Two relatively new subjects on the WW-P Board of Education agenda — the date of school elections and school safety concerns — were handled in quick order on January 29. But an old and familiar concern — the possible growth in school enrollment — once again became a hot topic.
With no opposition or public comment, the WW-P Board of Education unanimously voted to change the date of the school Board election from third Tuesday in April to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, to coincide with the general election. In doing so, the Board has eliminated the community’s ability to vote on the annual school budget, so long as the budget remains within the state-mandated two percent cap. Board member Rachel Hurwitz reminded the public, “that it is a vote of conscience for every Board member. We are mindful that we need to protect our education standards while keeping our costs down.”
Larry Shanok, assistant superintendent for finance, explained the ramifications of the vote. “Really, very little has changed. The proposed budget must remain under the mandated cap of two percent for the general fund tax levy. The Board must still present a preliminary budget to the county on March 7. The Board will still hold a public meeting on the budget on March 27. The only change is that the public will not vote on the budget in April.”
District Superintendent Victoria Kniewel advised that although the election has now moved to November, the “District will continue to prepare and discuss its budget during the period of January to March.”
Shanok then gave the first of a series of budget presentations, highlighting the fact that the proposed budget will once again generate a zero percent increase in the tax levy, and that the district is committed to protecting and preserving the high level of education while remaining fiscally responsible. He cautioned, however, that as the district follows this approach from year to year, “we are running out of places to squeeze, and we are coming closer and closer to impacting the classrooms.”
School safety was once again on the agenda. Kniewel said that “earlier today the district held a meeting between administrators, representatives from both the West Windsor and Plainsboro police departments, and several school principals to discuss the issue of school safety. We are working on safety measures to be implemented immediately, as well as in the short term and the long term. We are reviewing enhanced safety protocols versus having schools that have a free and open atmosphere. Safety recommendations will be highlighted at a budget meeting in February.” (See separate article, this page.)
In other news, the district’s demographic study was presented by consultant Richard Grip, who holds a doctorate in educational statistics and measurement from Rutgers University.
Using a variety of statistical tools, Grip estimated that “enrollment is projected to be 10,170 in 2021-’22, a gain of 373 students from 2011-’12.” Grip noted, however, “that the margin of error is 1 percent per year, so that the total margin of error for the study could be as high as 10 percent.” (See sidebar above.)
Several Board members, including President Hemant Maranthe, Dana Krug, Alapakkam Manikandan, and Anthony Fleres, were concerned that Grip had underestimated the potential numbers of students coming from the proposed new developments, particularly the Transit Village.
West Windsor Council member Linda Geevers also spoke on this point during public comments. She agreed that the report had underestimated the number of students who might locate at the Transit Village, and noted that the report “did not consider undeveloped land where development is in the pipeline — such as the fact that Toll Brothers may be buying the Maneely property on Bear Brook Road; there could be a lot of growth by the Howard Hughes Corp. [which owns the American Cyanamid property]; and the Princeton Theological Seminary may add 300 more apartments, not just for Seminary students.” Geevers requested a report showing how these developments might impact the student population growth as well.
