Politics & Government
Garwood Board of Education Introduces Tentative School Budget
Board also discusses five-year contract with Westfield YMCA for use of Washington School.
The Garwood Board of Education unveiled its preliminary 2012-2013 school year budget, including $8,439,831 allocated for expenditures.
The budget, which was approved by the county and is set for vote at next Thursday's budget hearing, is still under the 2 percent cap mandated by the state, said Finance Chair Susan Groning.
In the new budget, taxes will be raised 2 percent from last year, bringing in $7,250,529 for the school's budget.
Find out what's happening in Clark-Garwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The budget also indicated $1,099.302 in anticipated revenues for the district.
A public hearing on the budget, which will be available in its entirety on Friday on the district's website, will be held on March 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Lincoln School.
Find out what's happening in Clark-Garwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Besides the budget, the board announced the last day of school for this calendar year after no snow days were used. Tentatively, the last day of school for Garwood will be June 13.
The board also discussed Washington School, which was approved for use by the Westfield YMCA with a five-year contract by the board. The Y will be responsible for shepherding the contract through the planning and zoning boards for proper use, but the board will support the contract for use, said Board President Adele Lewis.
After the five year contract is up, the district will still maintain ownership of the offlined facility and could turn it back into a school if they deem necessary. The plan is to use the school for children's programs as a "satellite" facility, Lewis said.
The school was taken offline in 2010, and has been used intermittently by various organizations, including the Cranford School District after Hurricane Irene cut off power to a school.
This is the first contract approved by the board for a long-term stay in the building.
In the meantime, any changes to the building, including renovations, will have to be passed through the municipality, Lewis said.
The non-profit organization is entering into a half-and-half share with the town, said Board Attorney John Geppert. Any proceeds will be split with Garwood and any deficits will not affect the borough's budget.
