JACKSON, NJ, July 28, 2024 — The Jackson Township School District is being forced to sell a beloved community elementary school in an underserved and economically disadvantaged neighborhood due to significant state aid cuts under Governor Phil Murphy. The financial strain has left the district with no other options.
Governor Murphy has been vocal about the need for school districts to consolidate educational facilities. “You got three high schools, you should have two. You have five middle schools, you should have four. Those are hard discussions to have inside of a community, and I get that,” Murphy stated.
The Jackson School District has struggled with unpaid state mandates amounting to millions of dollars. These mandates include private bussing for private school students and ESL (English as a Second Language) instruction for Hispanic students, both of which significantly impact the district’s budget.
The district recently emailed students and parents about the immediate closure of Sylvia Rosenauer Elementary School. “Given the size of our continued budget deficit—and the Department of Education requiring us to submit a balanced budget in order to operate our schools in September—there is simply no other way than to move forward with impactful decisions, including the immediate closing and readying for sale of the Sylvia Rosenauer Elementary School. Please read the information carefully, and know that we will continue to provide updates as decisions are made,” the district’s statement read.
Despite strong advocacy efforts, the district is being forced to sell Rosenauer Elementary School for $8 million to achieve a one-time budget adjustment in 2024. The district highlighted the severe impact of losing $22.4 million in state aid over seven years and the challenge of balancing the budget without significant cuts.
The new budget proposed by the district necessitates the sale of Rosenauer Elementary School unless Governor Murphy and the state legislature address the current funding deficiencies.
Many in New Jersey view Murphy’s S2 funding formula as punitive, particularly toward districts in communities that largely voted against him in past elections. Local officials have urged the governor to restore the cuts made during his administration, but their pleas have been ignored.
As a result, Jackson has become a larger sending district, with most of the taxes paid for education going to inner cities like Newark and Camden, while the local school district struggles financially. This redistribution aligns with the governor’s agenda for equitable education funding in New Jersey.
