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Superintendent urges unity, says state funding shortfall could force legal and asset options
Summary
Toms River Regional Schools Superintendent urged community unity and pushed back on claims that the board raised local taxes or held political rallies in schools; he said a $12.4 million state funding loss could create an April cash‑flow crisis and listed three possible responses, including a pending lawsuit and appraisals of noninstructional assets.
Superintendent Mr. Sitta opened the Oct. 16 meeting with a moment of silence for two students and a broad appeal to "stay educated" and "stay united" as the district confronts what he described as a state funding crisis.
"When you hear pointed accusations that this district and school board are responsible for raising your taxes, I want you to know we did not," Mr. Sitta said, calling other circulated claims — that the district was hosting political rallies in classrooms or would be forced to sell schools — "false and a distraction." He said the board voted down a budget that contained a proposed 9.9% tax increase.
Mr. Sitta outlined a projected $12.4 million reduction in state support that, he warned, could produce a cash‑flow problem in April or May. He described three paths the district is pursuing: a favorable outcome in ongoing litigation, appraisals (and potential disposition) of noninstructional district property to raise funds, and state intervention under deficit statutes that can include assignment of a state monitor.
The superintendent framed the district's approach as legal and fiscal: "We've had to resort to filing a lawsuit," he said, adding the district is "utilizing the law and our resources in Toms River" to recover funds the administration says were withheld. He urged residents and municipal leaders to press the state for a fix to the school‑funding formula, which he said has taken "millions and millions of dollars from our school district over the last seven years."
Board members later voted on routine items and said they will continue pursuing the lawsuit and appraisals in parallel with other measures. The public Q&A that followed raised specific concerns about whether school closures or staff reductions could be needed if the district cannot close the funding gap; administrators said they are planning multiple contingency options and will share more details as they are available.
The board did not take a formal vote during the meeting to authorize property sales; administrators said appraisals are part of contingency planning and that any sale would follow district policy and legal review.
The district posted the Oct. 1 public notice for this meeting in the Asbury Park Press and the Star-Ledger, meeting the Open Public Meetings Act notice requirement, and the board concluded the meeting after public comment and several routine approvals.
