MB School Budget:
An Educational Plan

	Mendham Borough
	Board of Education
	2007-2008
	Proposed Budget

 Judith McAndrew, President
Patric Wallace, Vice-President

	Neil Cartusciello
	Lauran D’Alessio
	Susan Florance
	Stewart McClure
	Mary Roe
	Katrina Tarplin
	John Vitale
	Patric Wallace

Finance and Facilities Committee

				Mary Roe, Chair
		Lauran D’Alessio
		Judith McAndrew
		John Vitale
		Judith Favino, Business Administrator
		Janie Edmonds, Superintendent

The school budget

	is the financial plan for accomplishing the
	district’s educational objectives.

What are the sources of revenue?

	Local taxes:     92%
	State Aid:   4%
	Federal Aid:   2%
	Other (misc./bal appropriated) 2%

Education is labor intensive.
Salaries and Benefits = 80%

	91 employees (64 teachers) support the education of 678 students
	$6,776,548

How do we manage this largest expense-- salaries and benefits?

	We seek to employ teachers with more than one area of certification.
	We plan fair and conscientious negotiations, the core of personnel expenses.
	We support teachers in becoming highly qualified to teach in additional areas.
	We work to reduce teacher turnover by supporting teacher growth.

II. Special Education Costs

	This mandated program, essential to the education of increasing numbers, serves children between the ages 3 and 21.
	17.78% of our budget (salaries, tuitions, transportation, professional services, and supplies) is required for special education.
	The total cost is $1.5 million. Just 12.5% of that is funded by the government.

Salaries, Benefits & Sp Ed’n = 83.8%

How do we plan to manage the expenses of Special Education ?

	We are bringing the program for  pre-K children with disabilities home to MB this fall.
	An ongoing goal is to help children thrive in inclusive classrooms through differentiated instruction.
	Our special educators study and implement solid research-based strategies to support their students’ success. (targeted professional development)

III. Operating District Facilities

	Both buildings see continual, increasing use
	126,300 square feet of building space
	23 acres of land
	Basic maintenance expenses:
	Salaries & benefits
	Maintenance and contracts for services
	Capital projects
	Historic zone requirements
	Operations: utilities, insurance, equipment, supplies

How do we manage the costs of operations?

	We strive to manage facilities costs by:
		Renting the facilities to outside groups
		Locking in the best utilities rates
		Finding data-based heat and electrical savings
		Sharing services
		Participating in cooperative-purchase plans
		Getting competitive bids for projects and supplies
		Planning efficiency modifications

Salaries, Benefits, Sp Education,
     & Operations = 89.4%

V. What’s left for everything else?    10.6%

	Textbooks and library books
	Computer leases and network
	Staff training
	Curriculum supplies
	Related arts materials
	Administrative fees: phone system, auditor, legal fees, insurance...
	Athletics: transportation, equipment, fees, salaries
	Health supplies
	Etc.

What guides our spending?      1

	Community Values
	Residential neighborhoods –› few ratables
	Excellent public schools attract families and increase real estate values
	Small class sizes –› more teachers
	More related subjects –› more teachers

What guides our spending? 2

	Community Values, continued
	Quality instruction –› student achievement
	Up-to-date instruction & updated technology
	Safe facilities –› watchful attention to students, buildings, & fields

Initiatives supported by this new budget

	The Columbia University Teachers College Writing Workshop implementation starting in 2006-2007 will be continued AND
	We will start to integrate the Teachers College Reading Workshop with the writing initiative.
	Math instruction to support access for all students to algebra, the gateway math course, will continue to be refined.

PSD Initiative

	A new program for our Borough’s pre-school children with disabilities will bring them home.
		Kindergarten readiness will be increased through a program aligned with their future curriculum
		The cost of this state-mandated program will be brought under district control
		The Team applied for a grant to cover start-up
		Integration of this program permits a some general education students to also participate.

Technology Initiative

	A new three-year plan is under construction. It includes providing
		Wireless access across the district
		Increased student and teacher access to dependable hardware--laptop computers and printers based in realigned servers
		Four-year lease cycle for hardware keeping hardware under warranty

Cost Saving Initiatives Grow

	Renting space
	Sharing professional development consultants with neighboring districts
	Aligning curriculum with neighboring districts
	Peeling stamps
	Leasing computers
	Applying for grants

Peeling Stamps

A few more pieces of data:

	Morris County average per pupil cost: $11,599
	K-8 avg. per pupil cost: $12,520
	Mendham Borough avg. per pupil cost: $11,589

Morris County Per Pupil Averages

The Ballot Question

	Resolved, that there should be raised for the General Fund $7,906,241 for the ensuing school year (2007-2008).  The school district has proposed programs and services in addition to the Core Curriculum Content Standards adopted by the State Board of Education.

Your help is essential.

You can help—all year.

	Please join us at meetings and stay informed. (www.mendhamboro.org)
	Sign up for the weekly Bulletin
	Please call if you hear something that you want to talk about.
		http://www.state.nj.us/njded/guide/2006/k-8.pdf  for state comparative spending information

Please Vote : Tuesday, April 17

	Mendham Borough Fire House--First Aid Room
	7:00 A. M. – 9:00 P. M.
	Please take time to vote.