Matthew Dechen

The board recognized student achievements, including the WDHS Girls Field Hockey Team's state title and the Marching Band's success. They welcomed a new Elementary Assistant Principal. The board also discussed character education, community support through Operation Blessing, personnel appointments, resignations, and transfers. Approvals were granted for school business days, cafeteria donations, grants, budget preparation, facilities use, property sale, professional development, student teacher placements, field trips, and a revised district calendar. The board also addressed business, facilities, and finance matters, and miscellaneous requests for workshop attendance and student activities.

The Board discussed the success of the second vaccination clinic, updates on CDC and NJDOH quarantine recommendations, and implemented additional safety measures throughout the District. Recognition was given to Mr. Peter Guzzetti for his service to the West Deptford Board of Education and to Mrs. Nancy Barna for completing the NJ School Boards Association's Board Member Academy Program. Staff members were recognized as Governor's Educators of the Year and Governor's Educational Service Professionals of the Year. The Board also discussed the transition of Mr. Jeff Podolski to the role of WDMS Principal. The Board approved the HIB Summary Report, WD Disaster Recovery Plan, field trips, Training Site Agreement with Thomas Jefferson University, McRel Evaluation Framework, Professional Development Workshops, Clinical Practicum Placements, Increase Teacher Coverage Pay, Amended Salaries due to Minimum Wage Increase, Amended Substitute Administrative Assistant and Substitute Non-Instructional Aide daily rates, Revised Facilities Calendar, ACES Purchasing Cooperative, and Purchase of Championship Jackets/Plaques for WDHS Marching Band.

The document is a user-friendly budget summary for Gloucester West Deptford Township. It includes advertised enrollments, revenues, appropriations, recapitulation of balances, per pupil cost calculations, shared services, estimated tax rates, and an employee contract list for the district.

The budget includes a total of $62,702,204, with a State Aid increase of $832,143 over 2024-25. The district's enrollment is 2,804 per the Application for State School Aid (ASSA) count on October 15th, 2024, which has increased to 2,858 as of April 1, 2025. The local tax levy increased by 2.0%, with an additional $74,702 from health care adjustment costs, resulting in a 2.19% increase affecting the local tax levy. The estimated local tax impact is about $22 annually on the average home in West Deptford Township. COVID Elementary & Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funding has ended as of 10/15/2024, causing a significant decrease in Special Revenue. Preschool Education Aid (PEA) Expansion funding has increased due to enrollment growth. The district consolidated multiple positions through retirements and resignations, reduced line items/expenses, and chose not to utilize the NJDOE Tax Levy Incentive Aid to avoid burdening taxpayers with a larger tax increase. The budget prioritizes maintaining high-level instruction, addressing rising costs, and advancing the school district's mission and vision. Initiatives include educational implementation of AI, trauma-informed care training, WIN program growth, IXL Diagnostic Programming expansion, and expansion of Pre K programs. Security upgrades, smartboard replacements, technology infrastructure upgrades, and athletic field equipment upgrades are also planned.

The board will convene a special meeting for the primary purpose of adopting the tentative budget. The meeting will include an executive session, and formal action is expected to be taken by the board.