Staffing, Security Top Priorities for Next Year's Budget

Growing enrollment requires a growth in facilities and staff, and a commensurate investment in extracurricular activities.

Dr. Michael LaSusa, superintendent of the School District of the Chathams, proposed three different potential paths for the Board of Education to take in planning the 2013-14 school budget at his presentation Monday. LaSusa proposed several scenarios with tax levy increases from 2.14 to 3.41 percent, plus one option with a second question for increasing school security. Priorities: Staffing, Activities ... Priorities for the next school year include additional staff at the high school to teach math, science, social studies, English, Chinese and art for a total investment of $535,000. "Those last two don't have to be full time staff," LaSusa said. LaSusa also proposed additional extracurricular activities at both Chatham High School and …

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School District Could Offer 2nd Question on Budget

Superintendent Michael LaSusa proposed three different paths for the upcoming school budget.

Dr. Michael LaSusa, superintendent of the School District of the Chathams, proposed three different potential paths for the Board of Education to take in planning the 2013-14 school budget, including putting a second question to the voters for enhancements to school security. His proposed scenarios call for a budget increase of between 2.14 percent to 3.41 percent, or allow the Board of Education to propose a different path. The board will select a budget plan and vote on it on March 11 following another Open Finance Committee meeting. LaSusa said the district qualifies for a health care adjustment over the 2 percent state tax levy cap, plus banked cap from the last three years which cannot be touched until the full health care allowance …

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A Chathamite's Guide to 2012 School Elections

Everything to know before you head to the polls.

Chatham residents can make their voices heard in the polls Tuesday, when they can vote on their representatives to the Board of Education, and on the 2012-13 school budget. Before you head out to vote, here are some things you need to know: When and where can I vote? Polls open at 2 p.m. and remain open until 9 p.m. Chatham Borough residents over 18 who have registered to vote may do so at Chatham Middle School. Chatham Township residents over 18 who have registered to vote may do so at Chatham High School. What Am I Voting On? The district has proposed a budget of $60,943,789 for the 2012-13 school year, which residents can vote to approve. Last year's tax levy was $52,791,296. In the upcoming school year, the tax levy will increase by 2.…

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Column: The Vanishing School Budget Vote

Almost 1 in 5 districts statewide has already eliminated the April vote.

Voters in six Morris County municipalities—so far—have lost one opportunity to participate in the democratic process. Less than two weeks after Gov. Chris Christie gave them the option, 106 school districts have jumped at the chance to jettison the annual public vote on the school budget and move the vote on board of education candidates to November, alongside the election for political seats ranging from town council to, this year, president of the United States. That represents almost 20 percent of the state’s districts. In Morris County, as of last Friday, the ranks included Butler, Parsippany, Boonton, Florham Park, Lincoln Park and Randolph, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association. More are expected to follow suit. This …

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V

1:30 pm on Monday, February 27, 2012

Dan, while the Constitution of New Jersey mandates to provide free public schools, it doesn't regulate the curriculum. Subjects beyond civics, math, basic science, and English language should not be bankrolled by the public. As for your suggestion to switch school financing from property tax to income tax, it reeks of redistributionism. Income tax is currently paid by less than half the state …   more ›

BOE Saves Additional State Aid for 2012-13 Budget

Assistant Superintendent and Business Administrator say they know several districts taking a similar path.

The Board of Education of the School District of the Chathams took no action on an additional $517,006 in state aid awarded last week at their Monday night meeting. Board Member Matthew Gilfillan, the head of the Facilities and Finance Committee, along with Assistant Superintendent Michael LaSusa and new Business Administrator Peter Daquila, said that it would be better to put the additional aid toward the 2012-13 budget, since there was no guarantee of how much state aid the district could get next year. Gilfillan said that the Facilities and Finance Committee met just before the 7:30 p.m. board meeting and discussed "three different avenues" for using the money. The first option was to put the money toward the operation of the district, …

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School Vote 2011

Enrollment, Finances Top Issues for Board of Ed; Absentee Votes Tallied in Township

The updated numbers show that the budget passed with 66.62 percent of the vote. Over 19 percent of registered voters cast ballots for the school election.

Kim Cronin and Jill Weber will hit the ground running on May 4 when the Board of Education meets for its reorganizational meeting. Cronin said that in the first hours after her election to the board, she has been contacted by numerous residents who want to discuss a concern they have about the schools. "It's already been an interesting day," Cronin said. "It's an amazing first day." For incumbents Lata Kenney and Rich Connors of the township and borough, respectively, another term on the board means they can continue their work on various committees. "We've got some big issues we've got to tackle," Connors said. "We have our work cut out for us." Connors was elected as a write-in candidate for his first term on the Board of Education and …

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School Vote 2011

UPDATE: Budget Passes With 66.1 Percent of Votes

Weber, Connors and Cronin win seats; Routh ousted from Board of Education.

The proposed budget for the School District of the Chathams passed Wednesday with 1,598, or 66.1 percent, of the votes. Board of Education incumbent Alan Routh was voted out of his seat representing Chatham Township with 413 votes. Kim Cronin, who earned 561 votes, will take his place. Lata Kenney, who ran unopposed and earned 815 votes, will keep her seat for one year. In Chatham Borough, Jill Weber and incumbent Richard Connors will represent the municipality on the board, having earned 633 and 526 votes, respectively. Candidates Jeff Truppo earned 445 votes and 177 votes were cast for Albert Bozzo. Township residents voted by 802 votes, or 64.8 percent, to pass the budget and 434, or 35.2 percent, against it. Borough residents voted 796…

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Captain Jack

5:35 pm on Thursday, April 28, 2011

Andrew Currin, welcome to Chatham. your concerns are valid.   more ›

Chatham Borough Approves 2011 Municipal Budget

The $13,606,140 budget was approved, and Superintendent Jim O'Neill also gave an overview of new school district budget.

The Chatham Borough Council approved the 2011 municipal budget with no discussion and no comments or questions from the public during the regular council meeting Monday evening. The budget passed unanimously. According to presentations by Tammie Kopin, the borough's chief financial officer, on March 14 and March 28, the municipal budget totals $13,606,140 and a tax levy increase of $229,978 over the 2010 levy of $7,343,862, for a total increase of 3.13 percent. The total budget increased by 3.66 percent over 2010. The 2011 budget includes more than $122,000 in cuts by various departments, which the council asked and mandatory increases in pensions, debt services, salaries and contributions to the Madison/Chatham Joint Meeting of more than…

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Chatham High Students In Favor of Expanded Lot

Three students spoke to the Board of Education in favor of expanding the parking lot.

Liz Hyde, Kate Murphy and Callie Farmakis attended the Board of Education meeting on April 11 to speak in favor of expanding the parking lot at Chatham High School. The students, who are all officers of the Class of 2012, said they were considerate of the environmental concerns and the concerns of residents along Longwood Avenue and other streets near the high school, but that not expanding the parking lot would lead to yet more crowding and greater danger to both drivers and pedestrians before and after school. Students at Chatham High currently share parking spaces with two students allowed to share each space. Hyde, Murphy and Farmakis said that if the lot is not expanded, the growing student population would mean that three students …

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