Hampton Township School District

Marian Emmons McKeown Elementary School

One School Road (973) 383-5300

Newton, New Jersey 07860-6733 Fax (973) 383-3835

Kerry Keane Murphy Dominic Festante Everett C. Burns

Business Administrator/ Principal Chief School

Board Secretary Administrator

April 12, 2010

Dear Parents, Guardians and Community Members:

The Hampton Township Board of Education School Election and Budget Vote are scheduled for Tuesday, April 20, 2010. The polling places will be open from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the following locations:

District 1—Hampton Township Municipal Building

District 2—Hampton Township Community and Senior Center

District 3—Baleville Church

District 4—Hampton Commons Community Center

The Hampton Township School Budget has been designed by the staff, administration and members of the Board of Education to meet the full compliment of educational programs required by the State Department of Education’s Core Curriculum Standards for elementary students in our township. The students participating in these programs may be your own, your neighbors or even your own grandchildren who attend the McKeown Elementary School from the preschool handicap class to the sixth grade. These early years are vital to the success of the child as he/she matures into lifelong learners. If the 2010-2011 school year budget is approved by the voters, the students at the McKeown Elementary School will be provided the following:

a. continuation of small group instruction for special education programs, the enrichment program and the basic skills program

b. average class size of 20 students per classroom

c. class field trips at every grade level including the sixth grade environmental trip

The Hampton Township School District provides fine instructional programs that are reviewed annually. We will continue to provide a quality educational service if given the opportunity. The proposed school budget for the 2010-2011 school year contains a Total General Fund in the amount of $6,138,661 which is made up of nine major accounting categories. The pie graph that follows will show a pictorial view of the major components of the proposed expenditures for the 2010-2011 school year. The residents of Hampton are asked to support the local tax levy in the amount of $4,813,907 which is an increase in the tax levy of 1.9%. This 1.9% increase which falls well short of the 4.0 % cap comes after the Hampton Township School District maintained the same tax levy for the benefit of the local taxpayer for the prior year.

IMPACT ON LOCAL TAXPAYERS

If the community supports the proposed 2010-2011 school year budget, the homeowner with the average $200,000 assessed home will see an increase in the portion of their taxes related to the McKeown Elementary School by $26.48 for the coming year.

Proposed Total General Current Expense

Where will the funding come from for the 2010-2011 school year budget?

For the 2009-2010 Budget Year For the 2010-2011 Budget Year

Amount Amount

Local Tax Levy $4,723,432 $4,813,907

State Sources $1,481,100 $1,162,354

Other & Free Balance $ 40,344 $ 162,400

Total General Fund $ 6,244,876 $6,138,661

In addition to the school budget, Hampton Township residents have been asked to fill 3 Board of Education positions. The following three incumbent candidates are running for three positions and each position represents a three year term:

· Deidre M. Metzger - incumbent

· Barry Johnson – incumbent

· John Wohlleber – incumbent

Remember to vote on Tuesday, April 20, 2010. The hours of the polling places are

2:00 pm to 9:00 pm. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact my office

or Mrs. Kerry Murphy, School Business Administrator for further details.

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What does it mean for the students?

If approved:

1. Students will still enjoy a quality program that incorporates all of the Core Content Standards including the use of the latest technology in most lessons.

2. Quality after school clubs and after school tutoring.

MCKEOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

BUDGET IMPACT OVER TEN YEARS

Years Average Home Impact Dollar

§ 2010-11 $200,000 Increase $26.48

§ 2009-10 $200,000 Decrease ($33.91)

§ 2008-09 $200,000 Increase $52.48

§ 2007-08 $200,000 Decrease ($28.00)

§ 2006-07 $180,000 Increase $90.00

Total Increase over five years $107.05

§ If you wish to go back even further to the previous five budget years (2000-2005), those years yielded an average raise of 5% for a total of $306 on the average home.

Therefore, over the last ten years, that portion of Hampton’s taxes directly related to the McKeown Elementary School’s budget rose by $413.05 on the average assessed home.

Thank you for your continued support!

Sincerely,

Everett C. Burns

Chief School Administrator