March 30, 2009

 

 

Dear Parents, Guardians and Community Members:

 

 

      The Hampton Township Board of Education School Election and Budget Vote are scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, 2009.   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 life long learners. If the 2009-2010 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 2009-2010 school year contains a Total General Fund in the amount of $6,244,876 which is made up of eleven major accounting categories.  The pie graph that follows, will show a pictorial view of nine major components of the proposed expenditures for the 2009-2010 school year.  The residents of Hampton are asked to support the local tax levy in the amount of $4,723,432.  This tax levy represents the same amount raised for the previous school year. 

 

IMPACT ON LOCAL TAXPAYERS

 

     If the community supports the proposed 2009-2010 school year budget, the homeowner with the average $200,000 assessed home will see a decrease   in the portion of their taxes related to the McKeown Elementary School by $33.91 for the coming year.   

           

Proposed Total General Current Expense

 

Where will the funding come from for the 2009-2010 school year budget?

 

 

For the 2008-2009 Budget Year                    For the 2009-2010 Budget Year             

                                  Amount           %                              Amount                   %

 

 Local Tax Levy                $4,723,432         75%                            $4,723,432                       75.5%             

State Sources                     $1,530,911        24%                            $1,494,223                        24.0%

Other & Free Balance        $12,000 1%                                           $     27,221                            .5%   

Total General Fund          $6,266,343         100%                            $6,244,876                      100.0%

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to the school budget, Hampton Township residents have been asked to fill 4 Board of Education positions. There is one candidate running for one year of an unexpired term.  This candidate running for this one year term is Mr. John Wohlleber.  The following five candidates are running for three positions and each position is for a three year term:

 

·     Ernest Logsdon – new candidate

·     Joyce Anderson –  incumbent

·     Desiree Gray – new candidate

·     Roberta Andrews – incumbent

·     Janet Lucas – incumbent

 

Remember to vote on Tuesday, April 21, 2009.  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. 

                                                         

 

Sincerely,

 

                                                         

Everett C. Burns 

Chief School Administrator

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some Interesting McKeown Facts

 

1. All instructional staff are highly qualified.  Staff continue to take         additional training in their instructional fields.  Nineteen (19) of the forty two instructional staff members have advance degrees.

 

2.  Student performance continues to increase.

 

3.  Enrichment classes learn about everything from scientific classification   to world travel to becoming a trial lawyer.

 

4.  Administration, faculty and Board members are working together to     implement a five year Strategic Plan for the Hampton School District.

 

5. The number of books borrowed from our school library and read by our students in a year, laid end to end, would stretch from our school’s front door to the Shop-Rite on Route 206 in Newton.

 

6. The McKeown students have access to 177 computers in our school    building (1 for every 2 students).

 

7. The proposed budget will support ten after school clubs and    approximately 275 hours of after school tutoring.

 

8.  Hampton students continue to enjoy a clean, safe and well maintained environment which is used extensively 13 hours a day for instruction and community recreation including most of the day on Saturdays.

 

 

These facts are only made possible by your

continued support!

 

 

Thank you