Budget helps bring changes to schools
By elaine van develde
Staff Writer

HAZLET — Students will see a few new faces when they start school this week.

After the 2003-04 school budget was approved by voters in April, 10 new teachers were hired.

"Parents pushed for it and they got the money in place that they wanted to do the things they wanted," said Renae LaPrete, superintendent of schools. "With the passing of the budget, we were able to get a lot accomplished. In addition to the completion of numerous maintenance and buildings projects, we were able to add staff, especially in the elementary schools, to lower the student-teacher ratio."

The new $38 million budget, with a $25.9 million tax levy, calls for a tax hike of 17.8 cents per $100 of assessed property valuation. Boosting the school tax rate from $2.241 to $2.419 per $100 of assessed property valuation, the hike, LaPrete said, allowed for what she called long-awaited and high-demand staff and building additions.

The budget hike has paved the way for 90 percent of classrooms from grades kindergarten through third to have fewer than 20 students per teacher, LaPrete said. In all, one new part-time and 10 new full-time people were added to the district’s elementary teaching and technical staff "where there was the highest influx of new staff," LaPrete said.

At the Hazlet Middle School, a student assistance counselor was added to the roster as were world languages, technical and math/social studies teachers. A part-time English as a second language (ESL) teacher was also added.

Raritan High School added three science teachers, a math teacher and an Italian teacher.

"In some cases, the new teachers replaced someone who resigned or a retiree," LaPrete said. "In all, four people relocated or made lateral moves out of or within the district. Two people resigned."

One of the resignations was that of former Middle School Principal John Richard Sherman. He was replaced in July by John DeGenito, who came to the district from Bradley Beach.

Lateral changes in the administration included bringing in a part-time district supervisor/assistant principal for the middle school, who was working as a science teacher at the high school.

"That was one example of a lateral move within the district that caused a vacancy in another spot," LaPrete said.

But the new staff was only part of the changes students find themselves in today.

"There were numerous maintenance and building projects completed in every school," LaPrete said.

For instance, the roof replacement project is now complete at Beers Street Elementary School. This was considered the most comprehensive project.

Other large projects that were completed over summer break were: the $9,000 replacement of the girls’ locker room windows at the high school, a $30,000 renovation of the high school physics lab, and a new heating, air conditioning and ventilation system in the auditorium.

In the district’s elementary schools, heating and air vents were replaced, as were windows, carpets, and doors. A 4-foot-high fence was installed at the Raritan Valley Elementary School and storm drainage was installed near the playing fields at Sycamore Drive Elementary School to stop flooding.

"With all of these long-awaited additions, we are looking forward to a great year," LaPrete said. "Class size is where parents have wanted it for a long time — low — and the buildings look beautiful. New faces, new places. With the passing of this budget, we were finally able to give students things they’ve wanted and needed. It’s a great way to keep the trend going on that track to excellence."