APPENDIX A

SPECIFIC OBJECTIONS TO ’04-05 SEPARATE PROPOSAL ITEMS

The following are the specific objections of the Subcommittee to the line items contained

in the Separate Proposal, as described by the BOE.

CATEGORY D

Custodial overtime for Community Use

11-000-262-110 $100,000

District facilities are used by community groups on a regular basis. The largest expense, besides utility costs, to the Board of Education is for the custodial overtime to keep the buildings open beyond regular school hours. Although the Board of Education establishes hourly fees for use of the facilities, the bulk of the use is by community organizations which receive preferential rates or a waiver of fees in accordance with Board policy. These funds will provide the portion of custodial overtime costs not covered by fees.

 The Subcommittee appreciates the value of making space available to community groups, but strongly believes that the current tax burden on the Township’s residents does not permit funding for this item. This item would be more properly funded by the groups seeking to use the district’s facilities.

 Television Studio Upgrade

11-000-262-420 $100,000

CHS TV Broadcast Media Center provides cable/closed circuit broadcast for course offerings and classroom programming, including closed circuit programming of daily news/original broadcasts (CHS News/Today’s Schools) and Morning Announcements (CHS News/Good Morning Columbia) as well as reception of CHS channels 35/26 CCN and SOMAcom. CHS studio equipment being replaced was purchased in 1996-1997. It has reached maximum repairable cost return. Several items are 10-13 years old. It needs to be replaced at one time due to preserve compatibility of format (digital) between the various pieces of equipment. Included are the replacement costs of studio cameras, control room monitors, computers, site licensing fees, monitors/VCRs. This is a one-time only (non-recurring) cost.

This expense item should be deferred until such time as non-district funding is available to avoid the inclusion of the funding amount in future budgets, notwithstanding the fact that the equipment is a “one-time only (non-recurring) cost.”

 Secretary for Custodial Services (1 new FTE) 11-000-262-105 $55,200

The reorganization of custodial services includes additional clerical needs to field calls, maintain service logs, oversee purchasing and other support. Currently, one secretary is shared among Property Services, Custodial Services and Transportation. This is an increase of one FTE to have a dedicated secretary for custodial services. This should also increase response to staff and parent concerns. Salary costs include benefits.

 The Subcommittee appreciates the efforts made by the BOE in reducing the overall costs of custodial care, but strongly believes that the current tax burden on the Township’s residents does not permit funding for this item in this budget year.

 Security Guards for Columbia High School (2 new FTEs)

11-000-262-110 $72,000

There are currently seven guards providing security at Columbia High School during school hours. The addition of two guards would provide the flexibility in scheduling for additional coverage before and after school hours. Salary costs include benefits.

The Subcommittee recommends that funding be provided for this item, but strongly believes that this item more properly should have been funded under the district’s base T&E budget.

 Elementary World Language Teacher (4 FTEs)

11-120-100-101 $181,600

World language teachers will deliver second language (Spanish) instruction in the elementary schools in grades 3, 4, and 5. These positions were eliminated due to budget constraints for the 2004-05 school year. The program cost is net of Spanish language video program included in the T&E budget, to be used by classroom teachers in satisfaction of state requirements to provide world language instruction. (salary includes benefits)

 The Subcommittee strongly objects to additional funding for these instructional positions. These positions were funded under the Separate Proposal for the current school year ($288,000.00), which funding is included within the proposed base T&E budget, plus three per-cent.

 CATEGORY C

Elementary Project Ahead Teachers, (2.7 FTEs)

10-119-99-101 $200,880

Project Ahead teachers provide elementary students (grades 1-5) support in basic skills instruction as a supplement to their regular instruction. These positions, providing support in non-Title I school, were removed from the T&E budget for the 2004-05 school year due to budget constraints. (salaries include benefits)

 The Subcommittee strongly objects to additional funding for these instructional positions. These positions were funded under the Separate Proposal for the current school year ($144,000.00), which funding is included within the proposed base T&E budget, plus three per-cent.

Elementary Enrichment Program Teachers, (3 FTEs)

10-119-99-102 $223,200

Enrichment program teachers provide fourth and fifth grade students with exceptional ability in math and language arts opportunities for their maximum growth. These positions were removed from the T&E budget for the 2004-05 school year due to budget constraints. (salaries include benefits)

 The Subcommittee strongly objects to additional funding for these instructional positions. These positions were funded under the Separate Proposal for the current school year ($216,000.00), which funding is included within the proposed base T&E budget, plus three per-cent.

 CATEGORY B

Elementary Instrumental Music Teachers (2.4 FTEs)

11-120-100-101 $178,560

Instrumental music teachers offer fifth grade students their first opportunity to learn to play a musical instrumental of their choice. These positions were removed from the T&E budget for the 2004-05 school year due to budget constraints. (salaries include benefits)

 The Subcommittee recommends that funding be provided for this item, but strongly believes that this item more properly should have been funded under the district’s base T&E budget.

 Breakfast Program overtime for supervision

11-000-262-110 $40,000

The district is mandated to implement a breakfast program in targeted schools based upon the concentration of students eligible for free or reduced priced lunches. The targeted schools are Clinton Elementary, Seth Boyden Elementary, Maplewood Middle School and Columbia High School. The charges for meals and reimbursement from the state and federal program are expected to cover the costs of the food service. The costs of overtime to provide supervision before school are the responsibility of the school district. Given that this is a mandated item, the Subcommittee recommends that funding be provided for this item, but recommends that efforts be made to determine the feasibility of securing volunteers to fulfill this supervisory obligation if future budget years.

 Elementary School Social Workers (2 FTEs)

11-000-211-104 $148,800

Elementary School Social Workers will provide support services at Seth Boyden and Clinton elementary schools. These positions were removed from the T&E budget for the 2004-05 school year due to budget constraints. (salary includes benefits)  

The Subcommittee appreciates the value of having Social Workers available to provide support services to the district’s elementary school children, but strongly believes that the current tax burden on the Township’s residents does not permit funding for this item.

 In-School Suspension Program (1 FTE)

11-190-100-106 $35,000

The in-school suspension program provides a part-time person to supervise students who are assigned to in-school suspension. This position was removed from the T&E budget for the 2004-05 school year due to budget constraints.

The Subcommittee appreciates the efforts of the district’s administration in attempting to provide supervision for suspended students, but strongly believes that the current tax burden on the Township’s residents does not permit funding for this item.  

Maintenance (2 new FTEs)

11-000-262-110 $130,000

Two additional maintenance workers will be added to perform maintenance services such as painting and landscaping which are currently provided by outside vendors. (salary includes benefits).

The Subcommittee recommends funding for this item.  

CHS Security Guard overtime

11-000-262-110 $10,000

There are currently seven guards providing security at Columbia High School during school hours. The addition of overtime provides the flexibility in scheduling for additional coverage before and after school hours.

The Subcommittee recommends that funding be provided for this item, but strongly believes that this item more properly should have been funded under the district’s base T&E budget.

CHS Security Equipment Upgrade

11-000-262-420 $10,000

Students, faculty and staff at CHS must wear identification badges at all times for security purposes. The computer equipment which produces and manages the identification badges requires upgrading. This is a one-time only (non-recurring) cost.

The Subcommittee questions the efficacy of this program and strongly believes that the current tax burden on the Township’s residents does not permit funding for this item.

 Assistant Network Manager (1 new FTE)

11-000-252-100 $72,390

The assistant network manager supports the network manager in providing all information technology services to the district. This SOMEA position was not filled due to budget constraints in 2003-04. An analysis indicates that the district information technology department is understaffed.

The Subcommittee concurs with the BOE’s assessment that this position is not essential, and strongly believes that the current tax burden on the Township’s residents does not permit funding for this item.

 Technology Facilitators, (1 new FTE)

11-000-222-106 $55,200

Technology Facilitators provide onsite support for classroom computers, computer lab equipment and broadcast booth equipment. Computer repair orders are managed through the Technology Facilitator. Currently, 2 elementary facilitators provide services to six schools. The addition of one facilitator would increase coverage by providing a facilitator for every two elementary schools. The district eliminated 5 Facilitators due to budget constraints for the 2003-04 school year. (salaries include benefits)

The Subcommittee recommends that funding be provided for this item, but strongly believes that this item more properly should have been funded under the district’s base T&E budget

 High School Teachers, (4.6 new FTEs)

11-140-100-101 $342,240

The addition of 4.6 FTEs would increase the elective offerings at Columbia High School in the following areas: 1.8 additional supplemental classes in mathematics; 0.8 additional electives in science and a new Physical Science class; 0.4 additional elective in industrial technology; 0.8 additional supplemental classes in language arts and 0.2 in each mathematics, language arts, science and social studies as a result of abolishing the four 9-12 Subject Chairs who each taught one section. (salaries include benefits).

The Subcommittee recommends that funding be provided for this item, but strongly believes that this item more properly should have been funded under the district’s base T&E budget  

CATEGORY A

 Telephone System Upgrade (Phase II)

12-000-240-732 $240,000

Phase II of the telephone system upgrade will provide additional services, voice-mail boxes for all teachers and significant future cost savings at the Middle and Elementary School. It continues the upgrade begun in the Central Office and Columbia High School in the 2003-04 school year. It is a one-time only (non-recurring) cost.

This expense item should be deferred until such time as non-district funding is available to avoid the inclusion of the funding amount in future budgets, notwithstanding the fact that the equipment is a “one-time only (non-recurring) cost.”

 Thin Client Conversion (Phase II)

11-000-262-420 $180,781

Phase II of the conversion of district information technology to a thin client approach will result in significant future cost savings. This expense item should be deferred until such time as non-district funding is available to avoid the inclusion of the funding amount in future budgets, notwithstanding the fact that the equipment is a “one-time only (non-recurring) cost.”

 Custodial Services Supervisor (1 new FTE)

11-000-262-110 $75,600

The reorganization of custodial services includes additional supervision, particularly for night cleaning crews. (salary includes benefits) The Subcommittee appreciates the efforts made by the BOE in reducing the overall costs of custodial care, but strongly believes that the current tax burden on the Township’s residents does not permit funding for this item in this budget year.

 K-5 Supervisor of Curriculum and Instruction (1 new FTE)

11-000-223-102 $120,000

The administrative reorganization includes the addition of a K-5 Supervisor to cover some of the responsibilities of the four K-8 Supervisor positions which were eliminated. This position will provide curricular and instructional support to elementary principals and coordinate the efforts of the Instructional Resource Teachers in order to facilitate a consistent implementation of the K-5 program. (salary includes benefits)

The Subcommittee questions the the need for this position and strongly believes that the current tax burden on the Township’s residents does not permit funding for this item.

 Middle School Social Worker (1 FTE)

11-000-218-104 $74,400

Middle School Social Worker will provide support services at two middle schools. This position was removed from the T&E budget for the 2004-05 school year due to budget constraints (salary includes benefits)

The Subcommittee strongly objects to additional funding for these instructional positions. These positions were funded under the Separate Proposal for the current school year ($57,600.00), which funding is included within the proposed base T&E budget, plus three per-cent.

 Athletic Trainer (1 FTE)

11-402-100-101 $74,400

The athletic trainer provides support for student athletes. This position was removed from the T&E budget for the 2004-05 school year due to budget constraints. (salary includes benefits).

The Subcommittee questions the need for this position and strongly believes that the current tax burden on the Township’s residents does not permit funding for this item.

Special Education Child Study Team Members (2 new FTEs)

10-0190-219-104 $148,800

The addition of two new CST positions will complete a new 6th Child Study Team to provide services to the district’s students with special needs. (salary includes benefits)

The Subcommittee questions the need for these positions and strongly believes that the current tax burden on the Township’s residents does not permit funding for this item.

 Transportation Contracted Services Routes

$411,000

These routes provide transportation services for students attending schools outside of their home zone. Eight contracted routes providing transportation services to Marshall and Jefferson elementary school and three routes to Seth Boyden demonstration school were removed from the T&E Budget for the 2004-05 school year due to budget constraints.

The Subcommittee, only with great reluctance, recommends the funding of this item. The Subcommittee must question the motives of the BOE and the district’s administration in providing for funding for the courtesy bussing in the South Orange schools in the base T&E budget, but putting the bussing at risk for the above mentioned Maplewood schools.

TOTAL SEPARATE PROPOSAL: $3,280,371

TOTAL SEPARATE PROPOSAL EXCLUDING

THE ABOVE NOTED ITEMS OF OBJECTION: $1,239,320