TOMS RIVER — The township plans to purchase about 18 acres of land close to Silver Bay Elementary Faculty from Toms River Regional faculties, offering much-needed funding to the varsity system because it struggles to bridge a funds hole.
The land-sale proposal got here collectively rapidly over the previous 24 hours, based on Mayor Maurice B. “Mo” Hill Jr. and faculties Superintendent Mike Citta, who got here to Wednesday evening’s township council assembly to ask for Toms River’s assist.
“In an effort to depart no stone unturned in our try and maintain our beloved district transferring ahead, we discover ourselves as soon as once more trying to our stakeholders and companions to protect the custom, historical past and alternatives for our best treasure, our kids,” Citta mentioned, studying from a letter he despatched yesterday to the mayor and council. “Earlier than liquidating property by public sale, I’m asking all of you to think about first…buying unused land as open house from our district to assist bridge the monetary hole.”
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The district wants $3.8 million as a way to stabilize its funds and permit Toms River Regional to fulfill its state requirement to supply a “thorough and environment friendly” schooling for its greater than 14,700 college students, Citta has mentioned.
Hill mentioned the following step is to schedule an appraisal of the property, which is zoned for residential use; about 49 properties might be constructed on the land if it was out there for growth, he mentioned.
The council’s Land-Use Committee met Wednesday afternoon to debate the acquisition of faculty district land. Citta mentioned the district didn’t suggest any explicit parcel for buy, as an alternative telling the township what was out there close to varied faculties.
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Shopping for the property close to Silver Bay Elementary wouldn’t solely assist Toms River Regional, however would forestall extra growth in an space that’s already densely populated, the mayor mentioned.
“Hopefully we’ll carry this throughout the end line,” mentioned Councilman Josh Kopp, who heads the land-use committee.
After receiving the appraisal, the council should introduce after which undertake an ordinance finalizing the land sale. There may be sufficient cash within the township’s open house fund to pay for the land, Council President Matt Lotano mentioned.
The college board can even must formally approve of the sale.
Time is of the essence, as the varsity district should undertake its 2023-2024 funds by Could 8, Citta mentioned.
At a funds assembly final week, Citta mentioned Toms River Regional plans to chop 28 positions, together with 20 educating jobs, because the district grapples with a minimize in state schooling.
Toms River Regional was initially slated to lose $14.4 million in support, the most important quantity within the state. A invoice signed by Gov. Phil Murphy restored $9.5 million in support to the district, a part of $103 million in state schooling funds for varied college districts that handed each homes of the state legislature late final week.
That left Toms River Regional with a $3.8 million hole, even after the funds cuts are included.
After years of funding cuts underneath the state’s schooling support method, referred to as S2, Toms River Regional has misplaced 186 positions, together with greater than 140 educating jobs. One other 90 jobs within the district are being funded with federal COVID funds, which can expire in a 12 months, officers have warned.
“Toms River is nothing, nothing with out our faculties,” Council Vice President Kevin M. Geoghegan mentioned. “Hopefully we’ll be capable of transfer forward with this buy.”
Jean Mikle covers Toms River and a number of other different Ocean County cities, and has been writing about native authorities and politics on the Jersey Shore for practically 38 years. She’s additionally passionate in regards to the Shore’s storied music scene. Contact her: @jeanmikle, jmikle@gannettnj.com.
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