The voters of West Windsor and Plainsboro have a long and valued record of supporting prudent and sensible school budgets. This year’s proposed school budget, which calls for a 1 percent decrease in the tax levy for the 2012-’13 school year, deserves your support, and I urge you to vote yes on Tuesday, April 17.
The school board and district leadership have worked hard over the past several years to bring costs under control. Ten years ago the per-pupil cost of education in West Windsor-Plainsboro was significantly above the state average; now these costs are well below average.
Even so, our students outperform all but a very few other schools in academics, and excel in athletics and in the arts. In short, the taxpayers of West Windsor and Plainsboro receive a valuable return on their investment in schools.
WW-P is one of a small handful of districts in the state with Standard and Poor’s rating of AAA. Independent auditors have concluded that the district “has committed itself to sound financial practices” and is in a strong financial position. The International Association of School Business Officials has awarded the district with its Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting for three years in a row for the district’s comprehensive annual financial report.
In comparison with our peers, and in the objective estimation of qualified independent observers, the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District provides an excellent value for the residents of the townships. Please join me in voting yes for the school budget on Tuesday, April 17.
Robert Johnson
The writer is vice president of the WW-P School Board, and chair of the Administration and Facilities Committee. Board policy 0146 requires that he state that “the opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of the Board.”
