The South Orange – Maplewood Board of Education will vote Monday on sending a preliminary budget to the county that eliminates a total of 16 staff positions, including nine teachers (seven at Columbia High school and two at the middle schools), two media specialists (one at CHS and one at the middle schools), and three administrators. The elementary schools will see two positions cut, but two more added for a net loss of zero.
The BOE initially discussed eliminating 19 positions; however, it appears they intend to use the district’s banked cap of $409,103 to make fewer cuts, thereby raising taxes by 2.43%.
The resolution to use banked cap, which the BOE will vote on separately, notes, “The funds are needed for teaching staff to meet the increasing enrollment needs of the district. The district has fully exhausted all eligible statutory spending authority and must increase the base budget in the amount of $409,103 for the purpose of maintaining the academic program in compliance with the state and local academic goals. The additional staffing is necessary for the 2016-17 operating budget and this need must be completed by June 2017 and cannot be deferred or incrementally completed over a longer period of time.”
The meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Administration Building at 525 Academy Street.
See both ordinances, with budget documents, here.
