Board of Education Meeting Tonight
- Mar 17, 2025
- 2 min read
There is a BOE meeting tonight, 03/17/2025, at 7:00pm at the High School in the cafeteria.
The full agenda is available here: https://go.boarddocs.com/nj/shrsd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DE7H2B462753
Andrea Little once again has written to the board, this time regarding the budget, available here https://go.boarddocs.com/nj/shrsd/Board.nsf/files/DEFNYN623BD7/$file/Little%20-%202025-03-04.pdf.
The gist of Ms. Little's Letter seems to be that South Hunterdon has sufficient funds and budgeting that the standard 2% annual tax cap is more than sufficient. She references the additional $355,367 the district is receiving from the State, however that number needs to be analyzed in more detail (in particular, specific monies have shifted between different line items).
The preliminary budget Ms. Little is referring to is from the "working session" from last month. The presentation for that budget is available below.
If you compare this budget presentation to prior year's working budgets, you will see many differences. This is due to the Free Money Raining From the Sky period (aka Federal ESSR funds for covid to schools) running out last year. Given the focus on tax cap levvies an general nervousness around the budget overall, it is surprising to see the Superintendnet continue to push for millions to be spent on capital improfvements, this time spending millions to turn the football field from grass into an artificial turf field. This is happening as the High School building entering its lowest enrollments ever recorded.
The actual preliminary budget resolution is discussed later in the meeting, the resolution details are available here: https://go.boarddocs.com/nj/shrsd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DEFL945569D9
At press time, the budget resolution included this language: "BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the South Hunterdon Regional School District Board of Education will withdraw up to $650,000 from Capital Reserve in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-14.1(h) to".
This is not a typo or unuusal. South Hunterdon resolutions regularly have typos, omissions, and other major issues. Sometimes the BOE corrects it, often they do not.
The Bills List is continuing to be less controversial as budgets tighten. The full list is available here: https://go.boarddocs.com/nj/shrsd/Board.nsf/files/DEQQDT68D951/$file/Bill%20List%20-%20March%2017%2C%202025.PDF
Another $900,000 went to the Middle School Construction, whose budget is rapidly running out.
Signal Electric is getting $60,000 for "Elementary School Cabling".
Jane Ellen Lennon, our Director of Curriculum who has interesting views on grades and statistics, received over $8,500 in tuition reimbursement.
A resolution is presented also to partially finance the turf field.
**** More on this article as the agenda is updated.****
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