Board presentation summarized a $5.7 million projected deficit and a package of adjustments — new state aid, $250,000 from the maintenance reserve, staffing and program savings and use of a health-care waiver — that reduced the shortfall and produced a tentative average tax increase of roughly 6.5% (about $360 annually on the average home). The tentative budget will be sent to the county superintendent; final adoption is scheduled for April.
District administrators said they will ban internet-enabled personal devices in unstructured time (hallways, lunch, recess) and reduce classroom screen time. A middle-school pilot removed Chromebooks from lunchrooms (initially Wednesdays; after spring break the district plans daily lunchroom restrictions) while elementary schools have already restricted unstructured device use. A formal board policy is expected later this year.
Public commenters at the meeting urged faster answers to budget questions, questioned whether proceeds from selling district land could be used across subsequent budgets, accused the district of not posting meeting information 48 hours in advance and criticized an alumni event for lacking science-career representation.
Administrators told the board a roughly $7.8 million shortfall for the 2027 budget is driven by large health‑care premium increases and flat state aid; using a one‑time health‑care waiver plus a 2% cap could raise the tax levy as high as about 8.17% and still leave estimated staff‑position impacts. Board members expressed differing views on taking the full waiver to avoid deeper program cuts.
Multiple public commenters and board members warned that proposed cuts to intermediate school clubs, athletics and summer programming would harm students already receiving low per‑pupil funding; commenters urged the board to seek alternatives, such as shared services or grants.
District officials told the board the preliminary 2027 outlook shows an estimated $5.6 million operating deficit under current assumptions, reviewed capital and technology requests and discussed options including a medical waiver, reserves use and bus leasing; the board approved routine minutes, personnel and finance items and a proposed calendar with one abstention on a calendar subitem.
At a school board meeting, administrators described a job-embedded professional development initiative at the intermediate school that uses monthly focus standards, a shared instructional language and LinkIt assessments; presenters reported improvements in 13 of 16 focus standards and a district Padlet of lesson plans and resources.
Superintendent presented student safety data for Sept. 1–Dec. 31, 2025: district totals of 7 HIB investigations initiated with 3 confirmed, 10 instances of violence, 1 weapons offense and 4 substance offenses; confirmed incidents prompted disciplinary interventions and counseling.
School business administrator presented a 2027 budget preview showing an initial roughly $8 million gap between requested expenditures and likely revenue; administrators warned steep health‑benefit premium increases and a $4.7 million health waiver are key drivers of the shortfall.
The Township of Ocean Board of Education approved the January minutes, consent personnel items (with one recusal), financial and instructional consent items, recognized educators and declared January 2026 School Board Recognition Month; Laura Macaluso was announced as assistant principal at the intermediate school.
