New program sought
despite budget hurdle
Spotswood voters last approved a school tab
in ’94 — by one vote
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

It’s coming on 10 years since Spotswood voters approved a school budget.

But that isn’t stopping school officials from trying to establish a full-day kindergarten program they believe will bring great benefits to the borough’s children.

Board of Education President Alan Bartlett said the program is being included in the 2004-05 budget and is expected to cost between $120,000 and $140,000, but it could wind up being dropped altogether if voters defeat the budget in April.

The board fully supports the program, as do most of the 50 parents who attended a school board meeting last week when a presentation was given on the full-day program, according to Bartlett. The program would better educate and prepare students before they enter higher grade levels, officials have said.

Since the program is at risk due to the unknown fate of the school budget, parents are banding together to try to get the budget passed.

However, supporters face a difficult hurdle, as Spotswood voters consistently vote down school budgets. And this year’s effort will be hampered by the fact that residents will see a 20-cent increase in the tax rate due solely to the referendum approved by voters in 2002.

"We don’t have a very good track record," Bartlett said of the annual school elections.

The last time a school budget was approved in Spotswood was in April 1994, and even then it was approved by just one vote — 402-401, according to Bartlett.

Last year, the budget was defeated 398-205; the year before, 553-287; and the year before that, 394-230. Voter turnout in those three elections averaged 14.4 percent of the borough’s registered voters.

Spotwood’s school tax rate has risen from $3.57 per $100 of assessed valuation in 2000-01 to $4.12 to support the current school year — an increase of 55 cents, or 15.5 percent, over three years. Many New Jersey school districts have experienced similar or greater tax increases as state aid has largely remained flat while fixed and contractual costs such as salaries and insurance have increased.

In Spotswood, $20,000 in the school budget, which totaled $19.3 million for the current year, is equal to 1 cent on the tax rate. The full-day kindergarten program that has been proposed — enabled by the ongoing construction and planned to include at least four full-day classes next year — would thus raise taxes by about 6 to 7 cents per $100 of assessed valuation.

A new drop-off and pick-up zone at the back of Appleby School has also been proposed in the budget and would cost between $125,000 and $150,000. That would add another 7 or 8 cents to the proposed tax increase.

This, combined with the cost of the referendum, could mean the school tax rate would rise by up to 35 cents, though the increase related to the referendum would not be voted on in April because it has already been approved by the community. While the budget is still in a preliminary stage, voters could have to decide in April whether to support increasing the tax rate by 13 to 15 cents just for the drop-off/pick-up zone and full-day kindergarten, he said.

However, officials are working to defray the increase by cutting other budgetary items.

"We have asked people to reduce discretionary spending," he said. "The effort is underway right now."

The 20 cent increase for the referendum — approved by a vote of 649 to 606 in September 2002 for additions at the district’s four schools — is based on this being the first year that residents will pay the interest portion of that debt, Bartlett said. The total referendum is about $16 million, with Spotswood taxpayers being responsible for about $10.5 million and the state pitching in the rest.

In addition to the Feb. 3 board meeting when parents and school officials discussed full-day kindergarten, on Feb. 12 Superintendent of Schools Anthony Vaz met both in the morning and at night with parents to discuss the proposal.

"It’s all contingent on getting the budget passed," Bartlett said of full-day kindergarten.

When the budget is defeated, it is sent to the Borough Council, which can order a specific reduction in the tax increase. The board can then decide which areas of the budget to cut in order to achieve the savings.

Bartlett said a group of parents is trying to sell voters on the need to support the budget this year.

Jodi Evanego, whose oldest son will enter kindergarten in the fall, is one of those parents. She said she wants to see Spotswood adopt the full-day program.

"I’m very proud of Spotswood for being so progressive," she said.

She said she feels the community can support the program financially and that people should view it as "an investment in our future."

If the program is cut, she said she would consider sending her son to a private school for full-day kindergarten.

Donna Faulkenberry, who also has a son entering kindergarten in September, said she has a degree in education and has done research that shows the benefits of a full-day program.

"In today’s world, it gives [children] a head start," she said.

Spotswood officials have said the benefits of full-day kindergarten include an enhanced ability to engage in independent learning and an inclination to be more involved in the "life" of the classroom, as well as a tendency to be more reflective. Students are also found to be more productive and to interact more with teachers. While positive traits increase with the full-day program, negative ones such as shyness, anger and withdrawal decrease, officials have said.

Bartlett stressed that the budget is in a very preliminary stage right now. The board will continue to discuss the plan at its meetings, held at 7 p.m. the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the Spotswood High School media center. The budget will be voted on during the April 20 school election.

Bartlett also said district officials would be glad to speak with any group wishing to have a presentation on the 2004-05 budget.