Seaside Heights-Toms River school merger vote OK'd; here is when voters will get their say

Jean Mikle, Asbury Park Press
·2 min read
Toms River Schools Superintendent Mike Citta.
Toms River Schools Superintendent Mike Citta.

TOMS RIVER - Voters in Seaside Heights and the Toms River Regional school district will get to decide whether the two districts should merge at a special election April 16.

The referendum got a green light March 7 from Acting New Jersey Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer. Residents of Seaside Heights, along with those in the four towns that make up Toms River Regional — Toms River, Beachwood, Pine Beach and South Toms River — must approve the merger before it can take place.

If voters approve the ballot question, the two districts would merge in time for the 2024-2025 school year.

You can read the full letter at the bottom of this story.

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Hugh J. Boyd Elementary School, Seaside Heights.
Hugh J. Boyd Elementary School, Seaside Heights.

In his letter approving the referendum, Dehmer said the merger "possesses the potential for improve efficiency and cost savings," and also could increase "economies of scale through the consolidation of school districts and the elimination of Seaside Heights school district."

Dehmer said Toms River and Seaside Heights school boards demonstrated "a coordination of curriculum across schools." The Central Regional school district, which opposes the merger, had as its primary argument that closing Seaside's Hugh J. Boyd Elementary School would have a detrimental effect on Boyd students.

But the commissioner noted that in a revised petition submitted last week, Toms River Regional said it would keep the Boyd school open for up to five more years, as long as enrollment does not fall below 125 children. About 200 kids attend the Seaside Heights school this year.

"The commitment to leaving Boyd Elementary open for up to five years post-consolidation will ease the transition and dispels many of the concerns raised by Central," Dehmer wrote.

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Decision Letter TR Final (March 2024) KD by Dennis Carmody on Scribd

Jean Mikle covers Toms River and several other Ocean County towns, and writes about issues related to Superstorm Sandy. She's also passionate about the Shore's storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle,  jmikle@gannettnj.com

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Seaside Heights-Toms River school merger vote set for April 16