After a long and very animated meeting, the BR-BOE voted – at 11:10 pm last night – by a margin of 6 to 2, to accept the reductions presented to it by Raritan Borough and Bridgewater Township. A group of about 25 citizens observed the process and made their views known. The total cut of $1.6 million now goes back to the township and the borough for their final review and approval. The entire process has to be completed by May 21st.
A somber superintendent, Dr. Michael Schilder, presented a one-page itemized list of programs covering facilities, extra-curricular, technology, supplies, personnel and curriculum specifics for the board’s review and discussion. None of the board’s members were pleased with these budget restrictions: Most felt that this would result in even more problems down the road. This is because the reduced budget now becomes the basis for the following year’s state-mandated budget cap. As a result, any increase next year will be lower than it otherwise would have been. Residents reading this and who voted down the budget are not likely to have a problem with that.
Nonetheless, there was a deep sense of disappointment hanging over the entire board, as individual members worried over the specific categories of expense presented to them for removal. Much of the debate centered over the proposed elimination of library teaching assistants and the scope of security measures in the school district. Efforts by some to retain library personnel while making cuts in other curriculum areas were not successful.
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