Justin Saxon

The public hearing concerns the budget for the 2024-2025 school year. Key discussion points include advertised enrollments, revenues from local and state sources, budgeted fund balance, withdrawals from capital and maintenance reserves, transfers from other funds, and adjustments for prior year encumbrances. Appropriations cover general current expenses, instruction, support services, capital expenditures, and special schools. The hearing also addresses special grants and entitlements, repayment of debt, per pupil cost calculations, and capital projects such as room renovations, asbestos abatement, roof repairs, and paving and curbing.

The public hearing concerns the budget for the 2025-2026 school year. Key discussion points include advertised enrollments, revenues from local and state sources, budgeted fund balance, withdrawals from capital and maintenance reserves, transfers from other funds, and adjustments for prior year encumbrances. The budget also covers grants and entitlements, including student activity funds, and revenues from federal sources such as Title I, Title II, Title III, and IDEA Part B. Additionally, the hearing addresses repayment of debt, per pupil cost calculations, and capital projects, including paving.

The budget summary includes information on advertised enrollments, revenues, appropriations, recapitulation of balances, per pupil cost calculations, shared services, and employee contracts for the district.

The Hillsdale BOE was presented with the District Testing Report, which included data from the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) for English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science, as well as the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) assessment for students with significant intellectual disabilities. The report covered student performance levels, trends, and subgroup reporting for the Spring 2024 NJSLA assessments. It also outlined areas to address and plans to improve student outcomes, including standards-based instruction, professional development, data analysis, and curriculum updates. Additionally, the report included information on district assessments, testing times, and dates for the 2025 NJSLA and DLM assessments.

The board meeting focused on the 2024-2025 school budget, including discussions on transportation, personnel, special education, insurance, buildings and grounds, and other budget areas. The budget process involved collaboration between the finance committee, administration, and board members. Enrollment projections for the upcoming school year were presented, along with an overview of staff statistics. Disciplinary incidents at the middle school were reported. Updates were provided on kindergarten registration, teacher appreciation week, and the launch of a website for the September 2024 bond referendum.