Toms River board pauses budget hearing, approves student‑safety report and routine agenda while weighing asset sales

The Board of Education of the Toms River Regional Schools on an evening in July removed the scheduled budget hearing and said it is awaiting county and state review of the district’s tentative budget while approving the district’s semiannual student safety report and multiple routine agenda items.

The board voted to approve the Student Safety Data System report for July 1–Dec. 31, 2023, after a presentation by Mr. Thomas. Mr. Thomas said the district recorded 181 total incidents in that period — including 73 acts of violence, 24 damage‑to‑property incidents, 4 weapons incidents, 39 substance‑abuse incidents and 41 confirmed HIBs (harassment, intimidation and bullying) — and reported year‑over‑year reductions: “almost a 23% reduction in aggressive behavior, a 16% reduction in disruptive behavior, [a] 23% reduction in the number of confirmed HIBs and almost a 3% reduction in the number of school suspensions,” along with a significant increase in community‑service hours.

The board recorded roll‑call votes to approve the SSDS report and an annual county submission for an alternate method of compliance. Members also approved agenda items 15–19, the May 2024 board secretary’s report, personnel agenda items 1–21 with addenda (excluding items 18 c and d because of budget uncertainty) and education program items listed on the agenda. One member specifically said she would vote "no" on items marked "pending budget approval" for 2024‑25 while voting yes on other items.

Board leadership told the public the district had submitted a tentative budget that the board had voted down and that the next step is county and state review. A district official said the board had not yet heard from the county or the New Jersey Department of Education and described preparatory measures: appraisals of non‑instructional assets and the possibility of liquidation to maintain operations while protecting student programs. The official said the district’s cash position is expected to hold through April or May next year if no additional measures are taken: "Our bank accounts won't run dry until April and May, and that's if we don't liquidate anything," the staff member said.

The official also said the district intends to pursue legal remedies in state court related to funding and that routine operations and programs are expected to open in September as budgeted. When asked whether programs would be cut, the official said many programs are tied to state funding formulas and statutory obligations, limiting the district’s options for reductions.

What’s next: the board removed items 9–12 from tonight’s agenda pending county/state action and said it will continue to update the public as the county and state review the budget submission and as any appraisals or liquidation steps proceed.