JACKSON – Township voters got a chance to ask questions to help them decide whether or not to support a special ballot question on November 7 by the Jackson School District.
A public forum was held at the Fine Arts Center at Jackson Memorial High School during the most recent Board of Education meeting.
“This is an important issue and we want to ensure that all of Jackson can make an informed decision at the polls,” Board of Education President Giuseppe Palmeri said. “We are more than happy to come to any community group, club meeting or gathering of friends to talk more about it in person and to answer any questions anyone may have.’’
Voters are being asked to increase school taxes for the 2023-24 school year by $4,035,000. Approval of the special ballot question would permanently increase school taxes by that amount. According to district officials, the money would be used exclusively for the jobs described in the ballot question.
School officials told the audience that there was a need to hire 10 elementary teachers, 12 middle and high school teachers, four teachers for English language learners, six guidance counselors for mental health assistance, two student assistance counselors for substance abuse and additional district support staff.
Superintendent Nicole Pormilli said, “losing $18 million in state aid and 214 positions over the past six years has brought us to a point where we cannot sustain the educational experience we want for our students without asking for additional staff. We are asking the Jackson Community to help us solve a problem we did not create, but that needs to be solved.”
If approved, the initiative would raise taxes about $96 annually on a house assessed at the municipal average of $330,688. “We feel like we’ve been fighting the good fight but trying to make up for the loss of 42% of our state aid over the past six years is impossible without asking for help,” Pormilli added.
Last spring during the school budget’s preparation and subsequent adoption, Pormilli described the district’s financial crisis as a “perfect storm.” She noted that class sizes have grown to undesirable levels in contrast to research about what is best for student achievement and development.
She also remarked that students’ counseling and special education needs are increasing. Increased substance abuse issues were also noted as well as the volume of ESL (English as a second language) needs which have greatly increased.
Pormilli said the school district’s ability to handle these increased student needs has decreased due to the funding losses caused by the S-2 state aid funding formula and increased costs.
Around 94% of Jackson School District students spoke English at home in 2016, according to state records. Five years later that percentage dropped to 82% for the 2021-22 school year, according to New Jersey Department of Education records.
Department records stated that the remaining 13.7% of students spoke Spanish at home and another 4.6% spoke other languages. The superintendent added that Jackson’s public schools have faced drastic cuts in support from Trenton lawmakers.
During the public comment period of the October 18 Board meeting, Lisa Crate, president of the Jackson Education Association came to the podium. “We appreciate the presentation this evening regarding the special question and I wanted to start by thanking our 900 teachers, para professionals and secretaries who got our school off to what I would consider a pretty smooth start.”
Crate added, “We are down as was noted over 200 professionals over the last several years. Our membership has continued to remain active and caring about our student community and making sure that each year and each day our students are cared for and receive the best education possible here in Jackson.”
“I’ve been in this district for 30 years so I’ve seen a lot of changes and I will say that these S-2 cuts have been devastating to the entire district and for our members who have continued to dedicate themselves to our students and it is exhausting. The things we have lost over these last several years is really starting to take a toll with the loss of programs, growing class sizes that we are dealing with and our student population changing,” she added.
Crate added, “It is definitely something that I am hoping our public can take a look at and vote yes for this special question. We are here to support that. We had a postcard writing campaign today to get the word out about it. We had a food drive. The food will be donated to the Jackson Food Pantry.”
The district is pursuing the special question because school districts in New Jersey are limited to a 2% increase to their tax levy, which is the amount they can raise by taxation to support the general fund, or operating budget.
In order for a district to fund a special need, project or addition to its budget that cannot be funded through the general fund, a special question for voter approval must be put on the ballot.
The Board and administration encourage residents to visit the district website at jacksonsd.org/nov7 to learn more about the Special Question and how it would impact the tax rate, to view upcoming opportunities for public input, and to learn how to invite the district to speak at any small-group or community events if desired.
Residents with questions may also call the district special question hotline at 732-833-4618 or email jsd@jacksonsd.org.
