FY28 and beyond
The adopted budget closes this year's gap. It does not fix the formula that created the gap. With salary, health insurance, and special education costs all rising next year and revenue still capped at 2%, West Orange will face the same structural deficit in FY28 unless something changes in Trenton.
We're working with Assemblywoman Bagolie and meeting with Senator McKeon and Assemblywoman Collazos-Gill to advance four specific changes to the SFRA that will create a more equitable formula for every school district.
Contact your legislators →Multiple board members have voiced support for a community budget advisory committee that can review the budget line-by-line. WOPE is pushing to make this permanent and ensure community involvement begins now — not next March when the FY28 cycle is already locked in.
Sign up to participate →We're working on building a nonprofit so the community can directly support enrichment, arts, technology, and student support services that the district can no longer fund. This does not replace state or local funding — it protects what cuts are taking away while we fight to fix the formula.
Get involved →You're not out of options. Show up at the BOE meetings, email your priorities to the Superintendent (hmoore@westorangeschools.org), and reach out to state leaders.
This is a long-term fight to fix the school funding formula. Let your legislators know you want them to support SFRA formula reform.
Join our updates to track 2027-28 planning, oversight efforts, and state formula reform progress.