Residents press Neptune board on budget increase, building bonds and forensic audit; board says task force and SDA data pending

At the Neptune Township Board of Educationpublic meeting, several residents questioned the district's recent large market increase in the budget, asked for clarity on building bonds held by the School Development Authority (SDA), and pressed the board on whether an independent forensic accounting of district expenditures would be allowed.

"I was at last night's meeting also," said Lauren Coleman, a new Ocean Grove resident and former public school teacher. She asked whether early projections anticipated a market increase of the size adopted this year and whether differences between projected and actual costs (charter funding, health benefits and other items) had forced a larger increase. Coleman recommended an explanatory addendum to the FAQ material posted on the district website.

Mary Anne Andish asked specifically whether the district would voluntarily commission an independent forensic accounting. Superintendent Dr. Crater replied that the district has engaged O'Connor Davies to perform what she described as a forensic audit, and that the firm was examining receipts and other records and would report findings in a deliverable available for review.

Questions about the state-funded school buildings and whether the district could sell them drew extended discussion. Carol McGurney said she had been told by a state senator's office that the district could sell buildings and that the state would seek repayment of what it provided. Board members replied that the district had not received detailed SDA accounting for the buildings despite repeated requests and that the district cannot currently confirm the amount of bonds outstanding on each building. "We have not received that information," a board representative said. Officials said they would continue to press the SDA for a building-by-building accounting of bonded amounts.

Several residents urged the board to present a cohesive, public plan showing cost drivers, staffing, consolidation opportunities and other potential savings. Henry Mueller urged the board to publish a comprehensive plan with specific cost-driver analysis and regular status updates to avoid repetitive questioning at meetings. The board said it has convened a task force and appointed subcommittee chairs to research cost-reduction options and will provide public involvement once outside agencies (including the SDA) supply requested data.

Superintendent Dr. Crater also reported operational items in her superintendent's remarks that provide context for the budget discussion: the district is in state monitoring under the Quality Single Accountability Continuum (CUSAC), focusing on curriculum, instruction, governance, personnel, operations and finance; the district reported an unofficial high-school graduation rate of 89 percent (which may be adjusted when five-year graduates are accounted for); and the high school reduced chronic absenteeism by about 6 percent from prior efforts.

Board members said they will use the district website and the superintendent's column in the Coaster to notify residents when SDA information and task force findings are available. They did not set a firm public date for final recommendations beyond continuing the task-force work and waiting for outside data.

The meeting record contains multiple public comments raising these issues; board members said they will follow up and provide more detailed documentation when it is available.