WARETOWN – A 3.36 percent tax increase has been approved for Waretown schools, but what followed at a recent Ocean Township Board of Education meeting made clear the number itself is not the real story. The impact behind it is.
The increase will cost the average homeowner about $98 per year, or roughly $8 per month, reflecting the district’s maximum allowable 2 percent tax levy plus an additional 1.36 percent tied to enrollment growth. The district’s $1.4 million shortfall has been driven by years of lost state aid, rising health insurance costs, and escalating tuition payments to Southern Regional School District.
Business Administrator Kevin Byrne said the situation became significantly worse once updated billing from Southern Regional was factored into the budget. A tuition adjustment of $756,621 was added late in the process, pushing the district from an already difficult position into a full deficit.
To manage part of that cost, the district negotiated a deferral of $243,473 from a prior year. That decision provided short-term relief, but Byrne said it comes at a cost. The deferral carries a 3.68 percent interest rate and adds roughly $9,000 in additional expense. More significantly, he explained that when all of the Southern-related adjustments are factored in, the impact on the budget is closer to a 7 percent increase tied to those obligations alone.
Those numbers have translated into immediate consequences. The district reduced six full-time teaching positions, three full-time paraprofessionals, two part-time roles, and a yard duty position. Title I funding losses are affecting basic skills programs, and cuts were made to classroom technology and other supports.
Among those who will be moved from full-time to part-time is a teacher with 24 years of experience within the district. She will lose her health benefits.
Class sizes are rising across the district, with projections showing as many as 35 students in first grade and more than 30 in several other grades. Parents said the strain is already visible.
One parent described the role of paraprofessionals, explaining that they support students with significant needs, often stepping into situations that require constant supervision and care.
“These are men and women that change diapers, that chase kids down the hall because they are runners and they might be running out the door into danger, and these are people that step in and play the role of a parent when a child needs help,” she said.
Another parent spoke about the emotional toll on students. She said her sixth-grade child comes home miserable every day and doesn’t want to discuss school. The distraught mom pointed out that the students aren’t just numbers. “They’re kids,” she said.
The pressure extends beyond staffing and class sizes. With enrollment projected at 571 students, the district expects to operate with just one and a half counselors next year. Administrators outlined the extensive responsibilities those counselors carry, from social-emotional instruction and crisis response to overseeing plans for students with disabilities, coordinating with child protection agencies, and serving as liaisons for homeless students.
November Referendum
While the current budget addresses immediate operational needs, it does not resolve long-term facility concerns. District officials said a referendum will be placed on the November ballot to address critical infrastructure needs. The proposal is expected to include two questions, one focused on essential repairs and another tied to a minimal tax increase for additional improvements. Projects include boilers, roofs, fire systems, emergency generators, and aging ventilation units.
Byrne emphasized that delaying those repairs will only increase costs in the future, comparing the situation to maintaining a home where small problems become larger if ignored.
Residents who attended the meeting pointed to the state’s funding formula as the root cause. State aid has been cut, and aid increases have a cap even as costs rise.
Still, frustration was evident. Several parents noted that no members of the Township Committee were present at the meeting, despite recent outreach efforts. “I don’t see anybody from the township committee here. Did I miss them?” one resident asked.
At the most recent Township Committee meeting local officials reminded that the school budget and municipal budget are separate. They too, are short on funds. Nonetheless, Committeeman Ben LoParo, a former school board member said he has been following the issue and attempted to help by working with state legislators.
A number of parents have gone full force to advocate for more money for the district. They’ve attended township meetings, organized rallies, created online resources, and even traveled to Trenton to advocate for changes to the state funding formula.
Board President Kelly Zuzic acknowledged both the frustration and the community’s efforts, while stressing the limitations placed on the district.
“We never wanted to raise taxes. That’s not sustainable,” she said, emphasizing that the board is required to pass a balanced budget regardless of circumstances.
Zuzic pushed back on criticism directed at the board and pointed to the growing understanding within the community. “We are not financially incompetent, we’re not corrupt… people accused us of being a money grab. It’s just not true.”
At the same time, Zuzic called for unity moving forward.
“This is our town… we’ve got to stand together,” she said, pointing to residents who have stepped up to support the district and advocate for change.
She specifically highlighted the contributions of the Greenbriar community, noting their financial support for students and their continued involvement despite not having children currently in the district. “They have given thousands of dollars to our graduating seniors… whatever the school district needs, they provide,” Zuzic said.
