Wall Board of Education Passes 2021-22 School Budget

WALL—The Wall Township Board of Education voted to approve the 2021-2022 school year budget of $79.04 million budget, up 3.7 percent from last year’s number of $76.24 million, at a special meeting on April 27.

The budget calls for a 2-percent tax hike for all Wall Township taxpayers, meaning that taxpayers with a home estimated at the average home assessment value of $481,500 will pay $87.55 more than last year from $5,528 to $5,615.

Residents with a $100,000 home will only see an $18 increase from $1,148 to $1,166. Homeowners with a $200,000 will see a $36 increase from $2,296 to $2,332 and owners of a $500,000 home will see their tax payment go up from $5,740 to $5,831, a $90 increase.

The vote was unanimous, with Ralph Addonizio, Andrew Krupa, Russell Gartz, Joseph Hall, Kristen Hodnett, Adam Nasr, Christopher San Filippo, and Kenneth Wondrack all voting yes. Christine Steitz was the lone board member not in attendance due to an excused absence.

The 2021-22 budget was created by the board’s Finance and Facilities Committee by tailoring the current curriculum to help students and provide multiple capital projects for both infrastructure and well as technology.

"We feel that we are putting forward a very responsible budget to the taxpayers," Gertz, the chair of the finance and facilities said.

One of the new initiatives seen in the budget is an in-person summer academy for Wall students this July that will “enable students to engage in additional learning experiences and social engagements,” Dr. Tracy Handerhan, Superintendent of Schools, said during her presentation.

“Our teachers will be able to gather anecdotal data that will inform late curriculum writing and revisions and to identify social and emotional learning priorities so that we, as a district, can best plan for students’ full-time return to learning in September,” Dr. Handerhan added.

The budget also calls for the purchase of new Chromebooks to replace ones either at end-of-life or approaching end-of-life and upgrading teachers’ technology. A new district website will also be made, and a district-wide, third-party technology audit will focus on cybersecurity.

The other main capital project focused on during the presentation was the future installation of air conditioning for the South Gym at Wall High School as it is vital for COVID-19 regulations.

“The South Gym is an area used by our high school students to eat lunch; it is one of our designated areas,” Dr. Hanrahan said.

“COVID-19 guidelines for school operations stresses the importance of installation and upgrade of HVAC systems. These guidelines are underscored where students eat and may engage in athletic activities without the use of masks,” Dr. Hanrahan added.

Other capital projects budgeted for next year include replacing three exterior doors at the Allenwood School, two irrigation wells at the 18th Avenue fields, and the front sidewalk and main doorway at Wall Intermediate School.

All information about the 2021-22 budget is available on the Wall Board of Education’s website.