Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-February 16, 2011 Issue

Franklin Lakes February 16, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 7 Local school budget may reduce property tax by Frank J. McMahon The preliminary 2011-12 budget for the Franklin Lakes K-8 school district indicates the district might be able to achieve a 2.78 percent reduction in the grand total and a 2.7 percent reduction in the tax levy required to fund that budget. The reduction in the budget and the tax levy would be the result of a dramatically reduced debt service payment that would be the last principal payment on the debt for the 2002 referendum. That referendum funded construction at Colonial Road School, Franklin Avenue Middle School, and two elementary schools. In April of 2002, the borough’s voters approved a $15.6 million referendum to fund the new construction. The state contributed $3.6 million, leaving local taxpayers a cost of $12 million. The project began in the spring and summer of 2003, and took about 14 months to complete. According to the draft of the proposed budget, the total 2011-12 spending plan would be $27,458,823, a reduction of $750,963, which would require a current expense tax levy of $23,589,921, an increase of $460,586 or two percent over the 2010-11 budget. However, the debt service tax levy in the 2011-12 budget is $1,082,007, versus $2,233,021 in 2010-11, a reduction of $1,151,014 or 51.5 percent. That change would result in a $690,428 reduction in the tax levy. The draft budget includes $1,600,001 in tuition revenue for 25 students with autism from other districts who will attend the CAPS program and 25 who will join the preschool regular education class. It also includes $142,640 in miscellaneous revenues, such as rental fees and interest earnings; $100,000 in transportation fees from parents of students who are not eligible for busing, but purchase transportation services from the district; $87,515 in state aid for special education and transportation programs, although the district does not receive any state aid for regular education programs; and $23,589,921 in local property taxes. The proposed expenses are $9,412,218 for instruction, including the salaries of 106 classroom teachers; $3,841,032 for special education costs to cover the salary and supply costs for students with special needs; $116,291 for supervision of co-curricular, intramural, and inter-scholastic activities, including referee fees, uniforms, and awards; $175,000 for six student who attend out of district special education classes; $259,533 for attendance and medical supply costs; $1,200,700 for support services by extended instructional support teachers, guidance counselors, child study team personnel, secretarial staff, and home instructors; and $132,780 for staff development activities to assist the instructional staff in planning, developing, and evaluating the process of providing learning experiences for students. In addition, $502,792 is allocated for library books, periodicals, newspapers, library supplies, audio visual supplies, and the salaries of three library/media center teachers; $1,567,190 to support the management of the district, including the salaries of the superintendent, the superintendent’s administrative assistant, four principals, an assistant principal, eight office positions, and the costs for the board attorney and treasurer; and $2,311,096 to keep the physical plant and grounds open, comfortable, and safe, including contracted services that cover the salaries of full-time and parttime custodians, a maintenance person, a supervisor, a general secretary, and lunchroom supervision personnel. The proposed budget also allocates $915,600 for contracted transportation for public and non-public elementary pupils who live more than two miles from their schools, children in special education programs, and transportation costs for student events; $5,259,780 in social security, medical benefit plan premiums, insurance costs, a graduate credit tuition reimbursement for faculty members, salaries of the board secretary/school business administrator and school business office staff, and the salaries of technology staff, office supplies, and printing; and $146,804 as a capital outlay for equipment with a cost greater than $2,000 and major building repairs. �� ✤ �� ✤ �� ✤ �� ✤ �� ✤ �� New Jersey Pediatric Neurosurgical Associates welcomes �� Dr. Lauren Schwartz�� to its new state-of-the-art facility in Hackensack Dr. Mazzola has published several peer – reviewed articles and has presented numerous posters and abstracts at national neuroscience conventions. She was responsible for the creation of the Neuromuscular and Movements Disorder Center for Children at Hackensack University Medical Center in 2001 and the Craniofacial and Cleft Lip and Palate Center at Morristown Memorial Hospital in 2006. She has authored and co-authored more than twenty-five papers, and has received grants from the Children’s Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and the N.J. State Cancer Commission. As the mother of five children, Dr. MazCatherine Mazzola, M.D. zola understands the responsibilities of parenthood and is able to empathize with parents who have children with special needs. As an active and concerned pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Mazzola gives several lectures a year for patients and their families, nursing organizations, pediatricians, and residents and has cared for thousands of children with neurosurgical disorders. Certifications: American Board of Pediatric Neurology; American Board of Neurological Surgeons. One of two board certified N.J. Pediatric Neurosurgeons and one of the few female neurosurgeons in N.J. Catherine Mazzola, M.D., Director Dr. Schwartz is committed to advancing neurosurgery both in the US and internationally. She has been an invited lecturer on topics in pediatric neurosurgery, neurotrauma, stroke, aneurysm surgery, spine surgery and the social and political issues affecting neurosurgery. She recently served as the 20th president of Women in Neurosurgery (WINS), a national neurosurgical association for which she currently remains a member of the Executive Board. Dr. Schwartz has written and co-authored multiple journal articles, textLauren Schwartz, M.D. book and web chapters and was featured on Lifetime TV’s “Women Heroes of 9/11” for her service at Ground Zero. Neurosurgical training: the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio and at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Yeshiva University in NY. Fellowship training: Pediatric Neurosurgery at the Institute for Neurology and Neurosurgery (INN) at Beth Israel Medical Center, NY; Christopher’s Hospital for Children, Philadelphia, Pa. Lauren Schwartz M.D. Comprehensive care for neurosurgical patients and their family. 385 Prospect Ave. • 2nd Floor • Hackensack, NJ 07601 • 201-996-9300 131 Madison Ave. • Suite 140 • Morristown, NJ 07960 • 973-326-9000 Both ofﬁces open 5 days www.njpediatricneurosurgery.com 2-9-11 joan/janine