Schools

Kinnelon BOE Brings Back Freshman Lacrosse, Reinstates Employees

District spends additional aid on administrative employees previously let go due to budget cuts.

The n decided to spend some of its additional state aid to bring back the freshman lacrosse program, hire two assistant coaches, reinstate two administrative employees and more.

Gov. Chris Christie announced in February that school districts across the state would be receiving an increase over last year's state aid. Kinnelon Public Schools received an increase of $322,824 over last year's $557,186, with the district receiving a total of $880,010 for the 2011-2012 school year. The district was tasked with deciding whether to use the additional aid to offset tax increases or to spend the money.

On Tuesday, the board approved to appropriate $186,500 of the money to be used this year, with the remaining money to be utilized under next year's budget. The $186,500 will be spent on the following: two recalled clerical part-time positions ($18,500 each); two clerical part-time positions (estimated $16,500 each); a part-time psychologist (estimated $32,000); computer software (estimated $25,000); the fitness center ($6,500); a boys and girls basketball program at the l ($20,000); the freshman lacrosse program ($20,000); an assistant coach for the high school softball team ($6,500); and an assistant coach for the high school ice hockey team ($6,500).

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Last year, the freshman lacrosse program was self-funded by parents and donors through fundraisers. Board Member Marianne DeAlessi expressed concern over continuing programs like freshman lacrosse with the additional state aid without being sure if the board could approve their continuation in the future.

"If we reinstate these programs, what will happen in April?" she asked.

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Opiekun said that while he is not sure that the district will be able to fund the program in the future, they wanted to provide the program for the current students.

"We can do it for this year, so at least we can go back to it for the kids this year," he said.

Opiekun was also pleased to report that the district was able to bring back employees with the additional state aid who had lost their positions because of budget cuts.

The district is also looking into upgrading its website and other technology in the schools.


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