July 24, 2024 Update - State Monitor Overrides Board of Education’s Rejection of 2024-2025 Budget

Budget Moves Forward with Cuts and Reductions Necessary to Close $18 Million Deficit

We were just informed that the state monitor assigned to the district has decided to override the Board of Education’s unanimous decision at the July 17 board meeting to reject the Proposed 2024-2025 Budget. This means the cuts, reductions and changes that were included in the proposed budget as presented July 17 will move forward.

Ms. Carole Morris, the state monitor, informed the district this afternoon of her decision.

 As planned, the Board of Education will hold a special meeting tonight (Wednesday, July 24) at 5 p.m. in order to vote on the personnel items from the agenda and addendum that were administratively removed from the July 17 agenda until the board received her decision. The meeting will be held in the Fine Arts Center of Jackson Memorial High School.

For background, at the July 17 meeting:

• The district presented a Proposed Budget that contained painful measures necessary to close an $18 million budget deficit and to enact the balanced budget the state of New Jersey requires for us to continue operating.

• The Board of Education voted unanimously to reject the budget, citing the scope of the reductions and the desire for the state to assist in funding the district rather than shouldering the taxpayers of Jackson with a 9.9 percent tax levy increase.

• Ms. Morris stated she would be taking time to determine if she will override the board’s decision. 

• The board opted to delay acting on the personnel items listed on the July 17 board agenda until Ms. Morris determines how she will proceed and announced it would hold a special meeting on July 24. 

• Board of Education President Giuseppe Palmeri also announced that the board has authorized the district attorney to take appropriate legal action to compel the Department of Education to assist the district to ensure it can provide a thorough and efficient education. 

July 18, 2024 Update - 2024-2025 Budget is NOT Finalized

As explained in previous updates, we have been working to address an $18 million budget gap caused by rising costs and the devastating loss of state aid over the last seven years. At our June 26, 2024 Board of Education meeting, we presented a Tentative Budget and at last night’s July 17 Board of Education meeting, the Proposed Budget was presented - but NOT finalized.

An overview of actions at the July 17 meeting:

• The district presented a Proposed Budget that contained painful measures necessary to close an $18 million budget deficit and to enact the balanced budget the state of New Jersey requires for us to continue operating.

• The Board of Education voted unanimously to reject the budget, citing the scope of the reductions and the desire for the state to assist in funding the district rather than shouldering the taxpayers of Jackson with a 9.9 percent tax levy increase.

• Ms. Carole Morris, the state monitor assigned to our district, stated she would be taking time to determine if she will override the board’s decision. She informed the board she would provide additional information in the next 48 hours.

• The board opted to delay acting on the personnel items listed on the July 17 board agenda until Ms. Morris determines how she will proceed. These items will be voted on at a special meeting next week.

• Mr. Palmeri also announced that the board has authorized the district attorney to take appropriate legal action to compel the Department of Education to assist the district. 

Regarding Courtesy Busing:

• In order to close the full $18 million budget deficit, the TENTATIVE BUDGET presented June 26 included the elimination of Courtesy Busing throughout the district 

• HOWEVER - new funds were appropriated to Jackson School District in NJ State Budget - $2.5 million. We are the only school in Ocean County to receive this appropriation, made just prior to the state budget being approved.

• We intend to use these funds to KEEP COURTESY BUSING in place for 2024-2025 school year

This means that at this time the 2024-2025 budget is not finalized. We will provide another update early next week. The board will also be holding a special Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, July 24 at 5 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center of Jackson Memorial High School to be able to vote on the Personnel items. 

For Full Details - Please View the July 17 Meeting:

• For more information and context, please consider viewing the July 17 Board of Education meeting via our JTV YouTube Channel

• You can also view the text-only version of the Proposed Budget Presentation from the July 17 meeting

June 27, 2024 - Important Budget Update Following This Week’s Board Meeting

We wanted to share important budget developments with our entire community and - for our parents and students at Rosenauer - some details and timelines to help us all process the heartbreaking task of reassigning students for the coming school year.

We strongly encourage you to watch the Board of Education meeting from last night (June 26, 2024), which is available on our JTV YouTube Channel. This meeting featured candid discussions of where we are and why, and will allow you to hear directly from the administration, the board and your fellow parents and staff members who spoke from the heart about our predicament.

Some key developments from that meeting:

• The district presented a Tentative Budget that contained painful measures necessary (detailed in our June 20, 2024 update) to enact the balanced budget the state of New Jersey requires in order for us to continue operating.
• The Board of Education voted to NOT approve the Tentative Budget, citing their inability to support the drastic cuts it contained.
• The Board of Education also did NOT approve a motion to increase the tax levy by 9.9%, a measure that was allowed through recent legislation as a one-time action for districts struggling with state aid decreases. Members cited their desire to not have Jackson taxpayers bear the cost of the state not funding the district properly.
• However, after the vote, the state fiscal monitor assigned to Jackson overturned the BOE’s decisions. This means that the balanced, Tentative Budget moves forward to a final vote on July 17 - and that it contains a tax levy increase of 9.9 percent (instead of the typical 2% capped increase). 
  • This action is within her scope of authority as our state monitor (she was assigned here in January 2024 as a condition of a state aid advancement request -aka loan request the district needed to make to get through the 2023-2024 school year.)
  • Ms. Morris cited the need to have the budget advance through the limited timeframe of the budget process, which includes requirements to hold a public hearing on July 17 and to have the budget approved by the Ocean County Superintendent of Schools and finalized by the state budget deadline of July 22, 2024.

SEE FULL UPDATE - NEXT STEPS and INFORMATION FOR ROSENAUER STAFF and FAMILIES

ALSO: Link to June 27, 2024 Board of Education Meeting

June 20, 2024 - Important Budget Impact Update for the Jackson School District

This is a difficult message to share, as it contains heartbreaking information that directly impacts many things we love about our district. Given the size of our continued budget deficit - and the Department of Education requiring us to submit a balanced budget in order to operate our schools in September - there is simply no other way than to move forward with impactful decisions, including the immediate closing and readying for sale of the Sylvia Rosenauer Elementary School. Please read the information carefully, and know that we will continue to provide updates as decisions are made.

As you know, budget work and advocacy with the NJ Department of Education, the county office, the Governor’s office, and legislators have consumed us for the past seven years as we have been forced to cut staff and opportunities for students in the wake of a $22.4 million state aid loss. With your help we found ways to make it through, knowing the fight to save the 2024-2025 budget would be the hardest battle yet. Unfortunately, we have exhausted our most recent rounds of negotiations, pleas, and advocacy and are being compelled to take some painful steps to be able to operate for the coming school year. 

As you read this important information, please know that these steps are being taken under duress, but are necessary to be able to open the doors in September. Please also keep in mind this is a “big picture” update and that the details and impact of any actions below will be communicated to parents and staff in detail over the next weeks.

We have been through difficult times the last few years but have always pulled together to protect our students' education and experiences. We can get through this difficult time by supporting one another so that our district continues to be a strong place for learning and connections.

Sincerely, 

Nicole Pormilli, Superintendent of Schools

READ FULL UPDATE AND DETAILS - JUNE 20, 2024