Little Egg Harbor school board faces $1.5M shortfall as teachers, parents urge alternatives to layoffs

The Little Egg Harbor Township Board of Education heard appeals from teachers and parents at a meeting where administrators outlined a roughly $1,500,000 budget shortfall and proposed personnel reductions.

"Approximately 57 non‑tenured teachers were given pink slips last week," said Jacqueline Finnegan, president of the teachers association, asking the board to revisit cuts before the budget is finalized. "Losing one staff member is one too many." Finnegan told the board the association wanted to meet with trustees before next week’s formal budget session.

Carla Baker, a fourth‑grade teacher and district veteran, described the shortfall as ‘‘dire’’ and warned of program losses if funding is not restored. "The future financial situation we find ourselves in is dire, and the consequences for our students are simply unacceptable," Baker said, listing counselors, summer school and special‑education supports among services at risk.

A budget committee member (speaker 5) told the board the committee met for two hours and reported several drivers of the shortfall: a $500,000 increase in Horizon Healthcare costs, a mandatory $500,000 rise in retiree contributions, and the loss of roughly $1,500,000 in state aid this year (about $429,000 last year). The representative said the board increased its tax levy to 6%—above the 2% cap—to save eight positions but still anticipates approximately 23 staff reductions without state relief. The committee noted an Assembly bill may return up to two‑thirds of the lost funding but that it still required Senate action.

Danielle Townsend, a township resident and former special‑education teacher, urged the board to reconsider a planned shift to a consultation model for special‑education services. "Under this model, students outside of self‑contained classrooms who require special education services will only have access to their special education teacher for around two hours daily," Townsend said, warning that the change could remove students from the least‑restrictive environment and worsen behavioral and academic outcomes.

District administration responded that the consultation model had been misunderstood and that the district must and will provide services required by law. "That is just not true," an administrator (Dr. Snyder/administrator, speaker 3) said in reply to concerns about reduced services, adding the district will ensure students receive legally required supports and contract for services if necessary.

Board members and administrators emphasized several structural pressures: the end of one‑time federal ESSER funds, a two‑year, roughly $2,000,000 reduction in aid across the district, increased employer pension (PERS) contributions and rising health‑care costs. Officials said they have sought help from state legislators, including Senator Amato, Assemblyman Rumpf and Assemblyman Meyer, and were watching a Senate calendar item in May that could affect funding.

Several consent and personnel agenda items were moved and seconded during the meeting; the board recorded votes for routine approvals and also moved to affirm a finding in a student disciplinary matter (student number 15992802). Details of the formal vote tallies were not fully recorded in the public transcript.

The board scheduled a formal budget presentation and public review for April 30 at 6 p.m. and encouraged community members to continue contacting state legislators about the funding formula and relief.

What happens next: the board will present a formal proposed budget at the April 30 meeting and complete any required votes after public comment and final negotiations. The administration said it would continue to explore options to preserve staff while meeting legal and fiscal obligations.