'Budget Crisis' Will Lead To Drastic Cuts In Lacey Schools

LACEY, NJ — The Lacey Township School District is bracing itself for major cuts amid what the superintendent is calling a "budget crisis."

Under Gov. Phil Murphy's proposed state budget for 2023-24, Lacey schools would lose nearly $4 million in state aid. Read more: Massive State Aid Cuts To Lacey School District In 2023-24 Budget

"This district has never seen a reduction of this magnitude," Superintendent Vanessa Pereira said in a letter home to parents on March 14.

The district has been facing cuts since the implementation of Senate Bill 2, known as "S-2."

"It essentially redistributes state aid toward communities deemed to have been 'overpaying' local school taxes and reduced from communities deemed to have been 'underpaying,'" Pereira wrote. "Districts, like Lacey, that have been deemed by the State to have been 'underpaying' are considered to be under adequacy regarding school tax contributions."

Pereira said that the district feels these determinations to be "extremely unfair" and don't allow the district to provide "a thorough and efficient education."

The district's main goal, as always, is to increase student achievement, she said. But the reduction in funding makes this difficult.

"We are forced to make drastic reductions to our operating budget that will be painful and widespread," Pereira said.

There will be drastic staffing reductions, she said, which will increase classroom sizes at all schools.

"All non-tenured certificated staff members have been notified and all full-time paraprofessionals have been informed of a proposed change in status," she said. Additional staff will be notified that their employment is uncertain for the 2023-24 school year.

Because of teaching reductions, critical programs will not be offered, according to Pereira. Administration is also working on a plan to reduce co-curricular and athletic programs.

This information is preliminary as the administration works to finalize the budget. "We are still in the process of analyzing every single detail in order to make very difficult decisions on how to present a balanced budget while exploring all avenues for emergent relief," Pereira said.

The district, along with other Ocean County districts, are meeting with legislators to discuss the impact. Mayor Tim McDonald recently said that Lacey's cuts made him "furious." Read more: Township Officials Slam Proposed State Aid Cuts For Lacey Schools

To stay informed, a preschool expansion meeting is set for 5 p.m. on March 16 in the Lacey Township High School Lecture Hall. This expansion is fully funded by the State using funds only for preschool.

Following that meeting at 7 p.m. is the monthly Board of Education meeting where the preliminary budget will be introduced.

A hearing on the budget is set for 6 p.m. on May 4 in the Lecture Hall.

Pereira urged parents to advocate for students by contacting legislators to explain how the cuts will impact them. Their contact information can be found here.

"We have an amazing school community. We are committed to keeping it that way," Pereira said. "Thank you for your continued support."