'Tell Trenton this is wrong': Brick council condemns school funding cuts

BRICK ― A group of elected officials urged Brick residents to join the fight against Trenton-led cuts to township schools, funding reductions they said have drained millions in state support from this district of about 8,400 students.

On Tuesday the Township Council voted unanimously to support a resolution calling for Trenton to restore millions of dollars in state aid, cuts that began in 2018 under a school funding formula set out by Senate Bill 2, or S2.

The funding plan aimed to redistribute state aid more equitably among school districts, particularly to some of New Jersey's fastest growing and neediest schools. Declining enrollment and rising property values punished some local districts further. Some larger districts — Brick, Toms River Regional, Jackson and Freehold Regional High School District, among others — faced millions of dollars in state aid losses.

Brick schools Superintendent Thomas Farrell said his district is $9.4 million under the funding level needed to provide students with a thorough and efficient education, as required by state law.

Since the 2018 school funding bill went into effect, state aid to Brick schools has dropped 49%, yet the student population over the same time dropped only 10%, Farrell said.

As a result, class sizes have grown to about 30 students in Brick elementary schools, staff sizes are reduced, and programs will be cut to balance the district budget, he said.

"These are lost opportunities for students," Farrell said in a statement shared with the media this week. "Brick Schools (district) is efficient, yet effective; with one of the lowest cost-per-pupil and administrative costs in the state. Brick students are held to the same standards and deserve the same opportunities as other students in the state."

Related:Toms River superintendent vows to fight proposed $14 million state aid cut

On Tuesday in the municipal building, Farrell and five school board members thanked the Township Council for their resolution of support. Brick schools are facing another $2.5 million cut in the coming school year, according to elected officials.

The school district is unable to make up the difference by raising taxes, due to a state-mandated 2% cap on tax levy increases. The Asbury Park Press reached out to Gov. Phil Murphy's office for comment, but it has yet to respond.

At the same time, inflation has raised costs for transportation, energy and staff health care far beyond the 2% limit, Farrell said.

"As a proud mom of two special needs children in the Brick educational system, when Dr. Farrell mentions having to cut programs, my heart stops," said Councilwoman Marianna Pontoriero during Tuesday's meeting. "We have in Brick an enormous population of special needs students that are reliant upon this funding."

In addition, Brick's population of English language learners has quadrupled in the past three years, according to the superintendent.

"I beg all residents of Brick: stand up, stand proud," Pontoriero told the audience gathered in the municipal building on Tuesday. "Let's tell Trenton (lawmakers) this is wrong."

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Yet some residents questioned the Council's commitment to helping local schools fill the budget gap, citing a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes redevelopment deal for a new sports complex on Route 70. The deal, which will redevelop a long vacant property, prevents the school district from collecting taxes on the site for 30 years, but gives school sports teams free field time.

Township officials said last year that the tax deal was necessary for the sports complex plan to move forward; its future was threatened by the financial turmoil of COVID-19 pandemic disruptions, according to town leaders.

But some Brick residents said such tax deals hurt the school district in the long run.

"If you're really concerned about the money for the school district… you ought to think about every time you do something like that (tax deal), how that affects these people," resident Victor Finelli told the Council.

"The kids in the school district need it at least as much as you people (on Council) need it," said Brick resident John Sluka. "I can't understand why that (tax income) wasn't split equitably."

Council Vice President Andrea Zapcic pushed back against the comments, saying municipal officials have worked for years to push Trenton lawmakers to change the school funding formula and restore state aid to Brick schools.

"Before COVID… I know that former Mayor (John) Ducey made repeated calls to the governor's office, visits to the governor's office, multiple outreaches," she said. "He went on a bus with students to Trenton to rally at the State House."

Zapcic said Brick officials worked with the anti-S2 organization Save Brick Schools to push for more state aid and also joined a lawsuit aimed at getting access to the state's aid formula and data.

"This is the 'perfect storm' and we need the state’s help," he said. "The state can change this."

Amanda Oglesby is an Ocean County native who covers Brick, Barnegat and Lacey townships as well as the environment. She has worked for the Press for more than a decade. Reach her at @OglesbyAPP, aoglesby@gannettnj.com or 732-557-5701.

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Brick NJ council condemns millions in school funding cuts