The decision to close the Primary Learning Center was the most difficult. However, as our enrollment declines it has become clear that our kindergarten children can be placed in their "home" schools without impacting class size or the quality of their programs. In fact many parents contacted board members and administrators

indicating that this was their preference.

Now is the time to write our state and federal legislators to write and express your outrage about New Jersey's School Funding Reform Act that was rushed through the state Legislature in January that may make it impossible to maintain the high educational standards we currently enjoy.

The Brick public school district is below the adequacy spending level calculated by the state Department of Education, spending just over $9,000 per student, among the lowest in the state. Instead of being rewarded for living within our means, the taxpayers and children of this community are being penalized!

Continue to attend meetings, visit the district Web site for updates on the budget, contact Superintendent Mel Persi or any of the board members if you have questions or concerns, attend the budget hearing on March 27 and VOTE in the board/budget elections on April 15.

None of these decisions have been easy to reach and are not taken lightly. But this difficult time has also engaged the community and provided an opportunity to come together to develop workable solutions that will put us in better shape in the future.

Please visit the Board of Education's Legislative Action Center on the district's Web site at www.brickschools.org. Take a few minutes and send a letter to our representatives letting them know that the citizens of our great community are being short changed by a state funding formula that as passed by the state Legislature, will have serious consequences for our children and community over the next four years.

Cynthia McCarthy is president of the Brick Township Board of Education.