SCHOOL BOARD GIVES FINAL APPROVAL TO BUDGET AND TAX HIKE; ELEMENTARY SPANISH REINSTATED

The school board on Monday gave final approval to the 2017-2018 school district budget that includes a $130 million spending plan and a tax hike of 3.56%, or an average increase of $249 per home in Maplewood.

The board voted, 8-1, on the budget adoption, with Board Member Johanna Wright voting no.

As we reported last month, the budget includes the addition of some 14 staffers, including many middle school teachers, but with cutbacks in other teaching positions as well as fewer supplies and some textbooks.

The budget had initially included a cutback in elementary school Spanish programs that currently affect fourth and fifth graders. But those were reinstated just this week after district officials realized they were required by state law.

"Our due diligence has revealed that it is required by the state," Board President Elizabeth Baker said.

To offset that reinstatement the board chose to eliminate plans for two new math intervention instructors at the same $150,000 cost.

The budget includes a 3.56% tax hike in Maplewood. That means the average Maplewood home assessed at $396,992, and currently paying $8,474 in school district taxes, will see a $249 increase to $8,723.

The tax hike is above the 2% annual state cap because the district is using what is known as "banked cap," which is an increase not taken in prior years.

The budget includes the addition of 11 employees. Among them are six middle school teachers (three at each middle school), one elementary school teacher, one special services teacher, a new high school assistant principal, one custodial supervisor, one part-time nurse and a part-time safety and security director.

But the budget also cuts between eight and 14 other employees, with up to five teachers - including Freshmen Latin classes at CHS, two physical education, and one each in math and science.

And another $1.7 million is saved through cutbacks in other staff, as well as books, sabbaticals and health care spending.

The budget adoption occurred on the same night that the district received two reports on future enrollment projections, which continue to rise, and the effect on overcrowding and building maintenance needs. They noted the changing demographics in the two towns, which indicate a rise in white populations and a reduction in those of people of color.

Several board members spoke out with frustration at the ongoing cost increase and lack of revenue, as well as state funding limits.

"I believe that this community as well as much of this state has been living under a financial delusion with a 2% (tax increase) cap and our clearly neglected facilities for decades and that it was just going to work out," Baker said.

Board Member Madhu Pai added, "We are making it impossible for certain groups of people to move into these towns because of our taxes. We need to invest, but we also have to be careful that we don't turn into Chatham because of who we allow to move into our towns."