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Community Update on

Jackson School District

Strategic, Redistricting, & Restructuring Planning (SRRP)

Committee Progress

Presented January 22, 2025

WHY

IS THIS WORK NECESSARY?

We want STRONG PROGRAMS for ALL:

Timely Curriculum Updates, AP, Academies, Robust Electives

We want STRONG SUPPORTS for ALL:

Intervention, Enrichment, Supplies, Technology

We want STRONG OPPORTUNITIES for ALL:

Athletics, Activities, Co-Curriculars

To do this we need fiscal sustainability.

We have an opportunity to achieve this.

WHY MUST WE CHANGE?

• Enrollments have decreased, providing an opportunity to be more efficient and save operating costs.
• As cohorts progress through grades, the number of younger students is less than the graduating classes.
• For example, difference between K and Grade 12 enrollments (Dec.):
• For example, in 2024: - 346

• We are grateful for legislators’ advocacy on our behalf - but so far we do not expect impactful changes to the state aid formula that would provide meaningful relief for the JSD.
• We will not have state aid figures until late February
• We are possibly facing a $13 million deficit for the 2025-2026 school year.

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ENROLLMENT DECREASES

BUDGET DEFICIT CONTINUES

State Aid Received vs. Enrollment 2017-2025

*Source: NJDOE State Aid Summaries for K-12

**Source: ASSA (Oct. 15 Enrollment Report)

Our Categorical State Aid

was reduced

far beyond the decrease in enrollment.

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$54,668,610 less in State Aid

over 7 Years

Total Enrollment Decrease

15.6%

Total State Aid Reduction

52.9%

Major Factors Impacting the 2025-2026 Budget

• State Aid Reduction
• Preparing a budget with a 15% reduction in State Equalization Aid and all other Categorical Aids frozen = a projected decrease of $2.5 Million*
• No State Stabilization Aid expected = decrease of more than $2 Million
• One-Time Revenues for 24-25
• $13.1 Million land sale for the Rosenauer Property
• $1.7 Million in land sale to Township and closing of referendum accounts
• $2.5 Million in “infrastructure” funds from the State budget
• Return to the 2% Tax Levy Cap
• Limited by law to a 2% annual increase to the tax levy
• 24-25 budget was built on a one-time 9.9% increase to tax levy, which allowed for a tax levy increase of $9.2 Million for the 24-25 budget
• Maximum increase to the tax levy for 25-26 is $2,050,172

DECREASING REVENUES

*Assuming a 15% reduction in Equalization Aid for 25-26

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Major Factors Impacting the 2025-2026 Budget

• Instructional Support Costs (Expected increase of $6.4 Million)
• Utilities - Diesel Fuel, Natural Gas, and Electric
• Special education out-of-district tuition
• Transportation costs
• Health Insurance (expected increase of 10% or $2.2 Million)
• Liability Insurance
• Direct Instructional Costs (Expected increase of $2 Million)
• Contractual Salary Increases ranging from 2.75% to 3.75%
• 750+ more multi-language learners in our district since the start of S2
• No Supply Cost Increases Despite Rising Inflation
• Regional CPI over the last three years (8.2% in 2022, 6.3% in 2023, 3.4% in 2024)
• Aging Facilities with Increasing Maintenance Costs
• Seven years of minimal funding for capital projects and maintenance

INCREASING EXPENSES

This increase alone would equal the revenue from the entire 2% tax levy increase.

The Path to Sustainability Beyond 24-25

• The sale of the Rosenauer property allowed us to balance the current 2024-2025 budget, as we had hoped.
• The potential sale or rental of another school property will establish new revenue that we need to balance the upcoming and future budgets.
• The permanent reduction of operating costs (e.g. salaries, health insurance, maintenance, and energy) will establish a lower expense baseline for future budgets - critically important within a 2% cap.
• The School Funding Formula is currently being reviewed - we continue to strongly and vociferously advocate for a logical and reasonable change to the disproportionate funding received over the last 7 years.

If We Do Not Restructure…

If we do not restructure, the steps we would need to take to close what could be a $13 million budget gap will be catastrophic to our ability to operate our district.

• Loss of positions - more than 200
• Loss of programs - Academies, ROTC, Advanced Placement Courses, Electives, World Languages, Honors Courses, Co-curriculars, Athletics
• Loss of all intervention and supports
• Massive increase in class sizes possible 40 students in a class
• No maintenance to facilities or any improvement to existing structures

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THE WORK OF THE

BOARD ENROLLMENT COMMITTEE

& SRRP COMMITTEE

Board Enrollment Committee

For the past 5 years the District has worked with a Board of Education Subcommittee on Enrollment, which:

• Reviewed current enrollment
• Monitored trends in enrollment
• Reviewed possible building to occur in Jackson
• Worked as part of the Strategic, Redistricting and Restructuring Committee and assisted with the recommendations being presented to the full board and Jackson School community

To the SRRP Committee Volunteers…

It is incredibly important to recognize the commitment

and hard work of this committee.

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Everyone came to the table with an open mind, ready to tackle the very challenging task of formulating a framework for the future of the Jackson School District.

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There were no shy voices in the room - each member advocated strongly to ensure

all perspectives, benefits and consequences of every option were understood.

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This team of your fellow neighbors, teachers, parents, staff and board members

dedicated hours of work to accomplish this goal, and it is much appreciated.

SRRP COMMITTEE PURPOSE/ROLE

• Review data and other information presented
• Identify priorities
• Provide perspective, input and insight
• Act as “think tank” to address challenges
• Help administration make recommendations to the Board of Education to address the challenges faced by the District

Summary of Things to Consider During SRRP Process

• Consolidation for lowering operating costs
• Locations of schools
• Busing time for students and limitations of necessary transportation tiers
• Limiting number of transitions for students
• Minimizing # of students impacted
• Grade level enrollments
• Equitable courses, programs, opportunities for co-curricular and athletics
• More equitable class sizes
• Developmentally appropriate grade span cohorts
• Long-term restructuring vs. having to restructure again within a few years
• Facilities layout & upgrades needed (architect assessment)
• Content of Community emails/feedback shared with committee

What Would Be the Most Important Outcomes?

Facility Updates and Improvements

Equitable Class Sizes Throughout District

Maintaining Programs/Academic Offerings

Maintaining Electives

Maintaining or Expanding Extra-Curriculars

Cohesive and Unified District

Creating District that is Financially Stable

Committee Consensus Over the Course of Our Work

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During November Meeting #4

• Consensus was reached to narrow 8 options to those 4 options that allowed us to achieve goal of consolidating schools to lower operating costs. This means recommending closing one middle school and reconfiguring grades.

During December Meeting #5

• Consensus was reached that we cannot pursue a 10-12 high school configuration. We would need more RESEARCH and more PLANNING to transition to a 10-12 model / 7-9 junior high school model.
• Consensus was reached to narrow options to TWO MODELS.

During January Meetings #6 & #7

• Consensus was reached on one model
• Completed High School tours, continued discussion of benefits/challenges of each
• Reviewed and made suggestions on Mission Statement and Core Beliefs

WHERE WE STARTED in October

#2

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PreK - 4

5-8

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9 -12 (2 HS)

#3

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PreK- 4

5-6

7-9

10-12

(1 HS)

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#4

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PreK - 4

5-6

7-8

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9-12 (2 HS)

#5

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PreK - 4

5-6

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7-12

(2 HS)

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#6

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PreK - 2

3-4

5-6

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7-12 (2 HS)

Current

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PreK - 5

6-8

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9 -12 (2 HS)

2 HS

Keeps all schools

2 HS

Keeps all schools

2 HS

Keeps all schools

2 HS

Closes 1 Middle School

2 HS

Closes 1 Middle School

1 HS

Closes 1 Middle School

Committee Discussions Introduced Three New Options

#2

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PreK - 4

5-8

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9 -12 (2 HS)

#3

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PreK- 4

5-6

7-9

10-12

(1 HS)

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#4B

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PreK - 4

5-6

7-8

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9-12 (1 HS)

#5

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PreK - 4

5-6

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7-12

(2 HS)

#6

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PreK - 2

3-4

5-6

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7-12 (2 HS)

Red

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PreK - 3

4-6

7-9

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10-12

(1 HS)

Gray

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PreK-3

4-5

6-8

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9-12

(1 HS)

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Current

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PreK - 5

6-8

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9 -12 (2 HS)

2 HS

Keeps all schools

1 HS

Closes 1 Middle School

2 HS

Keeps all schools

2 HS

Closes 1 Middle School

1 HS

Closes 1 Middle School

2 HS

Closes 1 Middle School

1 HS

Closes 1 Middle School

1 HS

Closes 1 Middle School

Narrowed Options at Meeting #4

#3

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PreK- 4

5-6

7-9

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10-12

(1 HS)

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#4B

(Modified by committee)

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PreK - 4

5-6

7-8

9-12

(1 HS)

#7 Red

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PreK - 3

4-6

7-9

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10-12

(1 HS)

#8 Gray

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PreK-3

4-5

6-8

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9-12

(1 HS)

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1 HS

Closes 1 Middle School

1 HS

Closes 1 Middle School

1 HS

Closes 1 Middle School

1 HS

Closes 1 Middle School

Committee Consensus: Remaining Models

#4B

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PreK - 4 (current elems)

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5-6 (Goetz OR McAuliffe)

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7-8 (Liberty OR Memorial)

9-12 (Liberty OR Memorial)

#8 Gray

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PreK - 3 (current elems)

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4-5 (Goetz OR McAuliffe)

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6-8 (Liberty OR Memorial)

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9-12 (Liberty OR Memorial)

1 High School

Closes 1 Middle School

1 High School

Closes 1 Middle School

Narrowed Options at Meeting #5

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Committee Consensus Meeting #6 and #7:

SUGGESTED MODEL

#4B

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PreK - 4 (current elementary sending areas)

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5-6 (Goetz OR McAuliffe)

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7-8 (Liberty OR Memorial)

9-12 (Liberty OR Memorial)

1 High School

Closes 1 Middle School

ENROLLMENT AS COHORTS MOVE THROUGH GRADES

* Adds 1 PS class in 25-26 and 1 in 26-27

** No additional PS classes, provides flexibility to move other PS to this location if needed

We have been enrolling significantly fewer kindergarten students than we are graduating seniors.

For example:

2024: - 346

2023: - 255

2022: - 288

2021: - 336

2020: - 307

Committee Consensus: Suggested Model

• This model was introduced during the process by committee members themselves
• Preserves sending boundaries for elementary schools (respecting community feedback)
• Keeps cohorts of students together at the middle and high school levels (respecting community feedback)
• Is mindful of developmental needs of students’ ages
• Works with transportation tiers and respects concerns about time spent on buses
• Lowers operational cost by an estimated $8 million, plus it creates the potential revenue of selling or renting a school building
• Allows for EQUITY of programs, instruction and co-curricular for all students
• UNIFIES the district = We are ONE Jackson

Benefits for Elementary & Upper Elementary Schools

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• Moving 5th grade = more room and space in elementaries to allow unified arts designated spaces in all schools (equity) and room for small group instruction
• No changes in sending zones for all elementary schools
• Creates 5-6 “Upper Elementary” tier that allows 5th graders to retain elementary approach - Slower transition to middle school
• Allows us to introduce additional opportunities for student engagement (clubs, intramural sports)
• Provides opportunity for instrumental music instruction to 5th grade and allows for the creation of a 5th and 6th grade bands and chorus with the goal of building a stronger program for upper grades.
• Restoring a robust Gifted and Talented program
• Unifies all 5th and 6th graders together

Benefits for Middle School

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• Provides more opportunities for equitable courses and clubs
• Allows a developmentally similar age group to grow together and prepare for high school
• Provides larger facilities for athletics (gyms, fields, etc.), extracurricular activities, and electives
• Additional elective opportunities including world languages.
• Unifies all students together as they prepare for High School

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Benefits for the High School

• Keeps robust high school Academies
• Provides equitable access to ROTC without having to travel to an alternate location
• Running additional sections of each class provides more opportunities for students to create schedules without conflicts
• Keeps and expands opportunities for AP and Honors Courses
• Expands opportunities in many areas, including electives
• Continued athletic opportunities, with the expansion of JV and freshman teams
• Combining high schools unifies this community - allows ALL students the same access to programs/opportunities

Looking to the Future

• This plan is FLEXIBLE to enrollment shifts
• Even with flat kindergarten enrollment, as the cohorts move through grades we will experience enrollment decline
• However, we are also aware of developments that are underway, pending or possible that could impact our enrollment (e.g. Perrineville Road, Grawtown Road, West Veterans & Cassville, Adventure Crossing) and of the changing affordable housing obligations that must be satisfied in the township
• The needs of our K-12 students are the priority - we retain the the ability to move preschool classes (including in space available in Preschool Annex at Memorial if needed to ensure equitable enrollments, programs and opportunities

Facility Recommendation

to the Board of Education

Recommendation for BOE Consideration

PreK - 4

(at current

Elementary Schools)

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5-6 Upper Elementary

(at McAuliffe)

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7-8 Middle School

(at Memorial)

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9-12 High School

(at Liberty)

Recommendation reflects MODEL

SRRP Committee reached consensus on.

• Goetz Middle School be closed and sold/rented to lower our operating costs
• We utilize McAuliffe Middle School as our ONE Upper Elementary School for ALL 5th and 6th graders
• We utilize Jackson Memorial as our ONE Middle School for ALL 7th and 8th graders
• We utilize Jackson Liberty as our ONE High School for ALL 9th-12th graders

Recommendation for Building Usage

Middle School and High School Location:

• All schools have room for students instructionally.
• Decision to utilize McAuliffe as Upper Elementary (and to close Goetz) is based on the ages of our middle schools and the architects’ analysis.
• Liberty was designed and built as a state-of-the-art high school, meeting all of the needs for space inside and outside.
• For example: parking for students, staff, and visitors, large hallways for transition time between classes.
• Memorial can better function as a middle school (Clayton wing was a middle school when it was built)

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Transportation Tiers Under This Recommendation

Recognizing Concerns

Restructuring Concerns and Responses will be published on our website tomorrow.

Recognizing Concerns

Restructuring Concerns and Responses will be published on our website tomorrow.

NEXT STEPS

Jan. 22, 2025

• Tonight is Public Presentation of Recommendations
• Public Forum
• Time to Consider Information Presented

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Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025

• Second Public Forum and Possible BOE Vote
• Sole Focus is Recommendations, Questions, Input
• 6 p.m. in Fine Arts Center, JMHS

This presentation will be posted on our website tomorrow.

It will also include a link to a list of Restructuring Concerns and Responses

Following BOE vote, there will be much

COLLABORATIVE work to be done

• Creating schedules for the 5-6 building and maintaining the goals of an Upper Elementary School
• Team Teaching
• Recess Time
• Creating a new middle school schedule for Grades 7-8
• Providing more robust electives - made possible by having all 7th and 8th graders in one building

• Determining staff needs and wants
• Surveying staff about requests for their placement to see if they can be accommodated
• Determining coaching and co-curricular needs
• Sharing with staff a timeline for selecting coaches, co-curriculars building and teaching assignments for the 25-26 school year.
• Determining technology and curricular needs
• Creating a timeline for movement and transition

Following BOE vote, there will be much COLLABORATIVE work to be done

• CULTURE AND CLIMATE
• Creating Culture and Climate Committees in newly structured levels that include STUDENTS to plan activities, events and opportunities for students to join together to assist with unifying and transitions
• Creating a committee to work with stakeholders (including students) to ensure we honor and represent a collaboration of the traditions at each individual middle school of Goetz and McAuliffe and high schools of Liberty and Memorial through rebranding and unifying as One Jackson
• For example, discussions about name, mascot, etc.
• Exciting opportunity to unite our students, staff and community.

We recognize that if these changes are implemented,

there will be challenges.

We will work through them TOGETHER.

This district has found ways to survive

unprecedented funding losses and challenges.

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Making these hard choices allow us to to

PRESERVE the programs that make us

an outstanding school district.

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We have an OPPORTUNITY to become ONE JACKSON!

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