Lacey Township School District hopes to close $6.5 million budget gap
The district already cut more than 150 staffing positions and raised taxes by 9.9% last year to help make up for the recent annual state funding cuts.
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Hundreds of students in Ocean County may have to say goodbye to sports and extracurricular activities due to a financial crisis.
Frustrated parents and students showed up to the Lacey Township School District meeting after learning on Wednesday the district is facing a $6.5 million deficit.
During Thursday's public meeting, students asked the board to do anything but cut their activities like band, drama and sports, even their free busing service.
The district says it lost over $14 million in state aid over the past eight years.
“We are in dire straits to balance our budget,” said Acting Superintendent William Zylinski.
The school board has been talking about increasing class sizes by 15 to 20% and the possibility of getting rid of field trips and clubs after already cutting more than 150 staffing positions.
"It's insane. They keep doing this and we're not the only district that they're doing this to," said John Pinto, a resident whose kids attended schools in the district.
"Were just really sad to see that this is what's being proposed here," says parent John Sotelo.
District officials are calling this a "financial crisis" that will leave them critically short on funds if they don't receive state assistance or raise property taxes over 14%.
Other solutions discussed on Thursday night involved creating a community education foundation or seeking sponsorship from local organizations for school programs.
The school board is asking people to contact local and state legislators asking for their support.
