Tom’s River Financial concerns were brought up at recent Board of Education sessions, even though the school system is no longer in the process of declaring bankruptcy.
The Board of Education said at its last meeting of the state fiscal year on June 30 that it would investigate the possibility of obtaining legal counsel in order to file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy. Instead of passing a budget that included raising the tax rate by 12.9%, this was done.
After that, the state intervened and approved the most current budget, which included a 12.9% rise. As a result, the district decided not to file for bankruptcy.
District officials are still worried about the town’s households’ financial situation as well as the school’s financial situation. The number of kids who require the greatest assistance is increasing at an exponential rate, according to one official. At the same time, state financing was being reduced at an exponential rate.
At the board meeting on July 9, it was mentioned that over 40% of the kids at two more schools in the district qualify for free or reduced meals under the Community Eligibility Provision.
Over 40% of the student body was already enrolled in the program at South Toms River Elementary, Citta Elementary, Walnut Street Elementary, and Pine Beach Elementary. Intermediate North and North Dover are two other schools that are now included in that program.
A board member inquired as to whether the district as a whole would qualify if 40% of its schools did. “School by school,” was the response. But if the pattern keeps up, eventually every school in the district will have students receiving free or reduced meals at a rate of 40% or higher.
Board President Ashley Lamb read from an article at the Board’s July 16 meeting on how New Jersey joined other states in challenging the Trump administration for denying federal education dollars.
According to her, it sounded a lot like the time Toms River sued the state to get the money they needed.
She remarked mockingly, “I would like to commend the Murphy administration for their position in advocating for equitable funding.” They should get in touch with our board counsel if they would like to review our case and get some advice on what they should be doing.
