70+ staff non-renewals
Teachers, support staff, and administration roles are affected. These are economic non-renewals — not performance-based.
Our schools should be fully funded.
West Orange schools continue to endure multi-million dollar budget cuts, and without state action, every year threatens even deeper reductions. Class sizes are growing, staffing is shrinking, and educational quality is beginning to suffer. West Orange parents are fighting for a better way forward.
School budget update
2026–27 School Budget
Based on Superintendent Moore's April 17 community letter and recent updates, this is the current picture: confirmed reductions, the meetings where decisions are finalized, and how families can respond.
What's being cut
West Orange is facing a $14 million structural budget deficit in FY27—caused by a state formula that requires local funding obligations to grow faster than the 2% levy cap allows.
Confirmed FY27 reductions as of April 17, 2026:
Elementary class sizes to 25
Elementary classrooms are projected to rise to around 25 students.
Elementary schedule restructured
The elementary daily schedule is being redesigned to consolidate related arts and maximize instructional staff efficiency.
Middle/high class sizes to 25–30
Secondary class sections are expected to increase across core courses.
Middle school sports and intramurals eliminated
Athletics and intramural access at the middle school level are being removed from the district budget. The superintendent is exploring a partnership with parent boosters and Township Recreation to preserve some opportunities.
Transportation consolidated
Bus routes are being combined, and late-bus service is reduced or cut.
2 central office administrator positions eliminated
Two district-level central office administrator roles are being cut.
Paraprofessional staffing moved to outside vendor
The district is exploring a managed services vendor model for paraprofessional staffing, with the intent of keeping paras in their current schools and roles under a third-party employer. Questions remain about continuity of care for students with IEPs.
These cuts do not close the structural gap on their own. Without formula reform in Trenton, West Orange faces the same math problem again in FY28 — and every year after.
What You Can Do
You're not out of options. Show up at the BOE meetings, take WOPE's survey on the trade-offs the board faces and pass your results on to the Superintendent, and reach out to state leaders.
April
20
2026 · Monday
FY27 Advertised Budget
County deadline + BOE meeting
County deadline for budget approval. BOE meeting at 6:30 PM, West Orange High School, Library Media Center.
Add to calendar
May
4
2026 · Monday
FY27 final budget
Budget vote
The board will vote on the final FY27 budget. 6:30 PM, WOHS Library Media Center.
Add to calendar
Budget survey
The Superintendent has asked for feedback. This budget survey helps you think through the trade-offs the board is facing so you can give them your feedback.
Contact legislators
This is a long-term fight to fix the school funding formula. Let your legislators know you want them to support SFRA formula reform.
What's at Stake
A Growing Structural Deficit — Caused by the State, Not the District
Last year's budget already meant painful cuts. This year is projected to be worse: a $14M structural deficit for FY27 because the state's funding formula keeps sending less money to districts like ours.
The Formula Says We Should Pay More… But We Can't
The state says West Orange should raise 36% more in local taxes than three years ago. But state law only allows a 2% tax increase each year. The math doesn't work.
Staff Cuts Compounding
Approximately 70 more non-renewals confirmed for FY27 — plus 2 administrative cuts and possible paraprofessional outsourcing. The cuts are not slowing down; they're accelerating.
57 positions last year · 70+ this year
Every Student Is Affected
Over 7,000 students across all 13 schools face bigger class sizes, fewer programs, and less support — and it will keep getting worse unless the formula changes.
How We Got Here
A Formula That Doesn't Add Up
The state uses a formula to decide how much each town should pay for its own schools. For West Orange, that number keeps going up — 5–15% every year. But there's a state law that says we can only raise taxes by 2% a year. So the state expects us to pay more, but won't let us raise the money. Every year, the gap gets bigger.
State Aid Is Unpredictable
The formula can swing our equalization aid by millions from year to year. In FY26, we lost $7.1M in a single year. In FY27, we recovered $3.0M — but we're still $4.8M below where we were two years ago. One good year doesn't make up for a broken formula, and the district can't plan around funding that changes this dramatically with almost no warning.
Costs Keep Rising
Health insurance, special education, and transportation costs go up every year — 8–18% or more the last few years. The district can't control most of these costs, and the state isn't covering the difference.
Few Options Left
The district used up its savings and its extra taxing room from prior years. In the near-term, there are almost no tools left to close the budget gap without cutting more staff and programs.
Our Goals
Update the State Formula
The state funding formula is the root cause of our budget problems. We're pushing state legislators and the Governor to update it so towns like West Orange aren't punished for looking "wealthy" on paper when most families are middle-class.
Do What We Can Locally
While we fight for state-level change, we're working with the Board of Education to use every tool available locally — smarter budgeting, cost comparisons with similar districts, and full transparency about how decisions are made.
Build a Community Fund
We're planning a nonprofit so our community can raise money to directly support our schools — to try to offset some resources that budget cuts are threatening to take away.
Join Us
Stay informed and help protect our schools.
Take Action
Contact your elected officials and tell them to change the formula.