On Monday, Montclair Board of Education unanimously passed a landmark $147 million operating budget for the 2024-25 academic year.
Superintendent Jonathan Ponds described the budget as a victory for the community. “This is a balanced budget that stabilizes the District and creates a positive forward path for years to come,” Ponds said.
The budget, presented by Business Administrator and Board Secretary, Christina Hunt, now awaits county approval. In addition to avoiding staff cuts, the budget aims to maintain the district’s adherence to the 2% tax levy increase limit.
Homeowners with properties assessed at the average value of $631,882 can expect to save $266 due to interest earnings, thanks to a debt service tax levy of zero for bond referendums.
The District received $1.46 million dollars in debt service aid, and an increase in state aid of 6.40% for a total of $9.3 million. It is making no withdrawals from capital or maintenance reserve.
“If this budget is approved by the County, it is a win for our families, educators and residents,” Ponds added.
In January, Hunt first announced there would be no staff cuts for the current school year.
A key feature of the new budget is a commitment to maintaining all current staffing levels and programs. The district plans to hire additional teachers to fill existing vacancies. It will also further invest in technology upgrades. The district will continue its 1:1 initiative, ensuring every student has access to a personal electronic device for learning.
The budget also focuses on enhancing educational tools and support programs. It allocates investments in assessment tools such as IXL and Acadience, enabling teachers to tailor learning experiences to individual needs of students. The budget also includes funding for mentoring and tutoring programs.
Despite a decrease in federal funding following the end of COVID relief measures, the district managed to balance its budget. The budget planning process, led by Hunt, included extensive data collection as well as community engagement.
The budget aligns with the district’s five-year Strategic Plan, set for presentation at the Board meeting on April 17. This plan, developed through significant input from community members, lays out a comprehensive roadmap for achieving educational excellence in Montclair.
“This budget accomplishes the goals of meeting priorities for improving instruction and maintains extracurriculars and athletic programs that make our district so special,” Ponds said.
Due to the increase in state aid, Ponds said the district will be able to allot $1 million toward executive coaching to support academic programming.
The Board has scheduled the final budget adoption for May 13, following a public hearing set for May 3. This gives the community an opportunity to learn more about the budget and its implications for the district’s future.
For more about the budget process, two preliminary budget presentations and updates, visit the budget page on the district’s website.