This South Jersey School District To Stop Courtesy Busing

Back in February 2024, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy proclaimed the state's School Funding Formula would be fully funded for the 2024-25 Fiscal School Year. But the reality was that the $11.7 billion was funding committed to some and not all NJ Schools.

As we wrote about previously here at Townsquare Media, 63 School Districts in South Jersey would have their funding cut for the 2024-25 School Year. This redistribution of funds to other schools has forced many New Jersey School Districts to make difficult decisions.

Since 2018, one South Jersey School District has lost 75 percent of its State Funding. As a result, this School District has had to cut some of its programs and services.

Which South Jersey School District Is Eliminating Courtesy Busing

Over the last six years, $4.3 million has been diverted away from the Dennis Township School District. Located in New Jersey's southernmost county, Dennis Township has attempted to offset the loss of State Funding through two different Special Tax Levies on the Election Ballot over the last two years.

But Dennis Township Voters voted "No" during the 2023 General Election and the 2024 Special Election. The hope for the School District was to gain up to $2.2 Million to the budget to counter the State Funding Cuts.

Now there are reports that Dennis Township has informed families with students attending their School District will need to make "alternative transportation plans". As of February 1st, the Dennis Township School District will no longer offer the courtesy busing service.

Along with eliminating the traditional courtesy bus service (which many School Districts offer in New Jersey), Dennis Township Schools will also eliminate the band program.

There are 10 Cape May County School Districts that had State Funding Cut but Dennis Township is the only one that has seen 75 percent of their State Funding disappear. Here is the full breakdown of NJ School District State Funding for the 2024-25 School Year: