See It: Toms River Takes School Aid Fight To Trenton

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Toms River students and staff and hundreds of parents and residents headed to Trenton on Tuesday to press Gov. Phil Murphy on his promise to not let the Toms River Regional School District "be hung out to dry."

Murphy made the statement to a Toms River Regional parent who called in to the "Ask the Governor" show Nov. 21 on News 12 to ask him about the state aid cuts. Toms River Regional district officials say the cuts, part of S2, are putting the district in the position of having to eliminate a host of nonmandated programs, including full-day kindergarten, National Honor Society, clubs, and sports. Read more: Sports, Clubs, Kindergarten At Risk In Toms River School Aid Cuts

But so far, there has been little from the state beyond Murphy's statement. On Friday, the state Department of Education responded to the Toms River Regional district's request for $4.4 million in emergency aid — funds the district says are critical to maintaining programs — with an award of of $854,634.

The district called it "nothing short of a slap in the face," and urged residents and parents to turn out Tuesday for the rally. Read more: Emergency Aid Award 'A Slap In The Face,' Toms River Schools Say

Alyana Alfaro Post, press secretary for Murphy, said the state has responded to school funding needs.

"Under Governor Murphy, we've made record investments in public education and we’re on a path to fairly, fully, and constitutionally funding our schools," she said Tuesday. "New Jersey's school funding reforms, sponsored by the Senate President and passed by the Legislature last year, ensure that school aid is based on objective criteria, like demographics, population, and local share of funding. Under the Christie Administration, the state ignored the reality of many districts, creating rampant inequities and long-term funding issues."

State Senate President Stephen Sweeney — who pushed S2 and its funding cuts to what he says are overfunded districts — has recently suggested districts such as Toms River, which are considered under adequacy but also having funding cut — will be allowed to make up those cuts by exceeding the state's 2 percent cap on property tax levy increases.

Sweeney has repeatedly contended those districts are not paying their fair share of property taxes to support their schools. The districts have responded by seeking the formula the state uses to calculate the local fair share amounts. So far, the state education officials have refused to release that formula. Read more: Toms River, Brick Seek 'Secret' Math Equation In School Aid Fight

Photos and videos shared by the district and by residents show a significant turnout. Take a look.

Note: This article has been updated with comment from Gov. Phil Murphy's office.

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