Enrollment growth, flat funding awaits Warren County Technical School and Warren County Special Services School District

Friday, April 09, 2010
By BILL WICHERT
The Express-Times

WHITE TWP. | As school districts across Warren County face a budget crunch, William Spencer expects them to take a closer look at the cost-effective special education services offered by the Warren County Special Services School District.

The district is projecting to serve more students next school year as more school officials consider the district's quality programs and lower tuition rates, Spencer said. The projection follows enrollment declines in the district that led to staff reductions.

"If we are at home, locally, and the least expensive, it would make sense that they're going to be coming to us," said Spencer, the district's school board president. "We look more favorable to them."

Anticipated enrollment growth was part of the discussion Thursday among county officials at two separate budget meetings for the special services district and the Warren County Technical School.

The board of school estimate for each of the two entities agreed Thursday to provide flat funding to the special services district and Warren Tech for 2010-11. Those boards consisted of county Freeholders Rick Gardner and Everett Chamberlain and two school representatives for each respective board.

County funding awarded to the special services district and Warren Tech for the 2010-11 school year is slated to remain at $186,268 and $3,995,172, respectively, the same as 2009-10.

Enrollment in the special services district is slated to climb from 38 to 43 students, officials said. Warren Tech projects an increase in its high school and post-secondary students from 529 to 592, according to the school budget.

Because Warren Tech anticipates more tuition revenue due to enrollment growth, there is no reason to increase the county's share, Gardner said. Both the technical school and the special services district are demonstrating a heightened focus on how dollars are spent, he said.

"It all boils down to efficiency and the quality of education," Gardner said after the meetings. "The value of the taxpayers' money is being seen here."

Warren Tech Chief School Administrator Robert Glowacky pointed out during the meeting that the school is spending less per pupil than other vocational-technical schools. At the same time, Warren Tech's proposed state aid is to be cut by $437,836, or 13.7 percent from its 2009-10 allocation.

As a result, Warren Tech is eliminating its child study team and outsourcing the team's services in the upcoming school year. Warren Tech officials continue to evaluate the school's programs, Glowacky said.

"I'm hopeful that our programs will continue to grow," Glowacky said. "I don't want to go backwards."

One program that may not be reinstated next year is Warren Tech's general art program, which instructs students in painting, drawing and ceramics. School officials have considered abolishing that program because the school district offers other arts programs that allow students to meet state requirements.

"How many arts do you need?" Glowacky said.