On Tuesday, Governor Murphy delivered his 2020 budget address to the state legislature in Trenton while outside thousands of teachers, students, and other officials marched to show their opposition to changes in school funding which will negatively impact many districts for years.

Heading up the 71 “Support our Students” districts were Toms River and Brick who will continue to lose millions of dollars and face very bleak financial futures.

Save Our Schools march in Trenton
(Anna Polozzo)
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Dozens of teacher and staff reductions, elimination of student resources and non-mandated programs, and the slashing of athletics may leave many students out in the cold.

On top of this could be an increase in class sizes that will make teaching and learning an even greater challenge than it currently is.

On the surface Murphy’s budget seems like a winner for public education with more than $200 million in new direct aid to K-12 schools in New Jersey plus an additional $250 million for special education, expanded pre-school and construction.  However, the new S2 funding formula moves money from some districts to others in New Jersey. Toms River and Brick are two of the biggest losers under this plan which was championed by Senate President Steve Sweeney and has been embraced by Governor Murphy.

Save Our Schools march in Trenton
(Anna Polozzo)
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Toms River Schools Superintendent David Healy said in Trenton yesterday his school district is looking at a loss of over $80 million in state aid over six years. Meanwhile, Brick is looking at a $23 million loss over the next six years, and like Toms River, this will result in teacher and staff cuts, elimination of all non-mandated programs, and increased class sizes.

Both school districts share something else in common: a loss of ratables from Superstorm Sandy which continues to financially impact their towns and communities.

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