The Jackson Township School District has suffered a $22.4 million decrease in state school aid over a period of seven years.
The funding cuts have caused the Board of Education to cut 385 jobs and educational programming, as well as to sell two schools.
State officials contend their funding cuts are attributable to a decrease in enrollment of public school students. However, school officials argue that the state's funding formula fails to account for the Township’s “unique demographic obligations,” including the growing Orthodox Jewish population whose children attend private yeshivos and require publicly funded busing.
Citing a “systemic and unconstitutional underfunding,” the Board this week filed a lawsuit in New Jersey Superior Court in Ocean County seeking compensation and a judgement that requires the state to revise the school funding formula.
“Somewhere along the way, the formula became broken and the state has refused to address it to account for the unique circumstances in Jackson,” school board president Tina Kas said in a statement.
Kas added that local officials spoke with the district’s fiscal monitor and representatives from the state Department of Education, but “were offered no changes other than an acknowledgement that the formula may need to be ‘tweaked’ in the future.”
“Our students are suffering. We cannot wait,” Kas emphasized.
The Toms River Regional School District filed a similar lawsuit last year against the New Jersey Department of Education. In that case, the State has a pending motion to dismiss the complaint, arguing that disputes over school funding must be brought through an administrative petition to the Education Commissioner - not through the courts.
Given this backdrop, Jackson’s lawsuit may face a similar procedural challenge. Local officials are likely aware of the legal hurdle, suggesting that the filing is, at least in part, a symbolic effort to elevate their concerns and compel the Department of Education to take meaningful action.
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1 comment:
Let let the games begin here we go.The Federal Government and all you political losers are to blame.The system was broken a few years back ,because no one wanted to put a stop to the circuis that went on in the surrounding townships.Where is Michael Inzelbuch from Lakewood.I'm sure he has lots of money that he stole from our State.(But wait) the more I think about it.We should all lean from Mr Inzelbuch its beginner-101 on how the scam the State Education budget.Now It gets even better because you have the potical BOZOs and our own Governor Murphy allowing this.Michael Inzelbuch if you read this reach out to me.I really need to learn from you.
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