Middletown School Board Continues To Argue Over Whether To Close Schools

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — There was a Middletown school board meeting Thursday night and at it, Ross Haber came back to present more options for how the school district could redistrict.

Again, Haber owns the demographic consulting company the school district hired, at a cost of $24,000, to do a redistricting study of the Middletown school district. In January, Haber presented his findings and said he recommends moving a total of 119 students across six schools (Nut Swamp, Middletown Village, Lincroft, River Plaza, Ocean and Harmony).

This is just a recommendation from Haber. The Middletown school district has not decided to do anything yet or unveiled any formal plans. The Middletown school district also published this Q&A Regarding the Haber Presentation/Report.

"When we started this project, one of the questions (from the district) was could we find a way to close one or two or three schools if possible due to financial reasons. So we started out with that mind," said Haber, as he spoke to the board by video conference Thursday night.

But Board member Joan Minnuies shot back:

"(The hiring of) your firm was approved by the board. Not the proposal of closing schools. The only thing this board approved was his contract."

Minnuies is against closing schools.

"The contract did ask him to look at closure of schools," superintendent Jessica Alfone responded to Minnuies.

Minnuies then accused the school district of yet again ramming down proposed school closures and moving students.

"It was rammed down (last year) like it was tonight," said Minnuies.

Minnuies and Board member Deb Wright said the district should look elsewhere to save money, such as cutting administration "at the top" (Minnuies' idea) and having the Twp. pay for more shared services (Wright's idea).

Board member Mark Soporowski suggested Middletown consolidate into one high school.

Alfone said the district has made administrative cuts.

"Eventually you run out of things to cut," said the superintendent "You're gonna have to disrupt something here in order for things to change."

The next Middletown school board meeting will be Feb. 24. That's a big meeting because the budget will be presented then. The district has a $3.2-million shortfall in this year's budget, said Board president Chris Aveta.

"The tentative budget cannot be finished until it is determined if the district will be planning school closures or consolidations for '26-'27 or '27 -'28," said Aveta. "Unless the district can reduce its operating expenses ... the budget will continue to be a structural deficit going forward."

Aveta implied he thinks school closures and/or consolidations are necessary.

"I just want to say this," he spoke directly to Middletown parents in the audience. "I understand your passion and understand how you feel. But we're in a position now where to maintain status quo is not working. Something has to be done. I am not going to sit here and say I have the plan. Because I don't. The administration will develop the plan and we'll vote on it. But if we do nothing we're failing our kids."

"You already failed them," one mom in the audience called out.

Aveta also said the Middletown school district is predicted to have a budget deficit every year, and:

"Nothing is ever done. We'll kick the can down the road and say we'll deal with it next year. Well, the can is disintegrating and we're at the end of the road."

Watch the Feb. 19 school board meeting here:

Haber Demographic Study Recommends Moving 119 Students Across Middletown School District (Jan. 28)