As preliminary discussions about the 2009-’10 budget pick up at the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional school board level, officials are trying to limit this year’s increase to 2.8 percent.
Officials are projecting preliminary numbers of $157.8 million for the budget, a $4.3 million increase over the 2008-’09 budget of $153.5 million. That budget represented a 4.3 percent, or $6.3 million, increase over the year before.
Despite the struggling global economy and the gloomy reports of falling employment numbers, Larry Shanok, the assistant superintendent of finance, said during the board’s meeting on January that the school board is in good shape because it has its own product — its enrollment.
And in taking a first look at enrollment projection for next year, the board is looking at a downsizing in some of the lower levels, but an increase in others, as well as at High School North.
At Dutch Neck School, current enrollment is at 777, and there are 39 sections. The principal’s projection for 2009-’10 remains at 777 with 39 sections. However, the board committee’s projection is that 793 students will enroll next year.
At Maurice Hawk, the current enrollment is 813, with 40 sections, and the principal’s and committee’s projections are not far from each other — the principal’s is at 797, with 39 sections, and the committee’s is at 794 with 39 sections.
At Town Center Elementary, the current enrollment is 734, with 38 sections, while the principal’s projection shows enrollment falling to 721, with the need for only 35 sections next year. The committee’s proejction is even lower, with the estimation of 702 students next year, with 35 sections.
At the Wicoff School, the current enrollment is 458, with 24 sections, while the principal’s projection for next year is 473 students, with 23 sections. The committee’s projection is that there will be 463 students and 23 sections.
At Millstone River School, the current enrollment is 788, with 33 sections. The principal’s projection for next year is 787, with 32 sections. The committee is projecting 800 students with 32 sections.
Village School currently has 672 students, with 28 sections, and the projections from both the principal and the committee are showing similar numbers for next year, with 674 and 675, respectively. Both also show 28 sections.
Grover Middle School is projected to see a drop in enrollment. Currently, there are 1,”148 students enrolled, and the principal’s projection for next year is that enrollment will be at 1,”090. The committee is projecting an enrollment of 1,”082. Meanwhile, at Community Middle School, the enrollment is also projected to drop. Currently the school holds 1,”268 students. Next year the principal projects there will be 1,”250 students. The committee projects 1,”229.
At the high school level, South’s enrollment is expected to drop slightly, while North’s is expected to increase slightly. At South there are currently 1,”611 students, and the principal’s projection is that the enrollment will decrease to 1,”601. The committee projection is that it will decrease to 1,”593. At North, the principal’s projection shows the enrollment increasing from the current 1,”620 to 1,”655. The committee estimates it will increase to 1,”652.
While enrollment is one of the key factors being looked at in terms of the budget, school officials are also weighing the slew of national economic concersn, along with state issues and state aid, as well as salaries and wages.
“Most recently, there’s been headlines about fourth quarter employment data,” Shanok said. “The total employed in the fourth quarter for 2008 are indeed 2 million lower than the previous year. But you should also remember that’s still 1.4 million more employed that the fourth quarter of 2005. No one felt that things were impossible” at that time, he said.
Similarly, though, recent news that the unemployment rate is at 7.2 percent is also concerning, he pointed out. However, “the sky is not falling,” Shanok said.
“We do have a continuing demand for what we are providing,” he added. “However, all that said, we have general concern about the economic picture.” For this reason, school officials have been looking for even greater restraint this year in terms of budget moderation, he said.
The board has a task of putting together the budget, which has to be submitted to the state by Wednesday, March 4, despite the fact that state aid figures — which impact the budget — might be delayed this year as a result of budget issues on the state level.
Shanok said that the two major points the board must remember are the budget moderation the board has maintained over the past six years, when on average, the budget increased by 4.3 percent. Shanok pointed to data showing the amount spent per pupil in similar, neighboring school districts. In 2002-2003, Princeton spent $11,”525 on average per student, and by 2007-’08, it was spending $16,”834 per student, In comparison, WW-P spent $10,”534 per student in 2002-’03, and $12,”457 by 2007-’08. This, Shanok showed, falls in like with the state average of $10,”007 being spent per student in 2002-’03, and $12,”806 being spent per student in 2007-’08.
Shanok said the board must also keep in mind that its core curriculum offerings, as well as fine and applied arts, athletic programs, and co-curricular activities must remain in tip top shape, even in the face of budget constraints.
However, the board has also heard concerns from its stakeholders and constituents over the past year about the increase in social security, which increased by 5.8 percent as of January 1.
So, the board is looking to be reasonable for 2009-’10,and maintaining no more than a 2.8 percent increase.
