East Brunswick School District is grappling with a $7.8 million shortfall, necessitating the elimination of 51 positions due to decreased state aid. The district’s budget presentation on April 25 revealed a total impact of $12.8 million for the 2024-25 school year, with state aid reduced by $1.3 million
Superintendent Victor Valeski addressed the community on April 24, conveying the “painful decision” to cut jobs. “This is not something I like doing… I’ve been on the other side of the equation before and know how it feels,” said Valeski.
Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations Bernardo Giuliana emphasized the difficulty of the decisions, noting that approximately 69.5 percent of the budget is allocated to salary and benefits. Positions facing elimination include teachers, administrators, counselors, secretaries, and custodians.
Among those affected is Louis Figueroa, Assistant Superintendent of Student Activities and Services, whose departure sparked concern among residents.
During the budget presentation, Giuliana highlighted the district’s status as the largest employer in town, with over 1,600 employees and 8,370 students.
Board President Laurie Lachs acknowledged the challenging circumstances and cautioned against misinformation on social media.
Governor Phil Murphy’s proposed $55.9 billion spending plan allocates $11.7 billion for public school funding, fully supporting the school funding formula for the first time. However, revisions to the formula, such as the School Funding Reform Act of 2008, have resulted in funding cuts for many districts since 2018.
The East Brunswick School District is urging residents to advocate for intervention from local lawmakers to address the financial shortfall. Superintendent Valeski announced a review of the state funding formula’s application to identify potential errors.
The final budget adoption is scheduled for May 9.
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