Budget Vote Will Be Cast By Montville BOE This Week

Montville BOE to Vote on Preliminary Budget

After hosting several public hearings on the proposed 2013-14 school budget, the Montville Township Public Schools Board of Education will vote on the preliminary budget at a meeting Tuesday night. 

The proposed budget represents a 1.1 percent increase over last year's 61,319,473 tax levy and remains under the state-mandated 2 percent spending increase. For the average home assessed at $527,470, it will mean a $63 increase for the year. 

The proposed budget maintains class sizes on all three district educational levels, includes a new K-5 mathematics curriculum and continuation and expansion of the Rosetta Stone language teaching program. It also includes a plan to modify the Lazar School day to begin at 8:30 a.m. but dismiss at 3:15 p.m., dismissing nearly a half hour earlier than the current schedule. This would come at an estimated cost of $125,000 for the additional buses needed. Also, the district is considering shortening the high school day by five minutes.

Capital projects proposed include turf field lettering and the replacement of the athletic field press box at the high school, installing cameras in the high school parking lot, adding computer tables at the elementary schools and more (see proposal attached to this article). The board will consider using referendum funds balance to complete other capital projects, such as renovating the girls and boys locker rooms and constructing an outdoor bathroom.

The board will meet Tuesday at 8 p.m. in the Montville Township Municipal Building.

Homework-Free Night to Be Held Tuesday

The school district will be holding another Homework-Free Night on Tuesday.

The homework-free initiative encourages students to spend quality time with their families as teachers are asked not to assign homework on those days. Homework-Free Nights were one of several recommendations made by a taskforce formed to examine how homework can be given more effectively.