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Winslow Township board warns of rising costs, approves personnel report; E‑Rate and capital projects discussed
Summary
The Winslow Township Board of Education approved the superintendent's personnel report and heard staff outline mounting budget pressure from special education, transportation and benefits while moving ahead with E‑Rate requests and several capital projects, including air‑conditioning upgrades and athletic facility work.
The Winslow Township Board of Education on Feb. 26 approved the superintendent's personnel report and heard staff warn that operating costs are outpacing projected revenue, with special education, transportation and benefit costs identified as main drivers.
District staff told the board the district is preparing a budget based on flat state funding and anticipates seeking a 2% tax‑levy increase, which staff estimated would generate about $1,094,698 in additional revenue. At the same time, staff reported that operating costs — notably special education services, transportation and benefits — have increased “far beyond this revenue,” and that negotiations with teachers and administrators are ongoing; the current contract is set to expire June 30, 2025.
The meeting also covered the district’s E‑Rate plans. Staff said the district will file a Form 470 to pursue E‑Rate funding for roughly 65 wireless access points and a network management system for the 2025–26 school year, and reviewed how E‑Rate categorizes eligible expenditures into Category 1 (telecommunications/phone systems) and Category 2 (internal connections and networking).
On capital projects, administrators reported that EI Associates will send bid documents for two projects and that the district is advancing several items including construction of a pole barn for athletics at the high school. Staff said funding is needed to complete air‑conditioning upgrades at schools 1–4 and the middle school; funding is already in place for schools 5, 6 and the high school. The board was told one modern passenger bus now costs over $160,000, a factor that has pushed transportation costs up.
The board voted to approve the personnel report. In roll call recorded during the meeting, the following members registered “yes”: Miss Martin; Mr. McMannes; Mr. Stevenson; Mr. Henderson; Mr. Terrence Smith; Mr. Thomas; and Mr. Scholl. The chair declared the motion carried.
The agenda item announcing the E‑Rate filing and the capital project updates was placed on the addendum for the Feb. 26 meeting for board approval. The meeting adjourned at 7:06 p.m.; the board noted its next scheduled meeting is March 25, 2025.
