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Toms River superintendent unveils concept for centralized special‑education services; seeks community input
Summary
Superintendent presented a year‑long, community‑driven concept to develop centralized special‑education services locally, citing rising special‑ed enrollment and costs. He emphasized the idea is preliminary and that parents and child study teams would retain placement decisions.
Superintendent Michael Sitta outlined a conceptual plan to explore a centralized special‑education program or county hub intended to expand local services and reduce out‑of‑district placements.
Sitta said special‑education enrollment has grown from roughly 2,500 to "3,207 students" over the past decade and that the district’s special‑education budget has climbed from about $38–$39 million to an estimated $75 million this year. He described 116 students currently placed out of district and estimated roughly "$13,000,000 for 116 students," while stressing these figures were part of the discussion about potential efficiencies. "This is not a plan to put our most at risk kids and lock them away in a building," he said, adding the proposal is at an "infant" stage and would rely on parent and child study‑team decisions.
Sitta framed the process as a community effort: he said committees, town halls and a public FAQ would be posted and that any program development would involve parents, staff and the Department of Education on licensing and application needs. He gave an ambitious target of the 2026–27 school year as a potential timeline for further planning work but emphasized repeatedly that "there is no guarantee that this is gonna come to fruition" and that no placements or staffing decisions have been made.
Why it matters: District leaders and parents said the same goals — better services, safer transportation and more inclusive opportunities — are shared, but speakers stressed the need for clear plans, pilot data, and staffing before returning students from longstanding out‑of‑district placements. The superintendent said the district will not seek to force placements and will use grants or reallocated funds rather than new local taxes for capital work if a facility is required.
Looking ahead: The district plans to post goals and an FAQ on its website, convene open committee meetings to gather input, and publish minutes of those sessions for public review.
