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Superintendent urges community 'unity' and pins district shortfall on state funding formula
Summary
Superintendent Sitta told the Toms River Regional School District on Oct. 16 that misinformation is fracturing community unity and said the district faces a $12.4 million loss due to state funding decisions; he outlined three options — court relief, asset appraisals/sales, or state intervention — to manage cash flow risks in spring.
Superintendent Sitta opened the Oct. 16 board meeting by asking the community to stand for a moment of silence for two recently deceased students and then framed the evening around "unity" and a need to refocus public attention.
Sitta said the district has been the target of "misinformation" — including claims that the board is responsible for tax increases or that schools are being used for political rallies — and called those claims "false and a distraction." He told the audience the board voted down a budget that included a 9.9% tax increase and reiterated that the current fiscal problem stems from state funding policy, not the local board: "The problem is in Trenton," he said. "The Department of Education and Trenton are to blame for enforcing a failed formula."
Sitta described a $12,400,000 hit imposed by the state that will strain district cash flow by April or May and outlined three possible responses: awaiting a favorable ruling in the district's pending lawsuit, appraising and potentially selling non-student assets (he cited "27 acres at City School" and other property as examples), or the state stepping in to assign a monitor under statutory processes for districts with projected deficits. "That is absolutely the plan," said a board finance official when asked whether the district expects to finish the year. "We have multiple approaches to getting to the finish line."
Sitta urged residents to stay informed and united and to focus pressure on state policymakers. He said the board would continue to pursue legal remedies and keep the community updated on options and timelines.
