Cherry Hill is among school districts in the state that will see a 3% cut in state aid, according to a recent announcement from the office of Gov. Mikie Sherrill, meaning a loss of about $900,000.
The township is one of 99 school systems facing the cut, and it marks the third consecutive year of state aid decreases for Cherry Hill.
School board President Gina Winters and Superintendent Kwame Morton released a statement to the community after the state’s announcement.
“These continued revenue losses have a compounding effect and require us to continue making difficult decisions,” the statement read. “Over the past two years, the district has implemented several cost-saving measures to protect classroom instruction, while maintaining safe and effective operations across our schools.
“As we address the impact of continued state aid reductions, the board of education and district administration remain committed to reviewing all options carefully, pursuing appropriate solutions and advocating for fair and adequate state funding for Cherry Hill public schools.”
At a board meeting the week after the announcement, district business administrator Jason Schimpf gave a presentation on the cuts in which he said administrators will seek ways to offset the aid decrease by looking at all areas of the school system.
“So everything from supply budgets to staffing to operational type investments,” he explained. “Making sure, or attempting to make sure, that the investments they’re asking for are aligned, obviously, with our goals and district priorities. And I think it’s important that their requests reflect operational necessity versus what they’ve just done historically.”
Meanwhile, district health care and transportation costs went up by $12 million, while salary increases accounted for another $5 million. As part of its budget process, Schimpf advised the district to decrease its reliance on surplus funding.
He also suggested a 7.4% tax increase that would amount to about $14.8 million, the highest percentage increase allowed by the state. That would mean an average tax hike of $420 for residents. That is on top of cuts the district made as it faced a deficit of more than $14 million, $6.5 million in staffing cuts and $8 million in non-personnel cuts.
“We will feel the impact of these cuts,” Schimpf acknowledged. “These are things from, they could be classroom supply counts to professional services to operational type needs. Things that are not waste or abuse. …
“These are things that are needed and necessary to continue providing the types of programs and services we do here at Cherry Hill.”
The board will vote on a final budget at its April 28 meeting.
Schimpf did not provide details at this month’s meeting if or how many district positions would be cut, nor did he specify what other areas of the budget will be affected. District public information officer Nina Baratti also declined via email to specify cuts, but indicated they will include staffers and not just teachers, and will also involve decreases through attrition.
Board vice president Adam Greenbaum said it’s unconscionable that the district continues to lose state aid as it faces a budget deficit.
“This year, our starting point is a deficit of $29 million,” he noted. “That’s slightly more than our total state aid last was year. And instead we got a 3% cut … These increases are unprecedented and … we need a sustainable path forward.”
Winters was expected to go to Trenton on March 25, in the hope that her voice – along with others from districts in the state – would lead to change in the state’s funding.
“They’re going to hear from me,” she maintained. “And whether it makes a difference this year, I don’t know. But I think the cumulative effect of all of us showing up, I am seeing it (that) from every district across the state. Republican districts, Shore districts, North Jersey districts – all the districts.
“Everybody is feeling these impacts.”
Residents who spoke at the board meeting were equally incensed. Some agreed with the board in faulting the state for the budget deficit; others blamed the district for not doing more to save by cutting administrative positions.
Former board member Laurie Neary said she’s “sick to her stomach” about the budget deficit and wants the district to cut administrative staff before cutting teachers.
“When we are looking at cost cuts, before we are going into those buildings and start cutting services and supports when we are clearly already struggling in that arena, we need to look in our administration building,” she said. “Because we have grown and developed positions, and I don’t see it providing fabulous outcomes or supports in our buildings.”
