FREEHOLD – Freehold Regional High School District officials are urging members of the community to advocate for a change to the school funding cuts outlined in Senate Bill 2 (S2).
A letter issued to the district community by FRHSD Superintendent Charles B. Sampson states that S2 plans to reduce the district’s state funding by 50 percent over the next couple of years.
“In essence, Senate Bill 2 (S2) reflects the state’s belief that the taxpayers of the Freehold Regional High School District are undertaxed by nearly $20 million, and that the state will no longer subsidize communities who are not paying their ‘Local Fair Share’ – an arbitrary calculation that we will continue to challenge,” read the letter.
S2 will require major cuts to the budget each year, Sampson added.
The letter stresses the impact of these cuts on the programs and services that the district provides to its students, including academics, athletics, bussing, and others.
“I want to assure you that we are advocating for this community in every way possible,” stated Sampson.
FRHSD is joining forces with numerous other local school districts, including Jackson Township Schools, Brick Township Schools, and Toms River Regional Schools, in a lawsuit against the Department of Education to fight against these drastic cuts to state aid.
District officials are asking parents and members of the community to contact local legislators and elected officials to “press them to change the school funding plan outlined in S2.”
Howell Township falls under District 30, represented by Senator Robert Singer, Assemblyman Sean Kean, and Assemblyman Edward Thomson. Freehold Borough and Freehold Township fall into District 11, represented by Senator Vin Gopal, Assemblywoman Joann Downey, and Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling.
Information on each district and its legislators can be found at njleg.state.nj.us/districts/districtnumbers.asp.
