New Jersey schools, parents find ways to cope with budget cuts

In Waterford, where parent groups also are fund-raising, the district had the good fortune of winning grants to enhance math and language-arts programs in coming years.

The district "will definitely be seeking out more grants," said Will Maddox, principal of Waterford's Thomas Richards Elementary School.

Maddox took a grant-writing course this summer and is an example of another cost-shaving trend. He will absorb the duties of the principal of Atco Elementary, who left.

Brooklawn is a school-choice district; it receives aid for educating students from other districts. Superintendent John Kellmayer said he hoped new legislation would allow that revenue-producing program to be expanded in the 2011-12 school year. In the meantime, Kellmayer - who also is principal and child-study team leader at the district's only school - said Brooklawn had pursued more shared services and part-time or combined staffing. Rather than hire a business administrator, it will again use Audubon's part time and save about $40,000.

The district, which lost its information-technology position to budget cuts, will pay Audubon's tech person to maintain its server. A Waterford social-studies teacher will receive a stipend to take care of other tech needs.

"What we're doing, really, is not filling positions, and wearing several hats," Kellmayer said. "Is it hard to do? Yeah, but we're in a position where we have to do more with less."

Contact staff writer Rita Giordano at 856-779-3841 or rgiordano@phillynews.com.