Our schools should be fully funded.
West Orange schools have already endured significant budget cuts, and without state action, the 26/27 budget cycle threatens even deeper reductions. Class sizes are growing, staffing is shrinking, and educational quality is suffering. West Orange parents are fighting for a better way forward.
What's at Stake
Ongoing Budget Crisis
The 25/26 budget brought painful cuts, and the 26/27 cycle will require the district to close another multi-million dollar budget gap. Without relief, continued reductions to staff, class sizes, and programs across all schools are expected.
Staff Reductions
The district made 19 staff cuts in the 25/26 budget. Without structural reform, further reductions are expected in the 26/27 budget.
Larger Class Sizes
With fewer staff and rising enrollment, class sizes continue to grow. For grades 1+, there is no state-mandated cap, and class sizes already exceed 25 students in some cases.
Programs at Risk
While no formal list of program reductions has been published, community concerns include the potential impact on art, music, enrichment, and student support services.
Need for Transparency
Parents and educators are asking for clear information on how cuts will be distributed and how equity among schools will be maintained.
How We Got Here
Rising Costs
Health benefits, special education tuition, transportation, and insurance costs continue to increase significantly — outpacing the 2% cap on local property tax year after year.
State Aid Reduction
Despite enrollment growth of over 300 students, West Orange lost more than $1 million in state education aid.
Inadequate Federal Funding
Mandated special education services are underfunded by the government, leaving the district to cover most of these costs through local taxes.
Limited Budget Flexibility
The district has already used up the last of its extra tax-raising allowance from previous years. It also has less money in savings than it did before. That means there's very little left to help close the budget gap without making cuts.
The Big Picture
West Orange is confronting a budget reality shaped by:
- Rising fixed costs including mandated services
- Decreased state and federal support
- Limited ability to increase funds from taxes
The Board of Education and district leadership face critical decisions about how to close the gap while minimizing harm to students and maintaining public trust. Parents and community members are calling for transparency and long-term planning.
Our Goals
🎓 To the West Orange Board of Education:
We have asked:
- What exactly is being cut, school by school?
- How were these cuts determined?
- What is the long-term plan to avoid this crisis repeating itself?
They have said:
"We're facing a difficult year with limited flexibility. State aid has been reduced. Fixed costs like health benefits and special education tuition are rising. We've used the tools available to us and made targeted reductions across the district."
But we continue to demand:
- Full transparency on school-by-school staffing and program cuts
- An explanation for how reductions were distributed
- A clear, public strategy for advocacy and fiscal repair
- A budget advisory committee to help guide the future budget process
🏛️ To Assemblymembers Collazos-Gill, Bagolie, and Senator McKeon:
We are going to ask:
- What action are you taking to push for relief or structural reform at the state level?
They will likely say:
"School aid is calculated by the state's formula. We are monitoring the situation and are committed to supporting public education."
But we demand:
- Public acknowledgment that the S2 formula is harming districts like West Orange
- Advocacy for relief or transitional state aid
- Statewide coalition-building to fix or supplement the current formula
- Policy proposals that address the unfunded mandates that are harming our local budgets and potentially further loss or flattening of federal funding
🗳️ To Governor Mikie Sherrill:
We will ask:
"What is your plan to ensure school funding is fair, sustainable, and not based on outdated assumptions of local wealth?"
We demand:
- A public commitment to reforming or replacing the S2 formula
- Full state-level support for mandated services like special education
- A plan to create funding predictability for mid-sized, diverse, working-class towns
- Leadership that values equity, not just in words—but in tax policy, budgeting, and legislation
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