Page 4 • Wednesday , May 10 , 2017 • The Hammonton Gazette
School board OK ’ s budget with 3.95-cent tax increase
SCHOOL , from Page 1 owner .
The budget is broken down under the resolution as follows : Budget ($ 50,214,020 total ):
• General Fund : $ 45,565,722
• Special Revenue Fund :
$ 2,252,530
• Debt Service : $ 2,395,768 Total Tax Levy ($ 19,683,373 total ):
• General Fund Tax Levy :
$ 17,948,013
• Debt Service Fund : $ 1,735,360
The $ 17,948,013 General Fund Tax Levy is broken down as follows :
• Pre-budget year adjusted tax levy , including weighted increases for enrollment , inflated by two percent : $ 17,569,323
• Use of adjustment for increase in health care costs : $ 335,070
• Use of banked cap generated in 2014-2015 : $ 30,203
• Use of banked cap generated in 2015-2016 : $ 13,417
Before the budget was voted on , Hammonton School District Superintendent Dr . Dan Blachford gave a presentation about the budget , saying it is not likely to please everyone , but was the best the district could do in spite of the increasing health care costs and a lack of state funding it is facing .
“ Today , we have a budget no one is happy with . There will be people who want more services and opportunities for the students and others that will want cuts in our school budget . No school district can achieve both with rising health care costs and frozen state funding ,” Blachford said .
The lack of state funding was identified by Blachford as “ at least a $ 3 million gap ,” but he declared the district will not let the situation adversely affect the academic success the district has experienced in years ’ past .
Blachford commended the board for managing a budget while dealing with such a shortcoming .
“ This board deserves commendations for the budget . With a $ 3,000,000 shortfall in state aid and increasing health care costs , they have done a wonderful job ,” Blachford said .
Blachford also said the district is short about 30 teachers and eight administrators , and that it could not take on any budget cuts without harming the learning process for students .
A motion to approve the two finance items associated with the 2017-2018 budget was made by board member Manny Bermudez , seconded by board member Raymond Scipione and approved via a nine-to-one vote . Board member Barbara Berenato was the lone ‘ no ’ vote .
Following Blachford ’ s presentation was one from Warren E . Sooy Jr . Elementary School ( WES ) Principal Dr . Kristina Ingemi Erman about the happenings taking place at the elementary school . Erman began by acknowledging the upcoming Teacher Appreciation Week ( May 8 through May 12 ) and thanked all faculty members for the work they do in educating students and perpetuating their social and emotional growth .
“ We ’ re so fortunate to have the faculty that we do , so committed , so dedicated and so very good to our students . Not only are we educating students academically , but all know a strong commitment to encourage social and emotional growth is essential at this level ,” Erman said .
Erman said the school will maintain a strong focus on reading , which will be done in part by supporting a change to the elementary school ’ s summer reading expectations for the 2017-2018 school year . Erman said each grade level
has chosen a book for students to read prior to the start of next year . The selections were chosen by teachers and reflect the end-of-year reading expectations for the previous grade . The decision was modeled after Hammonton ’ s success with the One School , One Book program .
“ We ’ ve learned from our One School , One Book program that sharing the same book builds excitement about reading and creates the foundation for a strong reading community . This is something we want our students to experience , even during the summer months . Each student will begin next year with a shared experience around one book , ready to contribute to classroom discussions and activities ,” Erman said .
This year ’ s program will focus on the works of New York Times best-selling children ’ s book author and illustrator Jarret Krosoczka , who will visit the Hammonton school district in April 2018 , Erman said .
In conjunction with Erman ’ s presentation , Sooy Elementary ’ s safety patrol Members of the Month for the 2016-2017 school year were invited to the meeting and recognized for their efforts in maximizing student safety .
“ This group of students helps keep our school environment safe during arrival and dismissal at both ECEC and WES … With more than 1,300 students from ages four to 12 on campus , safety patrol members have quite a job ,” Erman said .
In other business , the board approved the following finance resolutions during the meeting . A motion to approve all items was made by board member Linda Sacco , seconded by Bermudez and approved unanimously with the exception of an abstention by board member Terri Chiddenton on items 17 and 18 . The following resolutions were listed on the agenda :
Resolution No . 17 05 PH ( W ): Resolved that the Hammonton Board of Education ratify the purchase order lists for March and April 2017 in the amount of $ 251,452.44 . Exhibit B .
Resolution No . 17 05 PH ( W ): Resolved that the Hammonton Board of Education approve the bill list for May 2017 in the amount of $ 466,615.79 . Exhibit C .
6 . Resolution No . 17 05 PH ( W ): Resolved that the Hammonton Board of Education ratify the check lists for April 2017 in the amount of $ 737,521.03 . Exhibit D .
7 . Resolution No . 17 05 PH ( W ): Resolved that the Hammonton Board of Education ratify the April 2017 payroll in the amount of $ 3,016,456.92 . Exhibit E .
17 . Resolution No . 17 05 PH : Resolved that the Hammonton Board of Education ratify a jointure with Winslow Township Board of Education to provide transportation for sports and / or field trips on an as needed basis for school year 2016-2017 at a cost of $ 50 / per hour with a four-hour minimum per trip .
18 . Resolution No . 17 05 PH : Resolved that the Hammonton Board of Education approve to dispose of two broken shredders at the elementary school .
The board also voted on the following personnel resolutions from the agenda . A motion to approve all resolutions was made by board member Linda Byrnes , seconded by Scipione and approved unanimously with the exception of an abstention from board member Chiddenton on all items except No . 25 and 26 :
Resolution No . 17 05 PH : Resolved that the Hammonton Board of Education approve a letter of resignation from Tina Zagarella , early childhood center part-time cafeteria / recess aide , effective April 21 , 2017 .
Resolution No . 17 05 PH : Resolved that the Hammonton Board of Education approve the transfer of Florence LaGuardia , elementary school general office secretary , to the high school child study department .
Resolution No . 17 05 PH ( W ): Resolved that the Hammonton Board of Education approve a letter of retirement from John Finizio , middle school Spanish teacher , effective July 1 , 2017 . Exhibit K .
Resolution No . 17 05 PH ( W ): Resolved that the Hammonton Board of Education approve a letter of resignation from Michele Tome , middle school part-time personal care aide , effective April 29 , 2017 .
The board also unanimously approved the following Programs / Students / Miscellaneous resolution . A motion to approve the resolution was made by board member Thomas Attanasi , seconded by Scipione and approved unanimously :
Resolution No . 17 05 PH ( W ): Resolved that the Hammonton Board of Education approve an ex-
See BOARD , Page 10