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But through every uncertainty and every difficult situation, one truth has remained clear. The work we do matters. Not just in the abstract, but in the daily lives of students, families, and educators across Clifton. This is more than a budget. It is a reflection of who we are and what we stand for. It is a testament to the belief that every child deserves opportunity, every educator deserves support, and every dollar should work toward a more promising and stronger and more equitable school system. I remain humbled by the responsibility of helping steward this district's resources. And I remain proud of what this team has accomplished under these circumstances. What I present tonight is a plan grounded in our values, driven by need, and shaped by vision. It protects the classroom, uplifts our staff, and strengthens the foundation for tomorrow. Above all, it ensures that even in times of constraint, we lead with purpose and always with the students at the center.
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Yeah, my opinion, I mean, obviously I think it's somewhat important, but I think also, yeah, it does lead to where some people have agendas and can push things away and so it can be difficult to get some information out. You know, we just don't really have a good system for that because, you know, there's there's lots of things and if if there's people have agenda against it, they will not want to publish that and so uh that may uh hide things that are very useful. The classic open-ended question, what haven't we asked that you'd like to talk about? Yeah, I think clearly one of the things that we're figuring out is that, you know, cancer and aging are a similar disease and now that we're understanding how to solve cancer and I think that we we have the tools to solve it uh that we're also seeing the the ways to solve aging as well and so you know and is really interesting uh and I I you know uh work with some other people you talk a lot with like David Sinclair at Harvard and his work parallels a lot of mine where using some of the similar drugs.
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[Applause] And our instrumental recipient goes to Daniel [Applause] Kersner from this side. Thank you. I'm here tonight to present the awards from the department of classical and modern languages. First, I am design delighted to present our departmental award, which is awarded to a senior who demonstrates a passion for language learning through advocacy and/or participation in experiences using their language skills beyond the classroom. This year's recipient is Jacob Fukosi. [Applause] The Spanish award is given to a student who has achieved an outstanding record in their advanced study of Spanish. This year's recipient is Julia Marie [Applause] Medaniro. Hallelujah. Latina. The Latin Award is given to a student who has achieved an outstanding record in their study of Latin. This year's recipient is Jack Cooper. [Applause] Finally, I would like to recognize tonight the 11 East Long Meadow High School students who will earn seal of biiteracy awards at graduation this year.
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Here is the district at a glance. We have 25 facilities, 1,800 employees, and almost, excuse me, and almost 12,000 students. And of those, 3,500 are transported daily with 57 buses and vans in circulation and over a thousand student athletes and 160 clubs and activities. This is the budget schedule we followed this year. The preliminary budget was approved on March 13th. It was sent to the paper on April 25th and the last day to hold the public hearing is May 5th. This is the district's total budget for the 2526 year. All in, we are at $32 million. Roughly 270 million will come from the local tax levy and state aid. In addition to the revenue we get from the city and state, we also receive money from the federal government for specific programs. This totals an estimated $23 million. Here is how the revenue for the 2526 year will be spent.
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Uh, you know, he's reversing aging in mice. Uh, we're using the same drugs to treat, you know, cancers. So, that's, you know, it's really interesting how those diseases are really one and the same. And now we're coming together and fixing potentially these two major problems. And I think I think we've got got everything we need to do. We just have to to go through the official process to get it out there. So, is aging a disease? It it is a disease. And the thing is, you know, I I think that if the immune system stayed alert, we would not get old. It would keep us young. I think we we should be in a younger state, but I think what happens is that we're missing some of those factors. And if if you give that that the immune system will then keep you young. And so now I can take it you can take an older person and make them younger again just like taking a cancer patient and like getting rid of their cancer.
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The seal of biiteracy is awarded to students who have met the state requirements as set out by the department of elementary and secondary education for a high level of proficiency in both English and a second language. A physical seal will be affixed to each of these students diplomas to certify their impressive achievement. These first six students have qualified for the seal of biiteracy because of their proficiency in Spanish and English. Those six senior recipients are Funme Coats, Susanna Cooper, Emmanuel Garcia, Aviv Johnson, Morgan O'Brien, and Danny Valentine. [Applause] The next two students have qualified for the seal of biiteracy in Latin and English. They are Ava Guile and Franchesco Manuso. Finally, the following three students have qualified for the seal of biiteracy with distinction in Latin and English. The seal with distinction certifies proficiency at the highest level possible in both English and the partner language.
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As you can see, our largest expenditure is salary and benefits, which equates to roughly 80% of our budget. Now, it's no secret that charter school numbers have drastically increased year-over-year. Here you will see a 5-year look back. In the past 5 years, we have seen a 17% increase in tuition and roughly a 10% increase in enrollment. Now, in collaboration with the facilities committee, these are the capital projects that we have slated for the 2526 school year. And just to clarify, these projects are not impacted by the proposed tax levy. Currently, we have one debt we are repaying and it is supposed to end in 25 uh 4546, excuse me. Now, at the direction of the finance committee on this agenda, you will see a proposed 3% increase. And based on the average assessed home in Clifton, this would equate to roughly $12 a month or $150 per year.
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But a young person theoretically in the future we can give them medications and keep them young. Yeah, that I think that's clearly where it's going is the people that will live forever are the ones that are children today. I have a a final question for Jason and that is some years ago on this program we were approached by a group of brain surgeons who were very frank. They said we are lying to our patients. We are giving them chemo and radiation and they are dying and we are telling them that don't worry we're giving you chemo and it should work and it didn't work and they wanted really to revise uh the way that they were testing people and again to get more latitude to do that and that was very interesting to what extent either of you do cancer oncologists lie to their patients And is there any other option?
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These seals with distinction will be awarded to Jack Cooper, Anna Kulino, and Finn me. [Applause] I'm excited to present the awards on behalf of the math department. I have two awards to present. The first is the computer science award. This award is given to the student who has demonstrated a high degree of proficiency through classwork in advanced computer classes or through active involvement in computer related coursework. And this year's recipient is Jack Cooper. [Applause] The second award is the math department teachers award which is awarded to a student who has demonstrated excellence in scholarship throughout his or her four years at East Long Meadow High School. And I'm honored to give this award to Jamie Bellaros. [Applause] Good evening. The science department tonight has five awards to give. Um the first one is the Renelier Medal. It is awarded to a member of the junior class who has displayed outstanding achievement in math and science.
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This 3% also encompasses our legal amount of 2% and 1% of the new legislation allowing districts to go to their local fair share that was not utilized in past years. But it is extremely important to remember the 3% increase for the taxpayers is only based on our piece of the pie. It's crucial to highlight that the proposed 3% increase translates to only a 1.1% uptick in the on our piece of the pie. As of now, we stand at 49%, but this number will decrease when the city and county finalize their budgets. What has happened since March 13th, our preliminary budget hearing? Well, on March 28th, we received an email from the DOE stating that districts who are under their local fair share, such as Clifton, can now raise their taxes to recoup that entire amount without triggering a public vote. Our total amount that we could have recouped was roughly 40% or $54 million.
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Well, I think I think the oncologists are well-intentioned, but I think they're misguided. So, you know, they they may want to do the right thing, but they they're doing what they're taught. Um, you know, chemotherapies obviously had a role and may still have a role. Uh, but you know, when you look at chemotherapy, chemotherapy is stuff that actually ages you, right? So, you're looking you're looking at cancer and you're what you're saying is that you've got old cells there. let's make them older and try to make them die. But that's why you don't really chemotherapy doesn't usually get rid of all of them. Um and so now but now the concept, you know, what we're doing is, you know, to make them young. Don't don't try to make them older. Make them young. And and so uh yeah, you know, I think that uh there, you know, I mean, again, the doctors, I believe, are well-intentioned and making the patients think that they're, you know, going to help them, and they believe it, but they really know it's not going to help them very well.
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This award has a value of $40,000 if accepted and enrolled at the college. Um, our recipient tonight is Thomas Carlo. [Applause] The next award the BA is the Bosch enl. It's awarded in recognition for outstanding academic achievement, good character, superior intellectual promise in the field of science. Um considered this recipient is considered for additional merit scholarships worth at least $5,000 per year at the University of Rochester. Our recipient tonight is Anna Martin. [Applause] Our next award is the science department award. It's awarded to a senior who has excelled in science, shown good character, possesses strong leadership skills, and stands out for their accomplishments. Our recipient tonight is Susanna [Applause] Cooper. The next award is the Science Achievement Award. It's awarded to a senior who has demonstrated a high interest in science and many of the courses offered. Our recipient tonight is Jacob Pakosi. [Applause] Our last award tonight is the William Carile Scholarship.
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And I want to be clear, at no point did this board or administration even entertain that thought. On March 31st, we received a press release from the governor's office indicating 20 districts that applied for late liquidation of CO money would have those funds rescended, leaving those districts on the hook. Clifton was one of those districts, and our amount was $11 million. But it is important to note that New Jersey has entered in a multi-state lawsuit seeking to recoup those funds. And finally, on April 15th, our insurance broker reached out and informed us that our prescription premium increased by an additional $1 million. This is on top of the $4 million increase that I reported to you guys back in March. Currently, our claims to premium ratio is 205%. In simple terms, this means the insurance company is spending more than $2 for every $1 collected in premium.
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And I think it's it's unfortunate. That's our show for today. I thank Rex and Jason for coming on and sharing hope with us. Stay well. We'll be back next week. Cheers. [Music]
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The William J. Carile scholarship was established in memory of Roxanne Carile, a 1975 graduate of East Long Meadow High School who passed away from cancer at the age of 23. Her father, William Carile, has generously donated funds to support students pursuing careers in the medical field. Uh the science department is very fortunate to be able to award five scholarships each for $5,000 towards the college or program of recipients choosing. Um our five recipients are Jenna Holly, Grace Howard, Jamie Bellarus, Ava Guile, and Michaela Delorio. [Applause] Thank you. I am here to um announce the history and social science department awards. The history and social science department award is given to an outstanding senior who has excelled in his or her history and social science courses, taking a minimum of four courses throughout their four years of high school. This year's recipient is Sarah Kula. [Applause] The Frederick Douglas Susan B.
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Now, each district in the state is placed into a cohort that allows a state to compare district spending. Clifton is in cohort K through 12, 3500 plus. This means we are compared to other K through2 districts with a population of 3500 students or more. There are currently 96 districts in this cohort. And as you can see, Clifton in almost every category is in the bottom third in spending. Now, let's take a moment because I highlighted a few here that I think are really important and noteworthy. Per per pupil budget cost, 63 districts spend more than us. Classroom salary and benefits, 60 districts spend more than us. Total administration, 76 districts spend more than us. Administration, salaries and benefits, 77 spend more than us. Maintenance, 82 districts spend more than us. Ratio of students to classroom teachers, 45 spend more than us. Ratio of students to educational support personnel, 46 spend more than us.
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Anthony Medallion. The award is selected on the basis of scholarship in the social sciences, a commitment to understanding and addressing social concerns, leadership, and dedication to community action. This junior nominee is eligible to be considered for a $5,000 per year merit scholarship totaling $20,000 over the four years to the University of Ro uh Rochester. This year's recipient is Sapphira Jean Michelle. [Applause] The George Eastman Young Leaders Award. This is also given to a junior who displays strong leadership, high grades in challenging courses, and is involved in extracurricular activities. The recipient again will be considered for a $5,000 per year merit scholarship totaling $20,000 over the four years to the University of Rochester. This year's recipient is Michaela Lash Chappelle. [Applause] The history and social science department recognition awards. We have two, one to a junior and one to a senior. The department recognition is for students who have shown special interest, initiative, and intellectual curiosity in the social sciences.
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Ratio of students to administrative personnel, 42 spend more than us. And ratio of faculty to administrative personnel, 44 spend more than us. Now, what I find most interesting and something that I do want to highlight is that we have seen our below average spending on the pre on these slides. And I think we can all agree that we are below average in our cohort. But out of the 96 districts we are compared to, we are the 12th largest district in the entire state. Not just the 96, all 560 some odd districts we have in the state. What does this mean? This means that year overyear we have done more with less. We are in the bottom third in spending but in the top 10% in population. Based on the state's metrics, we should have more teachers, more administrators, and spending more in each category previously shown.
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The junior winner this year is Anna Flanigan. [Applause] And our senior winner is Daniel Neca Lubo. Civics and community engagement. This year's um senior award winner is given by the history department and the school adviser to the civics oriented clubs and is consider consistently demonstrated commitment toward involving the world around them by making contributions to local, state, national communities through civic engagement and leadership. This year's recipient also was our recipient for the state government day is Fumi Coats. [Applause] The academic achievement in psychology. This is a national recognition award that comes from the American Psychological Association and the TOPS division. The award is presented to a junior or senior who's taken advanced placement psychology and demonstrated exemplary effort and achievement throughout the year in psychology. Both students are highly um I can't even begin to say um basically go back and forth with a 99% average each marking term.
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Now, if the board proceeds with a 3% increase, we can maintain operations while preserving all programs and services. However, a 2% increase will require a cutting approximately $1.5 million impacting student programs, essential services, and the stability of our health benefit program. Let's just take a moment. I know I showed you guys these slides last time, but I want everybody just take a look one more time. A 1% increase would require $3 million in cuts. Everything mentioned up to and including staff. opting for a 0% increase would necessitate cutting roughly $4.5 million significantly affecting our ability to sustain the current level of operation and student support. Now, every year I meet with department heads, principles, and supervisors and discuss their needs for the upcoming school year. This year, understanding the financial constraints we would be under, our central administrative team had to unfortunately deny the pos the addition of these crucial positions.
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