Manalapan-Englishtown Cuts Four Positions in Time for New Budget

During a Tuesday meeting, the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School Board of Education eliminated four teaching jobs in the district, and discussed the possibility of two additional position cuts for the 2011/2012 school year.

The Board acted preemptively so that they can approve a preliminary budget after Governor Christie makes his budget announcement on Feb. 22.

“We now start with the revenue and we take things out of the budget that we currently have,” said Superintendent John Marciante, Jr., explaining the process.

The Board cites retirement and decreased enrollment as primary reasons for the decision. The school affected the most is Manalapan-Englishtown Middle School, which has seen a decline in the number of rising 6th and 7th graders, according to Marciante.

At MEMS, one special education teacher and two secondary education teachers have announced their retirement, and Marciante anticipates one more attrition.

Board Member Michele Stipelman raised an objection to the elimination of an elementary education teacher position at Taylor Mills School. This elimination was not based on retirement, but on decreased enrollment, an idea that did not sit well with Stipelman.

“It is now Feb. 15, and I have no idea what a budget even looks like, and you’re asking me to pick and choose things, and it’s very hard to do,” said Stipelman, admitting her frustration.

A clause in the agenda item states that the decision is based on flat state aid funding. The recommendation may be “withdrawn, amended, or reconsidered” should actual state aid amounts increase or decrease.       

“I personally would feel more comfortable not even taking it out right now,” said Stipelman, who served on the BOE six years ago when the budgeting process was different.

Marciante said that he did not want to call a special meeting to address this one item, but Board Secretary and Business Administrator, Veronica Wolf, said it would not be necessary.

“The budget is not a static item. It’s a living, breathing document,” said Wolf. “It’s not that mission-critical.” 

The motion to eliminate the position was tabled in a 4-3 vote among the members present. Board Vice President Joseph DePasquale and Member James Mumolie were absent for this meeting.

Following this vote, a motion to eliminate one elementary education teacher at an unspecified school was unanimously approved by the members present.
According to Wolf, a preliminary budget must be approved between Feb. 22 and March 4. The Board may have to call an emergency meeting regarding budgeting prior to their meeting March 1.

During the meeting, Marciante also addressed classroom overcrowding, an issue that has been brought forth from a district school that has a high population of third graders. 

At Marciante’s recommendation, the board approved a policy in which Grades 1 through 3 have an upper limit of 26 and in Grades 4 and 5, a limit of 28.

Any additional students who transfer into the district mid-year will be bussed to another school for the remainder of the school year. The student may return to his or her home school the following year, or if an opening appears during the year, the student will be given the option sooner.

“I met with all the principals. This is really not a concern of mine that it is going to happen very frequently,” said Marciante.

Marciante also announced the findings of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, which is considering two moves for the district’s administrative offices. The plan calls for renovation of four classrooms at Pine Brook School and a branch of MEMS.

Funds are now available through the district’s physical plant budget, and the renovations could be completed prior to June 30, said Marciante, whose own office could possibly move to MEMS. “We are not planning to move in the near, immediate future. But we are trying to set up the building so in case we have to move, the option is there to do it quickly,” he added.

For his final report, Marciante updated the Board on a summer program that will be offered to Grades 1-5 in the air-conditioned Wemrock School. The program, which might be expanded in the future, will debut as on a remedial level as part of the current recreation program. Parents will provide transportation and the program will be self-funded, said Marciante.