Policy and Funding
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic presents many fiscal challenges to the school district for delivery of instruction and related services to students in addition to other basic operational needs. Readying facilities, purchasing supplies, transporting, and feeding students may look drastically different in the 2020-2021 school year. The Policy and Funding section of the Board’s Plan focuses on existing and pending Federal and State legislation, regulations, and guidance.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic presents many fiscal challenges to the school district for delivery of instruction and related services to students in addition to other basic operational needs. Readying facilities, purchasing supplies, transporting, and feeding students may look drastically different in the 2020-2021 school year. The Policy and Funding section of the Board’s Plan focuses on existing and pending Federal and State legislation, regulations, and guidance.
1. School Funding
1. School Funding
a. The Board shall explore options to obtain the maximum amount of available revenue to minimize expenditures and for fiscal planning in the face of considerable uncertainty. The options the Board shall explore include, but are not limited to, the following:
a. The Board shall explore options to obtain the maximum amount of available revenue to minimize expenditures and for fiscal planning in the face of considerable uncertainty. The options the Board shall explore include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund;
(1) Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund;
(2) Federal Emergency Management Agency – Public Assistance; and
(2) Federal Emergency Management Agency – Public Assistance; and
(3) State School Aid.
(3) State School Aid.
b. School District Budgets
b. School District Budgets
Districts have finalized their FY20 budget year and have already finalized their FY21 budgets. Because of the timing of the budget process, many of the activities listed below have not been, and cannot be, factored into either budget year without additional revenue outside the amount they anticipated for FY21 in February, and budget transfers that current statute does not authorize at the start of the school year.
Districts have finalized their FY20 budget year and have already finalized their FY21 budgets. Because of the timing of the budget process, many of the activities listed below have not been, and cannot be, factored into either budget year without additional revenue outside the amount they anticipated for FY21 in February, and budget transfers that current statute does not authorize at the start of the school year.
c. School Funding
c. School Funding
School officials will review the Policy and Funding section of the NJDOE Guidance that includes information on Federal and State funding sources; purchasing practices; use of reserve accounts, transfers, and cash flow; and costs and contracting, including E-Rate funding and cooperative purchasing contracting.
School officials will review the Policy and Funding section of the NJDOE Guidance that includes information on Federal and State funding sources; purchasing practices; use of reserve accounts, transfers, and cash flow; and costs and contracting, including E-Rate funding and cooperative purchasing contracting.
(1) Purchasing
(1) Purchasing
The school district may likely need to purchase items not needed in the past and may experience increased demand for previously purchased goods and services to implement the Plan. The school district shall continue to comply with the provisions of the “Public School Contracts Law”, N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-1 et seq.
The school district may likely need to purchase items not needed in the past and may experience increased demand for previously purchased goods and services to implement the Plan. The school district shall continue to comply with the provisions of the “Public School Contracts Law”, N.J.S.A. 18A:18A-1 et seq.
(2) Use of Reserve Accounts, Transfers, and Cashflow
(2) Use of Reserve Accounts, Transfers, and Cashflow
The school district shall apply for the approval from the Commissioner of Education prior to performing certain budget actions, such as withdrawing from the emergency reserve or making transfers that cumulatively exceed ten percent of the amount originally budgeted.
The school district shall apply for the approval from the Commissioner of Education prior to performing certain budget actions, such as withdrawing from the emergency reserve or making transfers that cumulatively exceed ten percent of the amount originally budgeted.
(3) Costs and Contracting
(3) Costs and Contracting
The school district shall follow all New Jersey State laws and regulations applicable to local school districts for purchasing when procuring devices and connectivity or any technology related item.
The school district shall follow all New Jersey State laws and regulations applicable to local school districts for purchasing when procuring devices and connectivity or any technology related item.