School Officials to Discuss 2013-14 Budget Process at Meetings Tonight With Parents
Lawrence Township Public Schools officials will host two public meetings this evening, Tuesday, Nov. 13, to discuss “preliminary planning for the 2013-2014 budget” and gather input about district priorities from parents.
Lawrence Township Public Schools Superintendent Crystal Edwards and Business Administrator Tom Eldridge will host two meetings with parents this evening, Tuesday, Nov. 13, to discuss “preliminary planning for the 2013-2014 budget.”
They plan to solicit input from parents about what the district’s priorities should be and to answer questions parents may have about the budget process.
The first meeting, for parents of elementary and intermediate school students, will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the library of the Lawrence Intermediate School on Eggerts Crossing Road.
The second meeting, for parents of students attending Lawrence Middle School and Lawrence High School, will begin at 8 p.m. in the library of the middle school on Princeton Pike.
“As budgets become increasingly tight and the economy remains a challenge, what do parents value? If we have to cut something, which areas should we consider?” district officials asked in an email sent to parents about the meeting.
“You don't have to attend the meeting that represents your child's grade level. Please attend at whichever time is convenient for you,” district officials added.
Charles Dismukes
10:45 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
The timing of this notice of a public meeting, released 8 hours before the actual meeting, and the absence of prior notification of parents and other stakeholder is a clear indication of the deliberate intentiion of this administration to avoid participation of the general public. Their unwillingness to alert people in advance illustrates they do not wish to engage in meaningful discussion. The late timing may disqualify this notice as insufficient to comply with the state mandated public disclosure law.
Mister B
7:02 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Maybe you should pay a little closer attention to the ways these meetings have been publicized since October's Community Conversation at the LHS? In the last couple of weeks I've received multiple emails and a phone call just after dinner Monday evening. That doesn't even take into account that these budget meetings have been on the LTPS website calendar for at least a month now. Oh, by the way -- don't let the fact the district has held these meetings every year right around the same time for the better part of the past decade get in the way of a good gripe session.
Michael Ratcliffe
10:57 am on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
In fairness to the school district, the email about these meetings was sent out last Friday via the district's QuickNews service (http://ltps.org/community.cfm?subpage=1500895). This service is free and available to all township residents, regardless of whether you have children attending the schools. Notice of the meetings has also been posted on the district's website for several days. The delay in posting the notice on Lawrenceville Patch was an oversight on my part. In trying to get caught up from chaos of the last two weeks (hurricane, election, snow storm, family obligations, etc.) I mistakenly believed I had already posted the news. My apologies.
Charles Dismukes
9:47 am on Wednesday, November 14, 2012
In fairness to the notification system used by the school, I did find the notice in the QuickNews, but only after I was alerted that I had missed it. Curiously, an email I received from the Superintendent's office following up on my request for information on upcoming meetings following the Community Conversation did not indicate this public meeting.
Max R
12:39 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
I've known about these meetings for days now. They've been publicly posted as required, as well as multiple email blasts having gone out.
Joe Russo
12:48 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
The School district should have to share in cost reductions, given the layoffs and poor business climate. Everyone has to share in these tough times. Our performance and reputation as an excellent school system, will not suffer, by delaying any large acquisitions or contract awards, if any are indeed planned. The past layoffs of our Police Officers, or anticipated additional police layoffs are intolerable. School expenditures will have to be reduced, delayed, to share the burden we all face.
Chief Wahoo
2:21 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
ADMINISTRATION, ADMINISTRATION, ADMINISTRATION
CUT,CUT, CUT !!!!
Lynden Arden
4:54 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
I am so bored with these headlines and comments- Enough with the cry baby tactics its time to raise the cap/ taxes. Lawrence pays much less then surrounding communities. There are people in this town that expect quality schools and services. Lets make an attempt to entice young professionals to move to this community by offering quality schools. Lawrence twp schools are on the move lets not deviate from this direction.
Overtaxed
8:38 pm on Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Fact 1: LTPS administrators' salaries and benefits are MUCH HIGHER than the state average! Source: www.ltps.org.
Fact 2: There are TOO MANY administrators in LTPS district (directors, supervisors, managers, coordinators, secretaries, bookkeepers, technicians, specialists, etc. - see: www.ltps.org). Cut... cut... cut... at least 25% of those redundant positions! School taxes should be lowered!