Freehold Regional superintendent outlines revised budget plan amid multimillion-dollar state-aid losses

Dr. Hazel, superintendent of the Freehold Regional High School District, told the board at its May 30 meeting that the district faces major reductions in state aid and presented a revised tentative budget to help restore programs and staff.

"Those reductions in state aid with the inception of S2 totaled approximately 20,000,000 for Freehold Regional High School District," Dr. Hazel said, summarizing the district's fiscal pressure since enactment of the law the board referenced as "S2." She reported the district earned a perfect harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) self-assessment score, "78 out of 78," and outlined operational priorities the revised budget would target: rehiring staff, restoring instructional supports, reducing class size, enhancing security and addressing targeted facility needs.

Why it matters: Dr. Hazel said the district faces an estimated reduction of about $10,800,000 in state aid for the 2025–26 fiscal year under current projections and that the revised budget would be used to seek additional allowable local revenue. "New legislation signed by the governor ... grants an opportunity to increase taxes above the 2% tax levy cap," she said, and the administration projects that use of the new authority would reduce the district's shortfall and move the district closer to the state's calculated adequacy target.

At the meeting, staff summarized the next steps for the amended tentative budget. "This is the title of the resolution: adoption of a tentative 2024–25 school year budget," said Bruce, a district staff speaker. He said the board's amended tentative budget (resolution I17) will be submitted to the county office and the New Jersey Department of Education for technical review and that a public hearing is scheduled for June 27 at 8:00 a.m. at the Administration Building in Englishtown; Bruce noted the date field on the resolution was left blank and asked the board to record June 27.

Board members and the superintendent emphasized that the revised budget is intended to restore some cuts voters and staff felt most directly in the classroom. Dr. Hazel said the district would use the new legislation to bring its shortfall "from around $20,000,000 under adequacy to $10,600,000 under adequacy," characterizing that change as a significant step toward fiscal stability.

The administration did not present a final, certified state-aid allocation at the meeting; Dr. Hazel said the district will not know the official numbers until allocations are released months later. The amended tentative budget will be posted and advertised after technical review and will be the subject of the June 27 public hearing.

Next steps: The board will submit the amended tentative budget (I17) for technical review, advertise it per state rules and hold the public hearing on June 27.