The Henry Hudson Regional Board of Education approved the renewal of the school district’s business administrator’s salary at $190,829 for one year at its meeting last week, approved another $259,636.50 for materials and electrical currents for 2 HVAC units for two classrooms at the Atlantic Highlands Elementary School, and cut four employees from full to part time positions. With benefits, taxpayers are paying more than a quarter of a million dollars for the district superintendent and school administrator.
The board approved another $407,000 for the custodial contract for a year, and continued its 13 office staff employees. The office staff includes six in the central office at Henry Hudson, plus three in the education department at Henry Hudson and two each in the two elementary schools in the district, which includes the principals of all three schools.
There are approximately 730 students in the three schools in the preK-12 regional district formed from Highlands and Atlantic Highlands schools.
The board approved the recommendation of the superintendent to cut the library media specialist position from full time to .8 of full time, two school social workers from full time positions to 1.5 positions each, and the administration assistant for curriculum and insurance from full time to .6 of full time, or just over half time. The cuts also negatively impact vacation time, health benefits and other benefits which previously have been approved.
The cuts in personnel happened at the end of the meeting with no one in attendance other than the professionals and board members. That portion of the meeting, and the adjournment of the meeting are not recorded on the video taken during the public portion that preceded the executive session and is now posted on U-Tube by the board.
The Atlantic Highlands Mayor and Council approved it budget for next year last week as well, with an increase of 3.21 cents. The borough’ share of the overall property tax in Atlantic Highlands will be 32 per cent, with the cost for education in the regional district requiring the largest portion of the local tax, 54 per cent of the total budget. The remaining 14 percent includes 12 percent for Monmouth County, which includes the library at Borough Hall and two percent for open space.
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