As schools continue to adjust to remote learning across the state in the face of the worldwide pandemic, their boards of education are planning for the upcoming school year.
At the Voorhees Township Public Schools Administration Building on March 18, the board of education took its first step toward a 2020-2021 budget by passing a tentative budget that will now be sent to the county executive superintendent for approval.
According to information provided by Business Administrator and Board Secretary Helen Haley, the district’s total budget for next year is anticipated to be $58,532,722, a 1.48-percent increase over the prior year.
The tax rate goes to 1.5, up from 1.473 the previous year. Residents with the average assessed home value of $259,460 should expect to see an increase of approximately $71 from the previous year, or roughly an additional $6 per month.
Included in the budget are three capital projects: This summer, the district anticipates renovating its current HVAC system, constructing a maintenance garage and making exterior soffit and fascia replacements to Voorhees middle schools. All three projects are anticipated to cost approximately $775,000.
According to Haley, the district also plans to replace classroom carpets with hard-surface flooring, something the district has done with cafeterias and gymnasiums. The district did so in four classrooms at VMS during the winter and plans to do so again during the upcoming spring break.
“We’re doing it in phases,” Haley said. “So we’ll address more rooms this summer and over the winters and spring breaks during next year as well. That would be another estimated 45 rooms we do next year out of our capital reserve funds.”
The district continues to distribute breakfast and lunch at Voorhees Middle School during the COVID-19 pandemic for those who qualify for free and reduced lunch. Distribution is from 11 a.m. to noon at VMS. More information can be found at the district’s website.
The board’s next scheduled meeting is Wednesday, May 6, at the administration building. The board will host public comment on the budget during the meeting.
