MIDDLETOWN, N.J. — Middletown Mayor Tony Perry met with the township’s Board of Education members to discuss the district’s controversial budget proposal that could result in the closure of two elementary schools and a major reconfiguration of local education facilities.
The Middletown school board, under the leadership of President Frank Capone and Vice President Jacqueline Tobacco, has come under fire for a series of recent missteps culminating on Tuesday with hundreds of residents being locked out of a meeting. At that meeting, it was announced the district would be shutting down three schools.
Perry made it known today that he opposes the decision of the board to shut down the schools and suggested Capone and Tobacco find other ways to cut costs.
Key Points
- Middletown Mayor Tony Perry met with the Board of Education to discuss plans to close two elementary schools.
- Perry urged board members to seek cost-saving alternatives and hold public forums over the next 30 days.
- The closures are part of a tentative budget plan to address a $10 million funding gap caused by reduced state aid.
The tentative plan, unveiled Tuesday, calls for the closure of Navesink and Leonardo Elementary Schools and the conversion of Bayshore Middle School into a combined elementary school.
The proposal is aimed at closing a $10 million budget gap largely driven by ongoing cuts in state education aid.
Perry was joined in the call for action by his father-in-law, New Jersey Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger.
At one point, Perry showed sympathy towards his board allies.
“I recognize that the Board is facing incredibly difficult decisions as they work to navigate a decline in funding while still striving to provide the best possible education for our children,” Perry said in a statement. “These are not choices anyone takes lightly.”
Perry said his meeting included board members on both sides of the vote and focused on identifying other potential cost-saving measures. He emphasized the need for expanded public engagement and called for a series of community forums over the next month.
“I urged the board to explore additional cost-saving measures and alternative solutions while prioritizing meaningful community engagement,” he said.
That came after the board locked parents out of Tuesday’s meeting.
While the township has no direct control over the school district’s budget, Perry said it plays a critical role in facilitating communication and supporting collaborative efforts to preserve the integrity of the community’s schools.
“Our community schools have long been a foundation of Middletown,” he said. “We must carefully consider the impact of these decisions and ensure we are making choices that preserve the strong sense of community that defines our town.”
The board has not commented publicly on the matter since unveiling the plan.
The school board has until April 30 to finalize its budget, with potential layoffs and program cuts also under consideration if no alternative solutions are found.
