School:

Continued From Page 1 in staff, we will see class sizes increase,” Superintendent Nicole Pormilli said. The dire financial position was created by the bill commonly referred to as S-2. This transferred state aid away from some districts like Jackson and gave it to other districts. Local school officials have been fighting this change but have been unsuccessful in overturning it.

Pormilli said that revenue cuts like this “are impossible to have without an impact on a school district. We’ve been meeting with our Ocean County School Superintendent multiple times to review, line by line, our budget.”

The S-2 formula was to be based on a school district’s pupil population but “our state aid cuts far exceed our enrollment decreases,” Pormilli added. Decreases in enrollment are leveling a bit.

Less Extracurriculars

Pormilli also reported, “there will be a reduction in extracurricular activities. We will be eliminating transportation for offsite practices. There will be reductions of assistant coaches in many of our sports. We took this approach so we could keep the majority of our athletic program.”

Ice hockey and gymnastics will see a reduction based on participation levels and expenses. “Even with all these cuts we are still not in a place where we have balanced our budget,” Pormilli added.

District Needs Loan

The spending plan has put the district in the position of having to take out a $10 million loan to balance its budget. “We can’t cut anymore. We have lost way too much over six years. Cutting any more unravels the school district. We cannot raise the revenue any other way,” Pormilli said.

Board of Education President Guiseppi Palmeri said, “even with this loan we had to make hard decisions for the 2023-24 school year by cutting over $5 million from our budget. These decisions never come lightly and they hurt every time.”

Palmeri told the superintendent, “I know this was not easy. I know what you and your staff put together is the best possible outcome of a very terrible situation.”

In March the district learned that instead of losing an expected $2.5 million in aid, it would be hit with a $6.2 million reduction. Bills passed in the legislature in response to the budget emergency brought that figure to $2.1 million.

“We have other aid that has kept us afloat,” the superintendent said. She noted stabilization aid and ESSER Covid-19 fund. “That has helped us over the last two years to not hit this fiscal cliff, earlier however those funds have now dried up and we find ourselves in this scenario.”

No Surplus Left

Pormilli added, “year after year we have chipped away at our surplus. We have now expended all of that surplus. There is no more surplus to use and we have a constant rise of required expenditures that are outside the district’s control.”

“The majority of what we spend our money on is what we should be spending our money on - which is our students The second largest expenditures are for salaries. We have a lot of staff and we need to pay for their salaries and their increments in their contracts and for health benefits,” she explained.

Officer:

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Chief Kunz added, “CJ chose to attend Rutgers University in New Brunswick where he was awarded a student athlete scholarship as an offensive lineman for the Rutgers football team. While attending Rutgers, CJ achieved the accomplishment of academic all-American three times and the distinction of being a big 10 distinguished scholar.”

“He graduated with honors in 2022 with a degree in criminal justice and two minors - one in sociology and a second in psychology. He joined the Ocean County Police Academy in 2023 and will be graduating in June. He will be the third-generation police officer following the footsteps of his grandfather and father,” the chief added.

“From one Scarlet Knight to another, I expect great things from you. You are going to make this work out well because we had to give up three round picks and a lot of cash to get you here,” the chief joked regarding a NFL draft and the large height and build of Hanson who retained his grid iron stature.

Chief Kunz thanked the mayor and the council for their support of the police department and approving new hires when needed.

In other business, Councilman Nino Borrelli noted the upcoming Township Memorial Day Parade on May 29 that will assemble at the Holman Elementary School. It will start at 10 a.m. and proceed down Manhattan Street heading toward Johnson Park where other activities including a memorial service will take place.

For more information contact Jackson Police officer Mike Basso by calling 609-994-6468 or e-mailing him at mbasso@jacksontwpnj.net.

“This is where we honor veterans and those who were lost in their service. We had beautiful weather last year and we hope it is a good weather day this year,” he added.

Councilwoman Jennifer Kuhn reported on the Jake’s Got This softball fundraiser held recently at the Jersey Shore BlueClaws stadium in Lakewood that involved members of the township police and fire departments swinging it out on the ball field. “It was a great, great afternoon of fun with the kids and for a great cause.”

She also noted a video by township firefighters concerning fire safety with bonfires.

“Prayers go out to all the family members from the shooting in Texas. It is unbelievable. It takes a coward to do that and I hope justice will be served,” Councilman Scott Sargent said. Council President Martin Flemming was questioned about the sale of his home by a resident and if he intended to stay in Jackson and continue his term.

Flemming said that while he did sell his family home, “we still own properties in town. I’m going to stay as long as I can, yes.”

Volunteers Have Cats Available For Adoption

JACKSON – Calling All Cats is a cat rescue group made up of volunteers, some of whom work at a spay and neuter clinic. People would drop off unwanted cats. As a group, they save the babies that are left alone, the countless mothers that have had numerous litters and those that are losing or have lost their home.

Introducing Handsome Bradley. He came into the rescue with his sister Spice. He is a very playful and loving and he loves to play with both the humans and kitties in his foster home! His absolute favorite toy is the wand toys, he will spend hours chasing after it! Bradley has a very funny personality and is bound to put a smile on your face! At the end of the day he loves cuddling up next to his foster mom in bed and get lots of scratches! He is neutered, up to date on all medical and microchipped.

To help humanely lower the feline population, they spay and neuter feral cats and then find homes for the friendly adults and the offspring that have been born. The rescue works extremely hard to find the best homes for cats of all shapes, sizes, colors and ages. While these cats wait, they are cared for in safe, loving, and nurturing foster homes

To start the application process, visit Calling All Cats on Facebook and Petfinder.com