East Brunswick Schools Proposes Job Cuts, Fee Hikes To Close $5.6M Deficit

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — The East Brunswick school district has closed the nearly $5.6 million budget deficit it faced heading into fiscal year 2027, finalizing a package of staffing reductions, spending cuts and new pay-to-play fees at the Board of Education's April 23 meeting.

School Business Administrator Joseph Crotchfelt told the board the deficit — driven by a 22% spike in health insurance premiums, rising special education costs, and growing charter school payments, as Patch previously reported — has been eliminated through successive rounds of reductions since March. Through cuts made in March and early April totaling more than $4.2 million, the district had narrowed the gap to $1.38 million heading into Wednesday's meeting, where the board finalized the remaining reductions.

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"It's been a daunting task. It has not been easy, but we are legally required to have a balanced budget," Crotchfelt said.

The board approved Option A for extracurricular fees, raising athletics to $200 per student and clubs to $45, with a family cap of $800 for athletics, marching band and color guard. Students on reduced lunch will pay 50% of fees; those receiving free lunch will pay 25%. Course-based clubs, previously free, will now carry a $45 fee. Pre-K inclusive program fees will be set at $482.

Transportation contract renewals came in below the 3.58% consumer price index cap. Crotchfelt said negotiations yielded an additional $70,000 in savings after the April 9 meeting, bringing the total to $160,000.

Graduation transportation will be eliminated, with a budget offset for students unable to provide their own transportation. Reductions in pressure washing, parking lot striping, athletic banner updates and board meeting supplies totaled $16,800.

Staffing reductions account for $898,475 in savings. Positions vacated through retirements and resignations that will not be refilled include one student assistant specialist, one school counselor and one high school teaching position.

Additional eliminated positions include one central office administrator, two student assistant specialist positions, two part-time SSO positions, one high school teaching position and one traveling teaching position.

Elementary club advisor stipends will also be reduced, with the number of clubs per building trimmed from seven to five.

Crotchfelt said the reductions were not arbitrary. "We've gone back, we've looked at enrollment, what the students are partaking, what they're not, and we're right-sizing that," he said.

One elementary instructional coach will be added to support implementation of the new ILA curriculum.

Superintendent Evelyn Mamman said staffing decisions were based on two to three years of enrollment data and made in consultation with building principals, supervisors and administrative teams. She pushed back on suggestions that programs were being cut.

"My goal was not to deplete any one area — it is to shave," Mamman said. "I am not getting rid of a program. That is simply not true."

She added that the district cannot sustain low-enrollment sections. "I cannot run classes with 12 students, with six students, with nine students," Mamman said.

Board member Wilbur Pan credited the process, calling it a model of thorough deliberation. "This is what a good, thorough discussion by people who are committed to doing the right things looks like," he said.

The FY2027 budget includes a 6.16 percent tax levy increase, totaling $9.56 million. A public hearing and final budget adoption are scheduled for the May 7 board meeting.

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