Fiscally Responsiblewith a Keen Eye on Education2011-2012 Proposed Budget

Michael J. FalkowskiBusiness Administrator/Board Secretary

Current Economic Climate

Even though the economic climate has placed a strain on us all, we at West Essex recognize the importance of providing a sound, well-rounded education for the students of our local communities.

We are committed to continuing to support our exceptional educational and extra-curricular programs.

Student Success is ParamountCollege Acceptances – A Sampling

US Military Academy (West Point)Georgetown UniversityTulane UniversityThe College of New JerseyPenn State UniversityRutgersVillanova UniversityMonmouth University

Boston UniversityUniversity of MichiganCaldwell CollegeUniversity of California, BerkeleyUniversity of PennsylvaniaCornell University

Student Success is ParamountAcademic Awards & Honors – A Sampling

Nineteen students named Edward J. Bloustein ScholarsA WE student took First Place at the Teen Arts Jam for her pastel resist drawingA WE student was winner of the Tri-State and runner up in the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Aware for Aspirations in ComputingWest Essex Quiz Bowl Team defeats High Technology High School on the television show “The Challenge”

Student Success is ParamountExtra-Curricular Awards & Honors – A Sampling

The WE Wrestling team won North Jersey Section One, Group 2 ChampionshipWE student wins State Championship

Four WE students were named to the All North Jersey JHS Region 1 Treble ChorusFour WE students were named to the All State ChorusThe WE Robotics Team took Third Place overall in the VEX Robotics Round Up Qualifier EventFour WE students were accepted into the North Jersey Area Band – the most ever from West EssexEleven members of the WE Fencing Team earned medals in the Morris Knolls InvitationalThe 2010 Roundtable has earned a Gold Medalist Ranking from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and All-Columbian Honors for Content

Challenges of 2011-12

Service our Long Term Debt Obligations

Meet the needs of NJ citizens through the Governor’s 2% cap

Address Needed Plant and Safety Issues

Strengthen Current Educational Programming

A Closer Look2011-2012 Proposed Budget

Voters will be asked to approve a tax levy of $30,284,468 on Wednesday, April 27.

The comprehensive budget includes a 2.99% tax levy increaseReductions in operating expensesIncreases in capital expendituresIncreases in debt service

A Closer Look at the 2.99% Increase2011-2012 Proposed Budget

Improvements in InstructionAdditional Math Time at the Middle SchoolAdding AP Italian and Mandarin II at the High SchoolMaintain Class Sizes with Additional Enrollment

Completion of Building Safety & Health InitiativesEntry CanopyRestrooms (6 to be renovated)Tech Labs (2 additional)

Increase in Debt Service ObligationMaintaining Activity Fee to Support Extra-Curricular Programs

Estimated Tax ImpactInclusive of Debt Service

Municipality 2010-2011 2011-2012 IncreaseAverage Assessed Home Value

Average Increase

Essex Fells 0.367 0.3676 0.0006 $939,100 $5.63

Fairfield 0.438 0.4641 0.0261 $529,900 $138.30

No. Caldwell 0.446 0.4582 0.0122 $712,281 $86.90

Roseland 0.432 0.4450 0.0130 $479,000 $62.27

Distribution of Expenditures

Instruction75%

Buildings & Grounds11%

Debt Service7%

Administration7%

Major Areas of Increase & DecreasePer Pupil Expenditures

Total Classroom InstructionINCREASE of 2.91%

Total Administrative CostsDECREASE of 2.92%

Plant & Safety IssuesCompletion Scheduled for 2011-2012

Projects RemainingCanopy to Prevent Future Costly RepairsRestroom Renovations

Additional ProjectsComputer Lab in High School Library (donation/in-house construction)Stadium Bleachers

Fixing Safety Hazards

Addressing Instructional ConcernsIncreased Enrollment

Implementing Increased Math Time at the Middle School to improve test scores and prepare incoming sixth graders

Instructional Spending OverviewWest Essex High School

Instructional Initiatives

Two-Year Algebra Program for At-Risk StudentsPathways Program for Multiply Disabled StudentsBoot Camp for At-Risk StudentsPhysical Best/Fitness Gram

Educational Assessment Program in Physical Education and Health

Innovative Course Offerings

Advanced Placement ItalianContinued Courses for MandarinSpanish V CPA

Instructional Spending OverviewWest Essex Middle School

Increased Math Instructional Time for Identified StudentsContinued Focus on English & Writing

Remedial Reading and Reading SupportKid Biz Differentiated Reading and Writing Program

MAP TestingMonitor Student GrowthInform Instruction

Success in ActionWEHS – High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) Highlights

Language ArtsAdvanced Proficiency increased 4.6 percent96.2 percent of students achieved proficiency or advanced proficiency

Mathematics87.8 percent of students achieved proficiency or advanced proficiency

Increase of 4.5 percent over previous year

Success in ActionWEHS – Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)

Mathematics Verbal Essay500

510

520

530

540

550

560

547 515 525554 531 532555 526 537

Average Scores – Year to Year Comparison

2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

Success in ActionWEHS – Advanced Placement Data

26.7% of students opt to take Advanced Placement courses; well above the State average of 19.9%73.8% of AP students who take the end of course test pass with a score of 3 or betterStandout Student Scores (Average Score by Course)

Calculus AB: 4.000Physics B: 4.500Statistics: 4.269

Success in ActionWEMS – NJ Assessment of Skills & Knowledge – Grade 7 (NJ ASK 7)

Language ArtsAdvanced Proficiency increased 3.8 percent87.5 percent of students achieved proficiency or advanced proficiency

Mathematics75.4 percent of students achieved proficiency or advanced proficiency

Success in ActionWEMS – NJ Assessment of Skills & Knowledge – Grade 8 (NJ ASK 8)

Language ArtsAdvanced Proficiency increased 20.3 percent97.3 percent of students achieved proficiency or advanced proficiency

MathematicsAdvanced Proficiency increased 2.3 percent80.8 percent of students achieved proficiency or advanced proficiency

Increase of 3.1 percent over previous year

ScienceAdvanced Proficiency increased 15.4 percent95.2 percent of students achieved proficiency or advanced proficiency

Increase of 1.4 percent over previous year

Technology for 21st Century Learning

Middle School will open additional computer lab

Referendum Project

High School library will be redesigned

Additional computer lab planned (donation)

$125,000 budgeted for computer workstations

A Team Approach to Controlling CostsShared Services Initiatives

K-12 Curriculum DirectorPilot Program

Intense Examination of Administrative Shared ServicesEd-Data

BiddingACES

TelecommunicationsE-RateWest Essex Technology ConsortiumSussex County Co-Op

Bussing

Save the Date!School Election Day has been changed to WEDNESDAY, April 27, 2011.

please vote!