Schools
Bristol Township School Board Passes Budget
Full Day Kindergarten, elementary music program saved while taxes raise.
The Bristol Township School Board passed their 2011-2012 budget at a meeting at the Benjamin Franklin Freshman Academy Monday night.
The budget has been hotly debated ever since its proposal earlier last Spring. In the original proposal, the school district was set to cut either full-day kindergarten education or elementary music, as well as potentially 78 teaching positions.
At a previous meeting, Superintendent Sam Lee said the budget was a “worst-case scenario” that could change. As of Monday, things did indeed get brighter.
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The Bristol Township Education Association, after heated conversations with the school board, finally agreed to a pay freeze. The wage freeze dropped the amount of furloughed teachers from 78 to 34, and allowed full-day kindergarten to remain implemented in the township.
The big surprise of the night was the retention of the elementary music program, which was previously almost certain to be on the chopping block. After much back and forth between students, parents and the school board, and a student's revelation that an extra $140,000 was “hidden” in the budget, the board decided to use $160,000 for the general funds to retain three elementary music teachers to keep the program alive.
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“I want to thank the students. You came here with facts and knowledge, and opened up my eyes to just how important music is to education. You all are a real inspiration,” board member Sean Norman said.
While the audience that attended the meeting was enthused by the retention of both of these programs, they were likely less enthused about the addition to a tax hike within the budget.
The board approved a millage increase of 3.329, the maximum allowed by state law. The increase will cost property owners in Bristol Township almost $60 extra next year.
Even though the light shined brighter for the district, some residents remained critical of the school district's actions and approach to the budget cuts.
“When you have to make future cuts, and we know next year will be worst, do not put those who touch our children's lives on daily basis first on the chopping block. Instead, let's look at the rest of the payroll. How many secretaries or maintenance workers do we really need in this township?” resident Robin Little said.
