LACEY – A $6.9 million budget deficit is casting a shadow of uncertainty over the Lacey Township School District’s ability to deliver students a “thorough and efficient” education.
The financial crisis comes on the heels of a school year marked by tragedy, with the district losing six students – two to suicide – amidst a rising tide of nationwide mental health concerns amongst students.
The Forked River Rotary Club recently donated $20,000 towards bolstering mental health services in the district. However, with unprecedented cuts ahead, even this generous contribution could become a drop in the bucket.
As part of the team that testified at the state’s March 20 Senate Budget hearings, District Supervisor Dr. Tim Dowd correlated the impact of the financial constraints on the heightened necessity for mental health services as students continue to deal with the tragic loss of their classmates.
“As you can imagine, this has created a much higher need for counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists,” said Dowd. “Sadly, we are reducing staff in this area. Our guidance counselors already have a comparatively high student caseload, which will continue to rise precipitously because of the necessary staff reductions due to S-2.”
District leaders pinpoint the root cause of the financial crisis as a state funding formula known as S-2, which has slashed over $13.7 million from the district’s budget in recent years. This year alone, the state cut funding by $3.2 million, forcing the district to consider drastic measures.
“The Lacey Township School District does not have a spending problem,” said Dr. Vanessa R. Pereira, Superintendent of Schools. “It has a revenue problem caused by the reduction of state aid.”
A staggering 90 staff members, including teachers, administrators, and support staff, are expected to lose their jobs. Classroom sizes could balloon to 40 students and more, while many programs would be eliminated. Athletic programs and co-curricular programs would require payment to participate. Additional reductions to repair and maintenance accounts will result in the district only performing emergency repairs, with no allowances for preventive maintenance.
Staff Reductions
Since the inception of the S-2 funding formula in the 2019-2020 school year, the district has already eliminated 102 positions. The pending cuts include both non-tenured teachers and tenured teachers.
At the April 18 Board of Education meeting, Pereira stressed that the district did not want to eliminate any staff members but would have no choice but to make cuts.
“The big question that is asked of us often is how do we decide who gets reduced and who gets to stay,” Pereira shared. “This is a long and arduous process that begins with reductions of non-tenured staff because they are not yet protected by tenure.”
The superintendent elaborated on the difficult staff reduction process, emphasizing that seniority and certifications based on teacher tenure laws would dictate any further cuts beyond non-tenured teachers. Principals would prioritize core subject areas like math, English language arts, science, and social studies while seeking opportunities for consolidation.
“It has absolutely nothing to do with performance,” Pereira emphasized. “We make them (the cuts) based on a seniority list and certifications because that is what we must do.”
District leaders and board of education members have been bombarded with pleas from the community to save specific staff positions. Nearly 1,500 individuals have signed a Change.org petition to retain Lacey’s band director, Christopher Montague. Numerous parents, students, teachers, graduates, and community members who attended the April board meeting advocated for Montague and other staff members slated to lose their jobs.
Karissa Falvey, a Lacey High School graduate and now a teacher, stood before the board with tears welling up. She spoke passionately about the transformative impact of Aaron Fritz, a German teacher who was recently notified of his potential dismissal due to the budget deficit.
Falvey recounted her own struggles with bullying during her high school years, highlighting how Fritz, along with other faculty members, provided crucial support and guidance.
“One of my students told me that she didn’t want to get up in the morning anymore and that she was afraid to go home,” said Falvey. “It was like I had a flashback to being in this school.”
“I specifically thought back to Mr. Fritz when I told him the same thing, that it was hard for me to get up in the morning, and said I didn’t want to be here anymore,” Falvey continued. “He looked me in the eyes. And he said, Karissa, I will be here for you.”
Falvey said the teacher’s actions and concern propelled her into her career as a teacher – where she focuses on playing it forward.
Further impassioned pleas, including those from children as young as middle school students, underscored the deep impact educators have on their students’ lives, further highlighting the gravity of the district’s predicament.
Many of those who spoke revealed their own struggles with mental health issues and concerns that they would have no one to talk to about them. Available resources include Lacey’s Mental Health Resource Guide and a recent wellness night held at the Lacey High School in partnership with Central Regional.
Contacting The State
The superintendent herself has been advocating on behalf of the school district. She has communicated directly with Governor Phil Murphy, detailing the crippling budget deficits. Periera further amplified the district’s plight by testifying at the state’s budget hearings on March 20.
After outlining the painful cuts necessitated by the $6.9 million deficit, Pereira reiterated the district’s unwavering support for a fair and equitable public school funding formula that benefits all New Jersey schools. She acknowledged the need for a formula that reflects student enrollment trends.
“The reduction in state aid has been happening at a fast and dangerous rate,” said Pereira. “We cannot properly instruct our students and offer a thorough and efficient education or balance our budget.”
“If nothing changes, we will be forced to ask the state for a loan or make further cataclysmic reductions,” Pereira said at the hearings.
The prospect of taking out loans was discussed at the March budget meeting held by the Board of Education. Some board members expressed reluctance to take out loans – citing the indebtedness owed by at least one other Ocean County community.
Meanwhile, the consideration of loans to supplement the 2024-2025 budget is now a moot issue. The Department of Education has informed all districts that they may not seek out loans for that purpose.
“A team of Executive County Business Officials, also known as EXBOs, will be working with us to review our district’s budget,” Pereira shared at the April 18 meeting. “We are told that the purpose of this meeting will be collaborative, not punitive. And the goal will be to determine the impact of reducing an additional $7 million from our budget, which is the number that currently represents our deficit.”
Pereira highlighted Assembly Bill No. 461 as a potential lifeline. The bill proposes a Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program, offering eligible districts grants equivalent to two-thirds of their state school aid reductions for the 2024-2025 school year. Furthermore, the bill grants flexibility to districts that have suffered significant aid cuts, allowing them to exceed the 2% property tax levy cap without requiring voter approval.
This potential for increased funding offered a glimmer of hope amidst the bleak financial outlook. However, the bill’s fate remained uncertain as it awaits a full Senate vote scheduled for May 9. This will be tight against a May 15 deadline to inform staff of potential layoffs.
The school district has created a Quick Reference Guide for residents to email and call authorities that could help rectify its financial issues. Contact information for legislators and relevant social media sites are all available in the reference guide.
The post School Aid Cut Amid Student Mental Health Crisis appeared first on Jersey Shore Online.
