Budget Deliberations, School Calendar on BOE Agenda

A few more items may be cut from the Millburn proposed 2011-12 school budget during Monday's school board meeting.

The Millburn Board of Education meets on Monday at 7:45 p.m. at the Education Center.

The school board since January has been deliberating on the proposed budget, which would go to a public vote in April. School officials are looking for a way to close an approximate $6.5 million between the expenses and revenues when assuming a 2 percent increase in taxes. A 2 percent increase is the highest allowed under state law. School officials already have cut approximately $4.7 million from the proposed budget.

Some of the items that are listed as "possible changes" could change to actual cuts. Schools Supt. James Crisfield also may add a few new items to the possible changes section, although there may not be figures associated with them.

What's new since the last school board meeting is the addition of approximately $760,000 in state aid. Crisfield said last week he already made, which include a team of teachers at the middle school and the elimination of courtesy busing and the addition of a subscription option.

The school board has yet to deliberate in pubic session the tax rate.

The board's negotiations committee is expected to give a report Monday night. The negotiating team has started working with the Millburn Education Association on a new teacher contract.

The school board also will review and vote on the proposal for the 2012-13 school calendar, which will cut down February vacation to two days and three half days. The change, which would be for one year, is an effort to prevent the school year from ending later than June 21. The board on the calendar during its last meeting.

The agenda also includes an item to accept bids for the sale of the portable classrooms located at Millburn  Middle School. School officials have been looking for some time to get rid of the trailers.