Questions About the Berkeley Heights 2023 School Budget Remain

At the last BOE meeting on March 30th, the Board decided (correctly) not to eliminate supervisor positions. However, Dr. Varley followed the vote with a warning (or threat) that the decision would result in cuts to teaching staff. Not once did the option of reductions in the Superintendent’s office or the Business Administrator’s office ever come up.

Later in April, the entire budget will be up for a vote. Below are questions I emailed to the Board of Education, Ms. Kot, Dr. Varley, and Ms. Lisa McAdams as her role is that of Budget Specialist before the March 30th meeting:

– Can you please explain how you are calculating the 350k in savings from the Supervisor / Director restructuring and where this is reflected in the line budget?

– What is line 77500 (+85k)? What position is this?

– What is the increase (+64k) in line 52420 General Supplies?

– What is being purchased in line 47540 (+151k)?

– How much is being budgeted for the SI and Assistant SI’s in line 4500?

– How is the legal fees estimate of 170k derived? Related question – how much was spent on Dr. Varley’s defense against the nepotism charge?

– What position is in line 44000?

– What is line 3040? What technical services? (+99k)

– What textbooks are being purchased in line 3100 (+51k)?

– Why isn’t the market rate being used to calculate interest revenue? Current rates for a regular savings account are up to 5%.

– BOE members – are you comfortable that teachers, supervisors, assistant coaches, secretarial staff can be cut but the SI and BA offices are not touched at all? 

Related Articles:

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ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS BERKELEY HEIGHTS

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