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Hardyston board previews budget with flat state aid, rising utilities and facilities needs
Summary
At a budget workshop, the Hardyston Township Board of Education was told to expect flat state aid but growing pressures from utilities, potential grant cuts and contract negotiations; staff recommended maintaining positions while prioritizing boilers and targeted roof repairs.
The Hardyston Township Board of Education held a budget workshop in which district leaders presented early projections showing flat state aid but rising local cost pressures and uncertainty about federal grants. The board’s presenter, Dr. Mike, told members the session was intended to align strategic goals with budget decisions and to gather board feedback ahead of the February workshop.
“What that means is what are our strategic goals? What are our district goals?” Dr. Mike said as he outlined four strategic anchors — student accountability, community involvement, parental engagement and access and equity — and five district goals that will guide spending priorities. He said the district will use those priorities to shape the operating budget and capital plans.
Business administrator Sue Verso provided early fiscal signals to the board, saying current estimates point to flat state aid but “a decrease in grants” and notable increases in utilities and transportation. “The utilities are out of control,” Verso said, citing an example that middle‑school winter bills rose from about $10,000 to $14,000 per month. She also told the board transportation contracts have increased with the consumer price index and that grant timing and amounts—especially Title and IDEA funds—remain uncertain.
Board members pressed staff on staffing needs and contract planning. The board was told this is a negotiations year for the district’s collective bargaining agreements and that projected salary increases are a major budget driver. Dr. Mike said payroll calculations will allow the business office to estimate contract costs precisely once tentative raise percentages are known.
Special education and early‑grade behavioral needs were singled out as priorities. The presenter described the district’s behavioral‑support resources — occupational therapists, an occupational therapy assistant, behaviorists and emotional‑regulation rooms at both schools — and suggested increased BCBA (board‑certified behavior analyst) hours or an additional contracted specialist might be needed as enrollment and behavioral intensity rise.
On facilities, board members urged prioritizing boiler replacements and targeted roof repairs to restore building efficiency and avoid higher energy costs. The presenter said the elementary school received recent major work (boiler replacement, air conditioning and drainage repairs) and that the district plans phased repairs at the middle school using capital reserve funds where feasible.
The district’s preschool expansion — which grew from 24 to 90 full‑day seats and now operates six classrooms — was presented as an enrollment and program success the board will hold steady for another year to monitor demand. Leaders also noted recent declines in charter tuition outflows as more students remain in district schools, producing ongoing savings.
The board was told it will continue detailed budgeting work in committee and return to a February workshop with more precise numbers; staff said the county’s budget submission window could shift slightly depending on the governor’s state‑of‑the‑state and the timing of final state aid numbers.
The board moved into executive session to discuss district leadership later in the meeting; the chair said no action would be taken and the board returned to public session and adjourned with no subsequent votes.
