JACKSON – The School District is inviting the public to learn more about their $4,035,000 special question that will be put on the November 7 ballot.
There will be a public forum about the vote at the Board of Education meeting at 6:30 p.m. on October 18 in the Fine Arts Center at the Jackson Memorial High School. There will also be an online Q&A on November 1 at 6 p.m.
A special question for voter approval must be put on the ballot in order for a district to fund a special need, project or addition to its budget that cannot be funded through the general fund.
School district budgets in the state are only able to raise taxes by 2% annually. That often does not come close to handling annual cost increases, inflation, personnel, curricular and other needs or capital improvements. This is especially true in the case of the state cutting millions in funding from the district.
The additional funds from the ballot question would go toward the general fund for 2023-2024 and if approved, funds would be used exclusively for staff.
Those positions include six guidance counselors, two student assistance counselors, eight interventionist teachers, 10 elementary teachers and 12 secondary teachers.
The funds would also be used for four child study team members, four English as a second language teachers, and one nonpublic student coordinator and one nonpublic secretary.
Superintendent Nicole Pormilli previously stated at a BOE meeting that additional guidance counselors were needed as “we are seeing disturbing increases in mental health concerns for students and we want to have better student-to-counselor ratios.”
The two student assistance counselors are needed for increases the district is experiencing in substance abuse while the interventionist teachers are needed to identify and work with students who are struggling to help them reach their educational goals.
The elementary teachers and secondary teachers are being added to reduce class sizes because research shows smaller class size increases academic performance.
The addition of child study team members was recommended to address the need for special resources and accommodations for special education students and families that are managed by the CST Case Managers. There is a high number of cases being handled by CST members.
The school district has expressed at the need for a drastic increase (59% last year and 150% in the last six years) in ESL student population to meet instructional needs.
The coordinator and secretary positions are needed to manage the processing of mandated grant funds the district must distribute by law to support the needs of nonpublic students in Jackson.
The average home in Jackson assessed at $330,688 would see an impact of $96 a year or $8 a month and 26 cents a day. If approved, this would result in a permanent increase to the tax base.
There is also a tax impact calculator for Jackson homeowners at jacksonsd.org/nov7. There will also be an online question and answer session at 6 p.m. on November 1 at the same link.
During a recent Township Council meeting, resident Sheldon Hofstein asked for further details about the November 7 ballot special question.
Council Vice President Nino Borrelli, who serves as chair of the township’s Education Committee, informed him “Jackson Township Council and Jackson School District are separate entities. We do have shared services agreements with one another but we don’t have jurisdiction over what each of us does.”
“I don’t support it because if approved, it would increase the tax burden on Jackson residents,” Borrelli said.
Councilman Stephen Chisholm said blame for the potential school tax increase should be put on Governor Phil Murphy for having removed more than $20 million from the school district over the last five years.
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