Dolan Enrollment Report Expected Tuesday Night

Schools Superintendent Margaret Dolan is expected to deliver a long awaited update on elementary school enrollment numbers during Tuesday evening’s Board of Education meeting.

Dolan is expected to provide the most recent numbers regarding enrollment at the town’s six elementary schools, including the issues surrounding large class sizes at the south side elementary schools. The July meeting – the third this board meeting this month – was called specifically to address enrollment issues.

The meeting comes a week and a half following an emergency BOE meeting, where the board deferred a final decision on spending an additional $845,000 in state aid provided by Gov. Chris Christie. At the time, the board voted to defer a decision between property tax relief and hiring additional teachers in order to hear Dolan’s report with the enrollment numbers.

During the meeting – which temporarily reshuffled the board’s factions - board members debated the issue of tax rebates or hiring, with BOE member David Finn, the board’s leading advocate for tax relief, calling for possibly splitting the funds in half to fund both priorities. The deferral vote came after BOE Vice President Rich Mattessich offered the compromise deal in order to receive information from Dolan.

During the board’s June 28 meeting, the board heard comments from Tamaques School parents about the large class sizes in the incoming second grade classes, which are bumping up against the 25 student cap the district has put in place. Dolan has indicated that she is looking for funds to hire additional teachers.

Dolan has said in the past that the report should include the most up to date numbers on first grade enrollment in the district. Dolan has warned in the past that the first grade enrollment numbers typically grow through the summer as more families enroll students in the district.