Cherry Hill schools asks N.J. Legislature to restore funding: ‘The repercussions are staggering’
Cherry Hill, which enrolls nearly 11,000 students, is among 140 districts across the state that would receive less funding under Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed spending plan.
Facing a possible $6.9 million cut in state aid, the Cherry Hill school district on Wednesday became the face of the battle in the New Jersey Legislature on school funding.
The South Jersey school system, the 12th largest in the state, bused more than 60 people, including students and parents, to an Assembly budget committee hearing to voice concerns about possible state aid cuts for the 2024-25 school year.
“Is there anyone left in school?” quipped Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin (D., Essex), the committee chairman. Students wore black, red, and purple T-shirts that read “We are Cherry Hill.”
Cherry Hill, which enrolls nearly 11,000 students, is among 140 districts across the state that would receive less funding than last year under Gov. Phil Murphy’s proposed spending plan.
Since the state released preliminary aid figures in February, districts have been sounding an alarm and bracing for possible cuts. Cherry Hill and others have lobbied their local legislators and mobilized their communities. They are hoping the cuts will be restored or supplemental funding awarded to fill the gaps to avoid layoffs and program cuts.
Board President Miriam Stern said the loss in state aid would have a devastating impact on the district. Cherry Hill had seen several increases in recent years and was not expecting a cut.
Stern said the board voted 8-0 to ask voters to approve a 2% tax increase, the maximum allowed under a state cap. If approved, that, along with a banked cap and bond debt service, would mean a 5.5% property tax increase, she said.
“Even with this tax increase, we cannot close the gap left by the drastic and unexpected reduction in state equalization aid we received this year,” Stern said. “The repercussions are staggering.”
A student from South Brunswick said his district charges students to participate in extracurricular activities, and he worries it could get worse. Another school official said her district may be forced to apply for a loan from the state to balance its budget.
“Our district will not be able to survive this lost aid,” said Lacey Township School District Superintendent Vanessa Pereira.
‘It’s a slap in the face’
The Cherry Hill delegation seemed to strike a chord with legislators. The group boarded yellow school buses Wednesday and traveled to Trenton. Five students from its two comprehensive high schools testified.
Marin noted that she had received a text message from Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt, (D., Camden), who represents the district “to let Cherry Hill speak.” Assembly Majority Leader Louis Greenwald has also expressed support for his home district, she said.
“This cut not only lacks foundation fiscal sense, it is a slap in the face and an insult to the students of my district,” said Collin Duckett, a senior at Cherry Hill High West.
Cherry Hill East Student Body President Crystal Yeh said students have experienced the impact of funding shortfalls. Her school, which has about 2,200 students, only has nine guidance counselors, she said. Classes are filled to capacity, and students in her calculus class had to sit on the floor for weeks, she said.
“How can each student succeed in such a large class? The answer is that they can’t,” said Yeh.
Jack Neary, a junior special education student, made an emotional appeal to help the district’s 2,500 special needs students stay engaged “so that we can all meet our full potential as young adults.”
The students were applauded for their testimony. Marin praised them for their bravery in addressing the body. When students speak to lawmakers, she said, “You do tug at our heartstrings.”
“I don’t have the authority to say it’s all going to be fixed; if I told you that I think I would be lying to you,” Marin said. “We’re going to try to figure it out.”