Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Approved budget holds increase just below state’s 2 percent cap.
After discussing the fiscal responsibility of having a lower tax levy versus a somewhat higher rate that would allow for “banking” funds for future use, Warren Township Board of Education members agreed to compromise on the tax levy in the tentative 2013-2014 budget, Monday. The tentative budget to be raised in local taxes comes in at 1.95 percent (below the state's 2 percent tax levy cap) and is scheduled for a public hearing at the March 21 meeting. At 2 percent, the budget was estimated to be at $43,141,570, with $1,187,441 coming from state aid and $37,766,740 in taxes. The 1.95 percent tax levy reflects a tax rate of $0.933 per $100 in assessed value (down from last year’s $0.939). But due to increased assessments, will add almost $…
Thursday, February 28, 2013
A deeper look at figures shows districts losing state aid.
Watchung Hills Regional looks to have it pretty good in the state aid figures released today, with a 3.5 increase—$31,766—in state aid coming to the school. But Business Administrator Tim Stys says that's only part of the story. "We actually received a 'net' state aid decrease of $19,212," Stys said. So while the focus is on the state's rosy aid figures for special education, transportation and security—which totals $934,159 for Watchung Hills Regional—another figure, called the School Development Authority Debt Assessment, reduces the aid the district will receive. This year, the assessment is being increased by $50,978, leaving the district $19,212 behind last year. "Considering that we have had enrollment increases for the past two …
Monday, February 25, 2013
Districts across New Jersey await state aid figures this week with uncertainty.
The Warren school district faces the deadline to submit the 2013-2014 budget to the county next week with uncertainty as to whether $85 billion in federal "sequestration" spending cuts will be stopped by Congress before Friday. And while districts will learn their state aid figures this week after Gov. Chris Christie delivers his fiscal year 2014 budget address Tuesday afternoon, local officials have already considered how to address the federal budget situation in their budgets. Watchung Hills Regional Business Administrator Tim Stys said at the Feb. 18 board of education meeting that the district is currently budgeting $100,000 less in federal aid than in previous years. "We have in the budget a decrease of $100,000 or so," he said. "We…
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Township schools' technology team offer expert insights on new technology curriculum.
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Tuesday, February 5
Six members of the Warren Township faculty were invited to speak before the New Jersey Association of School Administrators held at Bally’s Hotel in Atlantic City. Mary Ellen Roberts, Technology Supervisor and panel coordinator, Steven Verger, Middle School Technology Teacher, Dr. Susan Kline, Gifted and Talented Teacher, Ernest Monaco, Middle School Technology Arts Teacher, Sheila Connelly, Technology Teacher, and Wendy Piller, Gifted and Talented Teacher spoke at TECHSPO 2013, the 18th annual statewide premiere technology conference which was held for New Jersey school superintendents, curriculum supervisors, principals, teachers, technology directors and board of education members. The objective of the conference was to familiarize …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
District officials take a different route on creating annual spending plan.
For the first time, Warren Township schools' annual budget is being compiled using zero-based budgeting, a switch from traditional school budgeting methods that start at last year's spending and make adjustments from there. And while some believe starting with all accounts at zero to build the budgets will yield a big difference, Warren Schoosl Business Adminstrator Patricia Leonhardt said that's not necessarily the case. "You're starting at the ground up, instead of starting at a baseline," she said. "It requires a renewed emphasis on ensuring requested funds are fully substantiated." But Leonhardt said the districts 10 budget managers, which includes the school principals, and supervisors of buildings and grounds department, special …
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Township and high school call for later classes.
Snow and ice on local streets caused school officials to delay classes two hours, Wednesday. All Warren schools, except the middle school, will start the day at 10:40 a.m. Middle school classes will begin at 10 a.m. Watchung Hills Regional will open at 9:30 a.m. All of the schools will end classes at the regular times.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Registration deadline for September classes is Jan. 23.
- SCHOOLS
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Thursday, December 27, 2012
Warren Township Public Schools is please to once again offer our integrated preschool class for 4-year old children and, for the second year, our integrated class for 3-year old children. The integrated class has students both with and without special needs. Enrollment in our highly regarded program is limited so you are encouraged to act early. Applications for September 2013 enrollment will be available on Jan. 11. The classes are open to children who live in Warren Township who will be 4-years old on or before Oct. 1, 2013, and 3-years old on or before Oct. 1, 2013. The classes will be housed at Mt. Horeb School, Monday through Thursday. The hours for the 3-year old class will be 9-11:30 a.m., and the 4-year olds class will meet from 12…
40.620812
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Mt. Horeb School
80 Mount Horeb Rd, Warren, NJ
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Monday, December 17, 2012
Officials seek to balance security with response to fears of parents and students.
In the wake of the school shooting Friday in Newtown, Conn., local officials are taking several precautions to help allay concerns about safety while also keeping students' possible anxiety in mind. The Sandy Hook school implemented many of the same security steps as Warren schools, including having all doors locked after classes begin and performing regular lockdown drills. Both actions were implemented in schools across the country following the shootings at Columbine High School in 1999. But in an email sent to parents Monday, Warren Superintendent of Schools Tami Crader said this week's planned lockdown drill has been canceled. "Although we had planned for a lockdown drill to be held this week in all schools, the drill has been …
Friday, December 14, 2012
Statement issued noting counselors available should young children need.
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Friday, December 14, 2012
The Warren Township School District sent the following message about the Connecticut school shooting this afternoon: "Our hearts go out to the families, teachers, and community of today's Connecticut school shooting. Tragedies such as this are beyond anyone's comprehension. When we hear news like this our first instinct is to hug our children and keep them close. We should do just that. However, it is especially important to maintain a normal routine. In addition, we should be prepared to reassure children that they are safe in our schools, that we have systems and plans in place to ensure their safety, and that our staff and students practice our security drills monthly. Minimal exposure to graphic images on the news is important for …
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Classes will dismiss at regular time, however.
Warren Township schools will finish the day at the regular time, as snow piles on the streets outside, but all after-school programs are cancelled. The district expects delaying dismissal will give the township Public Works Department time to plow and salt roads, making them safer. But the snow could make travel later in the day more treacherous, leading to the decision to cancel the programs. School is not expected to be delayed in the morning at this time. Watchung Hills Regional has not made any announcements regarding changes in schedules due to the snow.
InMy Opinion
7:26 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
This article does a fantastic job of discussing $65k of a $43,000,000 budget. How about the 14% increase in health care costs? more ›