|
Council, Schools Concerned About State's Pre-School Mandate
Majority Of Funding Would Come From Property Taxes; Town Forms A Committee
by Jo ann la russo
Berkeley Township Mayor Jason J. Varano has asked members of the governing body to join in an ad hoc committee to meet with state Department of Education Commissioner Lucille Davies to open dialogue on the recent state mandate for pre-school. Pre-school must be in place by the start of the 2009 school year.
The Department of Education mandate is to provide a free, full-day pre-school program for 100 3- and 4-year-old township children.
By 2013, the program will include all district children of that age. In the Berkeley School District, that number of children is estimated at over 500. Superintendent of Schools Joseph H. Vicari said recently, "We will need a new building if we have to provide for that many more children."
He said last week that the Berkeley Township Board of Education "has completed and sent in its application for the November 15 deadline, as required, in order to apply for needed state construction funding."
The mayor proposed forming the committee at a recent council meeting. Council members Nathan Abbe, Anne Wolff and Carmen Amato asked to be included in the informal committee, which will be set up to study the issues this mandate will create for township taxpayers.
At the meeting, Councilman Abbe suggested a meeting with school superintendent Joseph H. Vicari who has also called the plan too cost effective for the township.
Varano said, "This is beyond him. We need to meet with state representatives."
Councilwoman Karen Davis agreed, saying, "We need to get answers from the state."
Although the school board is an autonomous body, Vicari said Thursday that he is in favor of the governing body forming the committee.
"I think it's a great idea and agree with anything that will open dialogue into this matter." However, he said the district must move along with the plan for the 2009 mandate.
Each class must be limited to 15 children and taught by a certified early childhood teacher with one aide. Because the aide position falls under civil service, two years of college credits are required for that position.
Classrooms in the Bayville School, Clara B. Worth and H&M Potter schools will be used for the September 2009 start of the program.
Varano has called the plan an "unfunded state mandate that will put a burden on taxpayers."
Costs for a new school building are estimated at about $15 million. The state could fund up to 40 percent.
"With only 40 percent paid for by the state, add to those other costs such as new teachers and transportation, with the economic crises in the state and the country, our municipality will feel the burden.
"The taxpayers will feel the burden," said the mayor. "This mandate will not only burden the taxpayers in the township but will affect the six or seven daycare facilities in the township that would (in all probability) all go under as a result."
Varano said that the plan raises many questions. "Yes I believe in early education and its benefits. I have a 2-and 4-year-old, but there are some questions that need to be clarified."
"We will need an entire new school," he said. "The school board is already looking at architects and land that they will have to purchase. There is a strong concern about the funding."
Although parents of 3- and 4-yearolds are not mandated to send their young children to school, Wolff said that people could be likely to move to the township because the school would essentially provide them with f ree daycare. Private daycare costs can be as high as $600 per month.
"Two working parents could move here because of it," she said.
The super intendent said that information on the program continues to come in f rom the state and that meetings will be held for the public to learn further information about the mandate.
Varano said the committee will continue to have dialogue with the school board, "but there is also confusion regarding the plan on their part."
"That is why we are forming this committee to seek answers on a plan that will affect all taxpayers in Berkeley Township," he said.
Vicari agreed, saying, "We only get 10 percent annually in aid from the state. It will be a burden to taxpayers when they see their school budget escalate. The plan is too much all at once."
| 
