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Old Bridge to consolidate summer school to Sandburg, parental tuition of $250 proposed for 2026 amid uncertain federal Title I funding
Summary
The board approved consolidation of summer programs to Sandburg (savings about $24,400) and discussed charging $250 tuition in 2026; administrators warned of an anticipated 20% reduction in Title I funds and timing uncertainty for federal allocations.
The Old Bridge Township Board of Education on May 20 approved consolidation of summer programming to Carl Sandburg Middle School, a step the administration says will save the district about $24,400 this year. Board members were told the change reduces sites and associated staffing costs.
The chair announced that, starting in summer 2026, families required to attend summer school may be charged a $250 tuition, a decision driven by budget pressures and the district’s effort to stretch limited resources. The board did not adopt a final tuition policy at the meeting; trustees and staff said the item is part of ongoing budgeting discussions.
Administrators and trustees raised concern about federal funding uncertainty. A district administrator (identified in the meeting as Tuohy) said the district has been advised to budget at roughly 75% of prior-year allocations in anticipation of an approximate 20% reduction in Title I funds and noted the state-to-district allocation is usually received in June. "We don't have allocations for Title I; we don't have allocations for IDEA," the administrator said, adding that the timeline constrains hiring and program planning.
Board members asked for concrete cost figures for Title I summer programs; one trustee pressed for the dollar amount so the board could consider local funding alternatives. A district official agreed to provide the historical cost to inform deliberations.
A trustee and legal advisor cautioned that if the board used local funds to run programs that Title I traditionally funds, the district could risk 'supplanting' — making the program ineligible for Title I reimbursement in future years. The transcript recorded a figure of $77,000 for Title I costs last year as an example to examine further.
Board discussion framed consolidation and potential parental tuition as contingency steps while the district awaits federal allocations and considers program design alternatives, including lengthening in-year supports if summer staffing proves impractical.
