TOMS RIVER – A nonprofit that was created to fund students’ extracurricular activities has hit its stride in 2021, already contributing $10,000 to the purchase of team uniforms.
The money came from at recently held 5k race organized by the Toms River Education Foundation.
“This Foundation was founded on the principle that extra-curricular school activities are as critical to a student’s educational experience as lessons learned in the classroom,” said foundation President Erin Cosentino. “Lessons learned outside the classroom promote team building, responsibility, critical thinking and problem solving. This donation is the first of what the Foundation expects to be many donations to ensure Toms River Regional School students receive a well-rounded education.”
The fundraising is an unfortunate necessity since the district is dealing with a new state funding formula that has cut aid by the millions every year.
“As a result of the school budget cuts caused by the S-2 funding formula, this Foundation is working tirelessly to ensure that Toms River Regional School District students have every opportunity to participate in the extra-curricular school based activities that interest them. No child should be left out from participating in the arts or sports because of an inability of the child’s family to pay or an inability of the school district to fund,” said Jennifer Howe, Foundation vice president and a member of the Toms River Board of Education.
“This is not only a welcome contribution that will ease the financial burden of providing some much-needed equipment and apparel for our student athletes,” said district Athletic Director Ted Gillen, “but it is also a statement from our Toms River community that reflects its support of extracurricular athletics and its place in the lives of our children and their education.”
At a recent Township Council meeting, members of the governing body thanked Councilman Terrence Turnbach for starting the foundation. He had pitched the idea at a Council meeting in January of 2020. He currently serves as the Foundation’s secretary. Other members include treasurer and former Board Member Michael Horgan, Nicholas Pagano, Dana Tormollan DeRome, and Bill Rankin.
The law that started this issue is called S-2. It was sponsored by State Senate President Stephen Sweeney and signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy. It redistributed state aid away from districts that were losing enrollment and which were considered – by the state – not to be paying their fair share of local taxes.
School districts are not allowed to raise taxes more than 2 percent. So, a hole that couldn’t be filled was created between the cuts and the ability to tax.
For Toms River schools (which include South Toms River, Beachwood and Pine Beach), S-2 will cut more than $90 million in state aid over the course of several years. This has already resulted in a loss of dozens of positions.
District officials have also been fighting to learn how the S-2 funding formula was calculated. The state has said it is based on proprietary information. Toms River, along with other districts impacted, are suing the state regarding this. The courts have ordered the New Jersey Department of Education to release the financial details of the funding formula, school officials have said.
How To Help
The Foundation is busy planning ways to help pay for extra-curricular activities.
Other recent events have included the Office Lounge giving a percentage of their proceeds for a night, a donation from the Toms River PBA, and an upcoming Superbowl pool.
Residents can also sign up for the RoundUp app which collects money from each purchase on your credit card and sends it to a nonprofit of your choice. For more information on upcoming events, visit facebook.com/tomsrivereducationfoundation
