OLD BRIDGE – Cheesequake Elementary School, one of the 12 elementary schools in the Old Bridge Township Public School District, is on the chopping block as school officials continue to reel on how best to handle the sudden reduction in state aid.
“Cheesequake is our only Blue Ribbon school, it is a great school … it does not make sense,” Schools Superintendent David Cittadino said as he announced the decision to close the school to a standing room only crowd attending the the State of the District Superintendent’s Forum on Jan. 24.
According to Gov. Phil Murphy’s revamp of the School Funding Formula, which was approved by the New Jersey Senate and the House of Representatives on July 21, 2018, Old Bridge Township Public Schools will receive an approximate $12 million reduction in state aid over the next seven years, from approximately $45 million to $33 million.
“Based on the [amended] formula, [the state says] we are overfunded,” Cittadino has said, noting the district does not apply for state aid. “[The reduction] came without warning and did not provide us the time to put a strategic plan in place. [The handling of the reduction has been] irresponsible and it is detrimental to our students.”
Since 2008, enrollment in Old Bridge schools has decreased about 1,000 students. The school district has just under 9,000 students, 1,388 employees and 17 educational facilities.
School officials said they had been using state aid to cover recurring expenses including salary costs, collective bargaining contracts, a custodial contract, and health and medical benefits in the district’s $150 million budget.
Cheesequake Elementary School has about 280 students and 25 educators, which includes 13 classroom teachers, four response to intervention (RTI) teachers, two special education teachers, a guidance counselor, principal and educators who teach special classes such as art.
In 2017, Cheesequake was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School, the first school in the district to earn the title. The program honors public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students achieve very high learning standards or are making notable improvements in closing the achievement gap.
Cittadino said in a worst case scenario with no support, the district would eventually become a school district providing the bare minimum of math, language arts, social studies and science.
“If we do not have a long-term plan, we will be in big trouble,” he said.
Cittadino said he did not become an educator to sell stuff and a school district is not in the business of making revenue; however, with the drastic loss of state aid, school officials are scrambling to find funds.
He said the decision to sell and consolidate a school is not an easy decision. Of all the schools in the district, he said Cheesequake Elementary’s location on Route 34 is the most desirable to bring in revenue.
“It is zoned in a business zone,” he said. “It’s our oldest school, it has structural flaws and because it sits on Route 34, there have been safety concerns. At Cheesequake everyone is bused. We have taken this all into consideration.”
Cittadino said, in addition, the district is looking into selling an easement near the Nike Base, off Route 9 south, where it currently houses its buses.
As for how much revenue the district would receive, which would be a one-time fund, Cittadino said it is premature to say. As for any layoffs, Cittadino said if there were to be any, they would not be related to anyone working at the Cheesequake Elementary.
“We will look at the non-tenured [personnel] at the school,” he said.
The superintendent said the district is looking to find funding, and it is working to get state aid restored in order for Old Bridge schools to maintain services, programs and keep its employees.
During the presentation, Cittadino, State Sen. Sam Thompson (R-Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean) and Assemblyman Ronald Dancer (R-Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean), along with Old Bridge Education Association President Tim O’Neill, called on employees, residents, and their families and friends, to sign a petition to show support for reinstating the full funding for all of New Jersey’s public schools.
Thompson and Dancer said they would bring the petitions to Trenton, where they plan to encourage lawmakers to change the funding formula. To date there are 577 school districts in New Jersey, and 172 school districts received a reduction in state aid. They said what is promising is the reduction in state aid has occurred in districts represented by both party lines. Seven of those districts are in the 12th District, which they represent.
Old Bridge Mayor Owen Henry said his office is in discussions with the school administration on how the township can help.
“We are here for you,” Henry said at the meeting. “We are ready and willing for more shared services agreements and whatever needs to be done.”
For more information visit actionnetwork.org/petitions/restore-state-funding-to-old-bridge-public-schools.