e Kids Color Their Way To Fun With Local Cops

Tentative Lacey School Budget Includes Layoff s

By Stephanie Faughnan

LITTLE EGG HAR-

BOR – Local cops carried out an amazing sting last weekend that resulted in the apprehension of at least 200 young children.

“Operation Cops and Crayons” culminated in multiple citations for good behavior as kids enjoyed the opportunity to meet with officers from the Little Egg Har-

Why Was ere So Li le Snow At e Shore?

By Andrey Nalbantov

JERSEY SHORE – Do any of you remember the massive snowman contest more than two weeks ago at the beach? No, of course you don’t. It’s because we’ve barely had any snow this winter – not enough to even build a single snowman. And with the winter months now passed, an important question is being raised again. Why was there so little snow at the shore?

Luckily enough, there is an answer to that question, and it doesn’t exactly involve climate change, a term many believe taboo.

(Snow - See Page 13) bor Police Department. Authorities suitably equipped the children with crayons when they showed up in full force for the event held at the local branch of the Ocean County

Public Library. Youngsters proudly displayed stickers and police badges pinned to their clothes and became “badge buddies” for a couple of hours.

(Kids - See Page 4)

By Stephanie Faughnan

LACEY – Local school administrators introduced the district’s 2023-2024 tentative budget to an audience large enough to require use of an overflow meeting room.

“It’s a balanced budget, but it’s an awful budget,” shared Superintendent of Schools Dr. Vanessa R. Pereira. “In the past two weeks, we were forced to revise it and reduce it drastically.”

Changes came after the district learned that instead of losing an anticipated $2 million in state aid, cuts for the 2023-2024 school year would be nearly doubled. The reduction comes on top of five previous years of decreased state aid and culminates in the 2024-2025 school year for total state funding losses of over $13 million.

(Budget - See Page 5)

County Leaders Denounce Cuts In State Aid

By Bob Vosseller OCEAN COUN-

TY – Members of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners took aim at Governor Phil Murphy and his administration for the increased deep cuts in state aid funding sus- tained by many school districts in the county.

While districts throughout the state have taken some deep cuts since the S-2 State Aid Funding formula started in 2018, districts such as Toms River, Jackson, Brick, Lake- wood and Manchester have seen millions of dollars cut over the last five years. This year, Toms River and Jackson saw deeper cuts that were unexpected when Murphy put forward the state’s budget. During a recent meet- ing of the Board of Commissioners, members unanimously passed a resolution criticizing the cuts to districts in Ocean County and the state as a whole by the New Jersey Department of

(Cuts - See Page 21)

Kids:

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The morning’s events served as yet another enforcement exercise for local cops and their involvement with the people they serve.

Little Egg Harbor Police Sgt. Sean Crotty provided the scoop on the event that had a similar feel to a popular summertime favorite among other departments called “Cones with Cops.”

“My wife Danielle used to teach in Camden County and told me they did the ‘Cops with Crayons’ program there,” Crotty said. “She knew we were looking for something that involved community relations and could be done inside.” She is now a staff member at the Frog Pond Elementary School.

The Little Egg Harbor Police Junior Recruits and Citizens on Patrol neighbor watch group both give civilians the opportunity to assist in select tasks. Both were on hand as backup for last weekend’s sting.

The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office also responded to the scene with important community services. Two county officers set up a height chart and created a sweeter version of mug shots for child identification cards. The cards are considered useful in emergency situations. If those in attendance were to select the most exemplary officer, one suspect clearly would have made it out of the lineup. No doubt one of the best parts of the morning was the opportunity for children to “frisk” K-9 Officer Hook.

Hook’s handler, Brian Smith led her through some training exercises after providing some background information. Hook is a four-year-old German shepherd who came to the United States from the Czech Republic. She responds to commands in both English and German.

Smith tailored his presentation to his audience, a group of children primarily under 10 years old.

“If you were to run away from home and Mommy and Daddy didn’t know where you were,” said Smith. “Mommy and Daddy would grab me and I’ll bring my dog out.”

“I’m going to grab your favorite toy, your pillowcase, your hat, something that has a lot of smell on it,” Smith continued. “I’m going to put it right up to her nose and she’s going to put her nose to the ground, and through the woods, through the parking lot, and down the fields. She’s going to find you.”

Children stood fascinated as Smith tossed out an item and Hook went in search of it. Among other things, Smith showed the group how Hook would ultimately grab onto a suspect upon command. The demonstration required Smith to don a hard sleeve over his arm so the K-9’s teeth didn’t injure the trainer.

Ocean County Commissioner Bobbi Jo Crea, who was served as Little Egg Harbor’s mayor, said she came to the event to see the children. Township

Committeeman Kenneth Laney was also there on behalf of the local government. Little Egg Harbor Walmart and Dollar General donated the crayons and coloring books for the children who had a great encounter with local officers. Snacks were provided by the Little Egg Harbor Municipal Alliance Committee.

Budget:

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District leaders said the state aid reductions and other financial obligations contributed to an almost $10 million deficit for next year’s budget. More than $6 million of the shortfalls are attributable to salary increases, heightened costs for health benefits, special education and transportation.

Bills introduced in both branches of the state legislature could lessen the financial blow with a total of $102,784,455 moved from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the Department of Education. The local district’s portion of the supplemental school aid is set at $2,619,533 pending approval.

Meanwhile, the existing set of numbers used to calculate the proposed budget calls for layoffs, co-curricular and athletic program cuts, and will most likely result in larger class sizes. Other reduced line items include instructional and non-instructional supplies, staff professional development expenses, and home instructional costs. Some programs falling under the special education umbrella will also experience lesser funding as a result of the shortfalls.

“Drastic staffing reductions in all areas will be made, resulting in the increase of K-12 class sizes at every school,” Pereira wrote in a letter to district families. “All non-tenured certificated staff members have been notified and all full-time paraprofessionals have been informed of a proposed change in status.”

Personnel reduction accounts for the largest savings in the budget, with 73 certificated positions earmarked for layoffs. Paraprofessionals and health aides employed by the district would move from full time to part time and lose their health benefits. Other jobs will also be eliminated, including full-time positions through attrition.

Lacey was approved for a full-funding of a preschool program that will begin next year. The moneys from that program cannot be used for K-12 students.

The district intends to realign schools with Lanoka Harbor, Cedar Creek, and Forked River Schools classes for grades 1-5. Mill Pond School will be used for Pre-K -kindergarten students. The Middle School will welcome sixth graders to join those in grades 7 and 8. Students, staff members, and parents were among the many people who spoke during the time allotted for public comments. A 16-yearold student who walked to the podium with his paraprofessional behind him, received a standing ovation.

“I have had six different paraprofessionals before I was even in first grade,” said Jacob Bahooshian. “I can’t function without a consistent paraprofessional by my side.”

Jacob said that a prior “reduction in force” caused his previous paraprofessional to leave the district. He doesn’t want that to happen again and have his education adversely affected.

As Debbie Chinique stood beside Jacob, her connection to her student was evident. Her face exhibited pride as she admitted that Jacob gave her the courage to also speak in the public forum.

Saying that she’s enjoyed her time at the district working with special education families, Chinique emphasized the role paraprofessionals play in providing structure and consistency.

“I had the privilege of watching Jake grow up and become a fierce advocate for himself,” said Chinique. “I’ve seen him expand his horizons and do a lot of things that people did not expect him to do.”

Many of the other students and parents who spoke on behalf of the paraprofessionals echoed similar sentiments. One mom credited her child’s para with helping him speak his first words.

The loss of health benefits acts as a point of major contention for many of the paraprofessionals. A number of the staff members faced with reduced hours and a lapse in coverage have worked for the district for more than 20 years. Some have experienced recent medical issues and shuddered at the idea that they could be without insurance.

Rosemary Bowen said she considered herself a veteran paraprofessional, with over 24 years at the Lanoka Harbor School. Bowen suffered a debilitating stroke just weeks ago that required her to be airlifted to the hospital.

“One of my first questions to my team of doctors was when I would be able to return to work because that’s how important my job has (Budget - See Page 13)