Board Notes – March 31, 2009

• The Board approved the $7,440,101 2009-2010 budget, which maintains all current staff and programs without a tax increase.  Additional state revenues will be used to offset the tuition increase of $1,000 per student for Folsom residents attending Hammonton High School.  The budget includes funding for afterschool programs, completion of important maintenance projects such as regrading and repaving the parking area, upgrading the student bathroom facilities, upgrading technology, and increasing instructional supplies to support our literacy, mathematics, science, and related arts programs.

• The board approved a contract with South Jersey Energy Company for electricity, with an estimated savings of about $21,000 over the next two years.

• The board approved contract renewal with Student Transportation of America for our 12 bus routes for the coming year, at a total cost of $376,808.23.

• The board approved the following contracts for repairs and maintenance: A-Altair Lawns and Landscaping, $420 per cut; RAMM/Lilich Corp, for asbestos removal, air quality monitoring, and carpet and floor tile removal in the 1-2 wing this summer , $16,170; C.H. Reel Co., for new tile in the 1-2 wing, $8,476.95; Tozour-Trane, for rooftop exhaust fan repair; Coastal Electric for new lighting in student bathrooms and rewired light switches in library, $5,031; and Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning, for entrance and hallway heating units, $15,841.

• The board approved four new substitute teachers: Leslie Hough, David Hearn, Dennis Berenato, and Louis Harvey.

• The board approved professional development and travel expenses for Mr. Baldermann, Mrs. Pickul, and Mr. Wheeler.

• Field trips for grade 7 (Independence Seaport Museum) and prekindergarten (Garden State Discovery Museum) were approved.

• The 4000 series policies received final approval, as did revised Policy 6171.4 Special Education.  New policy 3516.6 Management of Life Threatening Allergies was introduced. Our policy manual is currently undergoing complete revision and, when completed, will be available on our district website.

• The board discussed working with Folsom Boro to purchase and install a new playground area for our preschool students.  Mr. DeStefano will bring this idea to the Boro Council’s Recreation Committee for further discussion.