The approved budget reflects a 6.06% increase in the general tax levy, which includes a standard 2% increase and additional adjustments for healthcare costs. Homeowners with properties assessed at the average value of $481,500 can expect their taxes to rise by approximately $486 annually. Despite a 3% decrease in state aid, the district anticipates receiving around $1 million in extraordinary aid, pending confirmation in July. These funds are crucial as the district grapples with escalating expenses related to students with disabilities, particularly out-of-district tuition and transportation costs.

The budget planning process, detailed by the superintendent, was a year-long endeavor that began in October. It involved multiple stages, with level one planning focused on legal requirements such as New Jersey student learning standards and special education. Level two planning covered local policy requirements, while level three included high-value district priorities not mandated by policy.

The board’s discussions highlighted the need to maintain programs addressing the achievement gap, such as interventionists, despite the financial constraints. The district also faces significant facility maintenance costs, particularly at Bartle School, where construction projects have become a financial burden. These projects include structural repairs, bathroom updates, and compliance with federal and state mandates.

An important component of the budget is the $1.1 million tax levy incentive aid package approved by the New Jersey Department of Education. This aid allows the district to invest in curriculum upgrades, mental health services, and retain personnel, including media specialists and classroom teachers. The district’s financial strategy also involves addressing a $1.3 million shortfall in the local fair share calculation due to changes in state aid formulas, which now consider the average of district income and property values over the past three years.

In addition to budgetary concerns, the board navigated various staffing changes. Notable appointments included Miss Claremont’s transfer to a reading interventionist role at Barrow Elementary and Michelle Daly’s appointment as a teacher at Irving Primaries. The board also addressed reductions in force, which affected positions such as a behaviorist and a reading interventionist, alongside non-renewals and reappointments for the upcoming academic year.

The meeting also included a public comment session dedicated to the budget, but it concluded without input from attendees, both in-person and online.

Beyond financial and staffing matters, the board engaged in discussions about the future of charter school attendance. The board emphasized the importance of residency reports from charter schools to ensure that students attending these institutions reside within Highland Park. This measure is part of the board’s efforts to address non-residency issues, which have surfaced when documentation was not presented for some students.

The board also received committee reports, with the curriculum and instruction committee highlighting a partnership with the SPAN parent advocacy network to enhance parental engagement in literacy. They recommended creating a Spanish club and reviewed data from a cell phone survey targeting parents and students. The finance and facilities committee reported on the ongoing facilities projects, including the baseball field and greenhouse, and discussed financial matters related to various contracts and grants.

In the personnel segment, the board approved a series of curriculum and instruction items, finance and facilities items, and personnel items, with some members abstaining from specific votes. The meeting concluded with reports from board liaisons, including upcoming events from the Human Relations Commission and the Board of Health’s vaccination data.