Hoboken Board of Education Presents $73,423,703 Budget to the Public

The Hoboken School District received $5,806,503 in Emergency Relief Funds during the pandemic but has provided little in terms of an accounting for the money. During the Budget meeting of May 2, 2023, the same Board used a reduction of $220,000 in state aid as partial justification for a $6,000,000+ increase in the 2023-24 school budget.

Subject 4.01 
Approval of Revised 2023-2024 
Budget Recommended Action 

2022

WHEREAS, the Superintendent and Business Administrator recommend to the members of the Hoboken Board of Education a Local Tax Levy of $55,259,837 to support the 2022-2023 General Fund Budget in the amount of $67,390,821 with total Grants and Entitlements equaling $18,828,510; and

2023 

WHEREAS, the Superintendent and Business Administrator recommend to the members of the Hoboken Board of Education a Local Tax Levy of $58,716,311 to support the 2023-2024 General Fund Budget in the amount of $73,423,703 with total Grants and Entitlements equaling $18,089,442; and

6.25495% increase in the Local Tax Levy

8.95208% increase in the General Fund Budget 

Latest PK3, PK4, and K Enrollment and SAT 2021-22 Mathematics Scores in Low Income Hudson County High School

 Chart 1 is student PK3, PK4, and K enrollment in the Hoboken District (non charter) over the past 4 school years. Chart 2 is 2021-22 SAT Mathematics scores of Hudson County High Schools educating enrollments of low socioeconomic status. Hoboken scores lower than similar Hudson County high schools with low income enrollment. All data from the NJ Dept. of Education.

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Hoboken Board of Education Meeting- Budget Hearing May 2, 2023 $73,423,703- Reader Comments Allowed

Hoboken Board of Education to propose a 8.95208% increase in the General Fund Budget for 2023-24 School Year

Tuesday, May 2, 2023
BUDGET HEARING
HOBOKEN BOARD OF EDUCATION
524 PARK AVENUE, HOBOKEN, NJ 07030
(MEETING HELD IN DEMAREST AUDITORIUM

158 FOURTH STREET, HOBOKEN, NJ 07030) 

7:00 PM 

 Link to the full detailed agenda: https://www.scribd.com/document/642127204/HBOE-Agenda-May-2023-Budget-Hearing 

Subject 4.01
Approval of Revised 2023-2024
Budget Recommended Action


WHEREAS, the Superintendent and Business Administrator recommend to the members of the Hoboken Board of Education a Local Tax Levy of $58,716,311 to support the 2023-2024 General Fund Budget in the amount of $73,423,703 with total Grants and Entitlements equaling $18,089,442; and

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby adopts the revised Hoboken Board of Education School Budget, Fiscal Year 2023-2024, for the purpose of submitting said budget to the Office of the Hudson County Superintendent of Schools as required by law and code, and


BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Hoboken Board of Education will vote to formally adopt the Proposed School District Budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year at a Public Meeting to be held on May 9, 2023.

HBOE Agenda May 2023- Budget Hearing by Tony Petrosino on Scribd

Calculations: 

2022

WHEREAS, the Superintendent and Business Administrator recommend to the members of the Hoboken Board of Education a Local Tax Levy of $55,259,837 to support the 2022-2023 General Fund Budget in the amount of $67,390,821 with total Grants and Entitlements equaling $18,828,510; and

2023 

WHEREAS, the Superintendent and Business Administrator recommend to the members of the Hoboken Board of Education a Local Tax Levy of $58,716,311 to support the 2023-2024 General Fund Budget in the amount of $73,423,703 with total Grants and Entitlements equaling $18,089,442; and

6.25495% increase in the Local Tax Levy

8.95208% increase in the General Fund Budget 

When Does a Person in a Doctoral Program Become a Doctor? When Should the Title Be Used?

If you’ve ever looked into earning a doctorate degree, you may have come across two similar terms: Doctoral student and doctoral candidate. Although to some people these two terms might mean the same thing, future doctorate degree holders and Board of Education members should know that there is a clear difference between the two. Also, when can a person actually use the term "Doctor" or "Dr." as part of their professional/personal identity and/or title. 

A doctoral student is someone who has enrolled in a doctorate degree program. Doctoral students, sometimes called learners, may work through their studies online, on campus or both. A typical doctoral program will require students to complete a certain number of credits in coursework and successfully pass qualifying exams. This process is followed by the dissertation research, writing and defense.

A doctoral student is different from a doctoral candidate in that the student is still working through the coursework. They have not yet begun the dissertation process or passed the qualifying exams.

A doctoral candidate is someone who has completed all of the required coursework and has successfully passed their qualifying exams. Once this milestone is reached, the individual attains the unofficial status of all but dissertation (ABD).

When are you considered to be a doctor? It is only appropriate to use the title "Dr." when you are a graduate, ie, when the degree is conferred either in notice by letter or by ceremony (which ever comes first). Prior to that your status is that of a graduand. If you've been using the work-title doctoral candidate you might consider changing to Doctoral Graduand to indicate this status: that you're awaiting conferral but you've met the substantive criteria for fulfillment of your degree.

According to Wikipedia, at Drew University in New Jersey, the earned Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) program requires the completion of 45 graduate credit hours beyond the master's degree, including the successful development and defense of a 150–220 page doctoral dissertation

A Micro-Level Study of New Jersey's Amistad Legislation- Christine Morrison Johnson

Here is a link to the thesis work of Christine Johnson, current superintendent of the Hoboken School District. The degree in D. Litt from Drew University's Caspersen School of Graduate Studies was awarded in 2022. (Link: CLICK HERE TO VIEW) 

	Christine Morrison Johnson  A Micro-Level Study of New Jersey's Amistad Legislation
	ABSTRACT: The landscape of New Jersey public school districts is filled with mandates. Each year, district administrators, school principals, and teachers are faced with implementing new mandates in classrooms across the state. Mandates set forth by state or federal governments often fail to be implemented and, ultimately, institutionalized in schools' standard operating procedures or their curricular and instructional frameworks because they are so far removed from classroom teachers and from those that develop improvement efforts and administer school district policy. New Jersey's Amistad law enacted in 2002, has suffered this exact fate.  The purpose of the 2002 Amistad legislation is to weave the experiences, contributions, and perspectives of African Americans into the fabric of New Jersey's social studies instruction. Implementation of the law, however, has been remarkably slow. Even with good faith steps taken over the past 20 years, the vast majority of school districts across the state have yet to fully implement the Amistad mandate. While macro-level impediments to implementing the Amistad law are examined, this micro-level study will serve not only to acknowledge the monumental passage of the 2002 Amistad law, recognize its authors, and highlight its goals and objectives, but also to analyze the shortcomings of the implementation process and outline specific actions in a strategic implementation plan to ensure that all school districts across the state are fully complying with this landmark mandate.  For the sake of moving forward, the Amistad law's path from inception to implementation must be chronicled. Readily available statewide best practice models, districtwide readiness with regard to curricular and professional development, a system of accountability measures, and a strategic implementation plan are acutely needed. This groundbreaking mandate's injunction for schools to shift away from traditional, Eurocentric social studies curricula and instruction to a more representative and culturally-responsive model, especially in a profoundly diverse state, is certainly laudable and critical to the self-efficacy of all of New Jersey's students.
	The Caspersen School of Graduate Studies, Drew University
	DEGREE/YEAR: D.Litt. (2022)
	ADVISOR: William B Rogers
	William B Rogers  Linda Swerdlow
	CJohnson.pdf - requires Drew uLogin

 

Fundraiser for Madison on GoFundMe

 Madison Ramos, to know her is to love her. She was a beautiful soul inside out. Funny, witty, sarcastic, loving, caring, & the mother hen of the family.

On her 17th birthday day, Maddy was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer AML (leukemia). The last 8 months has been a roller coaster for her & family and unfortunately the Lord called her home too soon. All proceeds will be used towards funeral arrangements and to bless the family. Thank you in advance.

There is currently a GOFUNDME page set up to help the family.

GOFUNDME LINK:  https://gofund.me/94c20b4c

Madison Ramos 

The Advanced Placement Program and Educational Inequality

Richard Tremitiedi (1938-2023) 

Often in under performing high schools like Hoboken High School in Hoboken, New Jersey, school boards and superintendents tout "advancement placement" (AP) courses as some type of indication that the school/district is providing a rigorous curriculum and associated course work. However, research shows that expanding access to AP courses without addition incentives or support for disadvantaged students to succeed is unlikely to address educational inequality. 70% of Hoboken High School students qualify for free or reduced lunch. 

The Advanced Placement Program and Educational Inequality 

ABSTRACT: The Advanced Placement (AP) program is nearly ubiquitous in American high schools and is often touted as a way to close racial and socioeconomic gaps in educational outcomes. Using administrative data from Michigan, I exploit variation within high schools across time in AP course offerings to identify the causal effect of AP course availability on college choice and degree attainment. I find that higher income students, White and Asian students, and higher-achieving students are more likely to take advantage of additional AP courses when they are offered, thus widening existing gaps in course-taking. I find little evidence that additional AP availability improves college outcomes for any students. Expanding access to AP courses without additional incentives or support for disadvantaged students to succeed is unlikely to address educational inequality. -Stephanie Owen- Colby College

You can read the full paper here: https://edworkingpapers.com/sites/default/files/ai23-738.pdf

2021-22 SAT Scores: Nation, State, Hudson County, and Hoboken Public School District

Most recent SAT scores 2021-22:

Nation: Math (521); Reading (529); Combined (1050)

New Jersey: Math (560); Reading (557); Combined (1117)

Hoboken HS: Math (458); Reading (487); Combined (945)

2021-22 data indicates that combined SAT scores at Hoboken HS fall below what would be expected at other Hudson County public high schools even when considering the percentage of low income students enrolled at the high school. 

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Reference:

https://patch.com/new-jersey/holmdel-hazlet/nj-sat-scores-released-2022-every-high-school-ranked https://nj1015.com/best-worst-sat-scores-nj/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

Board of Education Agenda - March 14, 2023 - 2023-24 Budget Introduced; 2.5% Merit Increase for Superintendent; 70 page agenda

Below is the full detailed agenda for the March 14, 2023 Hoboken Board of Education Agenda. Many items on this agenda-- perhaps the most important is 

1) the introduction of the 2023-24 school budget. 10.08 Approval of a Tentative Hoboken Public School District Budget for the 2023-2024 Fiscal Year.

2) Also included is item 9.20 which is a merit increase for the superintendent for reaching qualitative goals. This will be a 2.5% increase although the agenda does not specify what criteria the superintendent met.

According to an article in PATCH in 2022, the superintendent made approximately 193,778 in 2019. 

CHRISTINE JOHNSON, District Office, Hoboken Public School District, 6, $193,778

3) 10.08 WHEREAS, the Superintendent and Business Administrator recommend to the members of the Hoboken Board of Education a Local Tax Levy of $61,966,437 to support the 2023- 2024 General Fund Budget in the amount of $75,123,815

HBOE Full Agenda - March 2023 by Tony Petrosino on Scribd

October 2022 ASSA Report Shows Hoboken Non-Public Charter School Kindergarten Enrollment Continues to Fall

 In late November 2021, the Hoboken School District Administration and the Hoboken Board of Education attempted to push a $330 million bond to build a new high school in Hoboken because of "exploding" and "sky-rocketing" enrollment. Enrollment data was recently released by the NJDOE. Here is Kindergarten enrollment in Hoboken's non charter Public Schools for the 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, and 2022-23 school years. With a decline of -27.5% over the past four school years, kindergarten enrollment in the Hoboken non-charter public schools is plummeting.

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October 2022 ASSA Report- Hoboken 

State of Emergency in Hoboken After Water Main Break

HOBOKEN, New Jersey (WABC) -- Crews continued to locate and isolate the water main break in Hoboken on Tuesday in order to conduct repairs and restore pressure. Veolia has not issued a boil water advisory and according to Veolia, the water is safe to drink but residents throughout the city will continue to experience low to no water pressure. A construction crew working on an unrelated project mistakenly struck a water main, a 16-inch pipe, on Observer Highway and Madison Street, sending jets of water streaming into streets, snarling traffic, and forcing pedestrians to tip-toe around the water. The city remains in a state of emergency and drivers are advised to avoid southwest Hoboken.

BREAKING: HOBOKEN HOSPITAL EVACUATES: FULL STORY

Hoboken water main break making regional news. WCBS-News2  WNBC-News4 WABC-Channel 7 Eyewitness News WPIX-11

CLICK TO TWITTER LINK BELOW SEE THE WATER MAIN BREAK EARLIER 

https://twitter.com/hudpost/status/1630284026324955141?s=20

WATCH WATER SPOUTING OUT OF GROUND: https://twitter.com/HobbitMetalhead/status/1630414739615494146?s=20

TAKEN FROM SOCIAL MEDIA: 

Stores are closing on Washington Street. Restaurants are having to shut down all over Hoboken. Word is that a PSE&G contractor caused this situation. Schools have been canceled as well. It does not appear that the water main break will be fixed today and it may not be fixed tomorrow. Some people are saying this is the worst situation in Hoboken since Sandy in 2012. 

“Water Buffalos” like this one are set up around #Hoboken. Residents must bring containers to fill up. Locations: HUMC, 220 Adams, 221 Jackson, 311 13th (Fox Hills), 4th & Harrison, 76 Bloomfield, 5th & Clinton.  

From social media: An estimate of time would help residents better understand the scope of the problem. Will we have water back in next 24hrs? Yes or No?Why isn't there drinkable water tanks uptown?Having no time line is simply unacceptable.

Water main breaks are unpredictable but assigning police to direct traffic should happen.  Hoboken had one policewoman in the midst of a mess at the main access roads downtown.  It looked like Mumbai.  Cars were all over the place & making it impossible to drive.  Dangerous. -@padrehoboken

Just saw a few Hoboken fire trucks Sirens blasting heading somewhere. You know this water crisis is bad now, but this could get even worse real quick. I don’t think those fire hydrants have any pressure, so whatever water they are carrying, they better have enough. -@sdl300

Hoboken Public Schools were notified at 11:40 PM by the Office of Emergency Management that our schools will need to shift from a delayed opening to a closure of all of our PK sites and all of our K-12 schools on Tuesday, Feb 28th as a result of the water main break

I don't know who is responsible for causing hoboken residents to be without water yesterday, today and looks like tomorrow as well, But shouldn't they be held accountable?

While the water coolers are appreciated, I believe everyone should have convenient access to the water. Put them throughout all neighborhoods in need of them. - Facebook

The water main breaks in Hoboken - regardless of reason - have gotten to a level where legal action is required. Whether it’s a class action against @CityofHoboken,  @VeoliaUK, @VeoliaWaterTech or all of them and more. Time to take action.

UPDATE (Feb 28, 2023): "Veolia is advising residents that they should unfortunately plan for a continued disruption in water service tonight (Tuesday) and into tomorrow morning." -

@HeinisHardNews

Its official 1st ward has no water.... Water jug in front of MVP 2, get your pots!!

https://twitter.com/sofrsogood/status/1630659275193196564?s=20

Alert Details

Severity:
Minor - Minimal to no known threat to life or property

Urgency:
Immediate - Responsive action SHOULD be taken immediately

Certainty:
Observed - Determined to have occurred or to be ongoing

Category:
SAFETY: General emergency and Public Safety

Event Description:
Road Closure

Alert: City expands Water distribution; Update and FAQ from Mayor Bhalla 

Dear Nixle User,

Veolia is continuing to locate and isolate the water main break in order to conduct repairs and restore pressure.  Veolia has not issued a boil water advisory and according to Veolia, the water is safe to drink but residents throughout the city will continue to experience low to no water pressure. 

The City has added an additional 10 water distribution locations where residents can fill their own containers with drinkable water, with a focus on seniors and buildings and buildings with larger senior populations. 

The complete list of locations is as follows: 

1. 400 First Street 
2. 15 Church Towers 
3. 514 Madison Street 
4. 455 Ninth Street 
5. 11th and Shipyard Lane 
6. 14th and Shipyard Lane 
7. 700 First Street  
8. 4th and Jackson 
9. 2 Marine View Plaza 
10. Brandt School, on 9th Street between Park Avenue and Garden Street
11. Hoboken University Medical Center, on Clinton Street between Third and Fourth Streets.(location slightly updated) 
12. 220 Adams St.
13. 221 Jackson St.
14. Fox Hills, 311 13th St.   
15. Fourth and Harrison Streets 
16. Columbian Towers, 76 Bloomfield St. 
17. Church Towers,  5th and Clinton Streets 

 
The City will also have porta johns available for residents without water at the below locations starting at approximately 1:30 p.m.: 

1. YMCA, 1300 Washington St. 
2. 400 First Street 
3. 15 Church Towers 
4. 514 Madison Street 
5. 455 Ninth Street 
6. 11th and Shipyard Lane 
7. 14th and Shipyard Lane 
8. Hoboken University Medical Center, on Clinton Street between Third and Fourth Streets.(location slightly updated) 
9. 220 Adams St.
10. 221 Jackson St.
11. Fox Hills, 311 13th St.   
12. Fourth and Harrison Streets 
13. Columbian Towers, 76 Bloomfield St. 
14. Church Towers,  5th and Clinton Streets 

The Hoboken Fire Department will have a water tanker of non-drinkable water for dishwashing, bathing, toilet flushing, etc, available at the Hoboken Fire House at 13th Street and Washington Street. The Fire Department may use the tanker at various points throughout the day for fire suppression, as needed, so it may not be readily available at all hours. Residents must bring their own containers to fill. This water is not drinkable. 

The Office of Emergency Management has activated the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT.) CERT will visit the City's six senior buildings to assist Hoboken seniors in need of water and additional assistance. 

Below is an update and FAQ from Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla regarding the water main break. 
 
Unfortunately, the water main break that has affected water pressure and service to Hoboken remains ongoing. I completely understand the enormous disruptions to the daily lives of almost everyone in our Mile Square; residents have every right to be disappointed and upset at the situation. I too share in this disappointment, as both your Mayor and as a resident of Hoboken.
 
I want to use this opportunity to provide you with an update, and answers to some questions that have been posed on social media and by those who have reached out directly to me.
 
Is this water main break due to a development project or a City-related project?
 
No, the work that caused the water main break was not due to any City-related project, or work related to any redevelopment project.
 
What can we do to hold those responsible who broke the water main?
 
As mentioned in previous communication, it certainly appears a contractor for PSE&G damaged a water main near the Hoboken/Jersey City border on Observer Highway during their gas line upgrades, a project which has been ongoing. While Hoboken appreciates the upgrades to Hoboken’s gas infrastructure, this type of accident is inexcusable. Hoboken will conduct a thorough investigation to determine all relevant facts from the water main break.  Given the costs incurred and major frustrations we have all experienced due to this major disruption in service, we will hold all responsible parties accountable to the greatest extent possible.
 
Our primary focus at the moment is supporting Veolia’s efforts to isolate the broken water main and obtain additional drinking water for the City. However, once all repairs are done, I can assure residents that we will take all necessary and appropriate action.
 
When will water service be restored, and is there an ETA?
 
When the water main break was discovered, the next step for crews was to isolate the exact location of the break, so the main could be repaired and replaced. While Veolia had hoped to locate this precise location overnight, unfortunately they have been unable to do so. While Veolia has been taking additional steps including the installation of a linestop, which will mitigate the flow of water into the region of the break, the exact location has still yet to be found by their crews, as of Tuesday morning.
 
Their efforts have been further compounded by the large amount of underground infrastructure in the vicinity of the break. Only when the water main break is isolated, can repairs begin, and only when repairs begin, will water pressure return to a more normal level, with an eventual full return to service. Given that the source of the water main break has not been isolated yet (despite their best efforts, with crews working throughout the night) Veolia is unable to give a precise ETA on water pressure returning. Water pressure will continue to fluctuate, with some having little to no water pressure, while the water main break remains unrepaired. While I know this is disappointing to hear, as we all heavily rely on water service for everyday aspects of our daily lives.
 
Given the facts as presented to me at an emergency management meeting this morning, Veolia is advising residents that they should unfortunately plan for a continued disruption in water service tonight and into tomorrow morning. We will continue to stay in close contact with emergency crews to update residents on a more concrete time frame, as Veolia continues to diligently search for the source of the break.
 
Why did I have water pressure last night, after the water main broke earlier in the day, but I don’t have water pressure now?
 
Veolia determined that to help expedite repairs and to maintain some level of water pressure, without having to issue a boil water advisory, a switch to the Weehawken connection was necessary last night. Due to the change in water service, along with the unrepaired water main break, water pressure continues to fluctuate throughout the City. Additionally, during times of high-usage (during the morning and evening hours when more residents are home and using water), there are additional fluctuations and stresses on the system, that don’t normally occur when the system is fully operational.
 
Is the water safe to drink?
 
According to Veolia, there is no current boil water advisory, and the water has been deemed safe to drink. There may be some discoloration, as water pressure fluctuates. Residents are advised to run their water, if they have water pressure, to flush out any discoloration.
 
Why did we pick the locations for water buffalos (large water jugs) the way we did?
 
We have prioritized senior buildings, or locations with larger concentrations of senior populations that have been reported to be without water, as seniors don’t always have the ability to travel or drive to certain locations. We will continue to add stations with drinkable water as we obtain additional supplies, an effort which is ongoing.
 
What is Hoboken doing to upgrade its water main infrastructure?
 
One of my priorities when I became Mayor was to quickly adopt a new contract with SUEZ (now Veolia) to provide much more substantial investments in proactive upgrades to our water main system, as compared to previous years. In 2019, we adopted a new contract with SUEZ that provides $33 million in infrastructure upgrades through 2034, and an average of $2.2 million in water investments per year – six times the amount as compared to the previous contract.
 
As a result, we’ve been able to replace over 1.8 miles of our oldest water mains since then, and we’re currently in the process of asking the City Council to adopt a new contract next month, that will allow us to begin the second phase of this project to replace another 5,000 linear feet of water mains, scheduled to take place this spring.
 
While we can’t prevent every break from happening, especially a break that was apparently caused by circumstances outside of our control, we are making substantial and unprecedented investments in our water main infrastructure.
 
I hope this update has provided additional clarity. We will continue to work closely with Veolia, whose teams are working diligently to isolate the water main and conduct repairs as expeditiously as possible.

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The initial rupture on Observer & Madison created a massive hole, making it difficult to isolate the main. Crews have worked all night to install a linestop, which will stop flow of water to the break and facilitate repairs.

Waiting line for water- Fox Hill Gardens 2/28/23