I would like to share with the Jefferson Township community a letter written by Ms. Zeno, Business Administrator/Board Secretary and me in response to an inquiry from Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce and shared with Senator Joseph Pennacchio and Assemblyman Jay Webber.  

Dear Assemblywoman DeCroce:

Thank you for taking an interest in the state aid our district received this year and what impact this will have on our students.

Before listing the numerous reductions our district needed to make this year, I would first like to point out our past fiscal accomplishments.  We have historically developed a tight budget that promotes the success of all our students. With minimal or no state aid increases for the last several years, our district has managed to implement the following among other improvements:

• Use of a student data management system to analyze the performance of our students to make improvements in the educational process;
• A 1:1 laptop program for students in grades 6-12;
• Full-day kindergarten;
• Makerspaces;
• STEM electives;
• Significant revisions to district curricula to align to standards and best practices;
• Special education programs including an extensive transition program for our

grade 12 - age 21 students;

• An increased offering of Advanced Placement courses;
• Offering PSATs for all sophomores and juniors at no cost;
• Enhancing overall district security by purchasing a visitor management system, adding cameras for buses and buildings, installing retention vestibules in some buildings, and hiring an additional hall monitor;
• Phasing in our bus fleet to meet current standards such as three-point seat belts, external stop cameras, and internal security cameras and complying with new laws;
• Improving the High School auditorium to include new flooring and air conditioning;
• Various roofing projects; and
• Boiler Replacements.

We were able to accomplish the above with flat aid while simultaneously accommodating increases in costs of healthcare, salary increases for staff members, increased cost of utilities, costly repairs for aging facilities, and increased number of ESL and special education students, a record number of student mental health referrals, and increased homebound instruction. It is unfair to be categorized as “overfunded” while promoting student success and implementing mandated programs with no additional aid for several years.  

With the almost $1.2 million reduction in state aid for the 19-20 school year, on top of the $554,620 reduction in the 18-19 school year, our district will be forced to take the following measures:

• Elimination of instructional and support positions;
• Removal of all facility improvement projects;
• Reduction in already sparse supply accounts;
• Reduction of staff professional development money;
• Discontinue upgrades to student laptops, impacting overall technology device management program;
• Postpone purchase of two buses, impacting overall fleet management program;
• Realignment of central office and building support staff; and
• Initiate tuition for our inclusive pre-school disabled program.

If our district continues to realize future budget cuts as outlined in Senate Bill 2, the impact to our district would be catastrophic.  We will be forced to reduce programs and staff, eliminate some athletic programs, reduce co-curricular activities, consider pay-to-play, reduce courtesy busing, and increase class size, among other cuts.

The Jefferson Board of Education is hopeful that as the ramification of these budget cuts become apparent to the communities across the State, the funding formula will be reexamined and adjusted to at least keep districts’ state aid flat.  

Should you require any additional information or would like to further discuss, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Kindergarten registration and residency verification for the 2019-20 school year is open. To register your child online, please locate the “Student Registration” tab found under the “Quick Links” section of the district’s homepage and follow to access the “Student Online Registration” link.

Residency verification is held at the Robert F. Drummond Administrative Offices (31 State Route 181) in Lake Hopatcong/Jefferson Township, by appointment. Only those children who will be five years of age before October 1, 2019, will be eligible to enter kindergarten in September 2019. No exceptions will be made. (Please refer to District Policy 5112 – Entrance Age for further information.)

https://www.straussesmay.com/seportal/Public/DistrictPolicy.aspx?policyid=5112&id=55e3ccab64024ba7bd17865ea135505c

To make an appointment or if you have any questions please call (973) 663-5780 ex 5094, between the hours of 7:30 AM and 3:00 PM. Please do not contact the school.

Requirements for all new, incoming students:

1. Must be a current resident of Jefferson Township and provide proof of residency at the time of registration and verification. No exceptions will be made.

• Homeowners: Current picture identification along with the most recent mortgage statement, deed to the home, or current tax bill.
• Renters: Current picture identification, along with the current rental/lease agreement and utility bill (cable, electric, etc.).
• Families who live in Jefferson and do not own or rent the property: The homeowner or renter must accompany the parent/guardian to the residency verification appointment. Please see above for documents required for registration.

2. Student’s original birth certificate (photocopies will not be accepted).

Families that do not have the necessary and complete documentation will be asked to reschedule.

Dear Parent/Guardian:

As the district moves forward with increasing the security of our school buildings, I would like to bring to your attention a new protocol we will be implementing at all of our schools.

Starting Friday, May 11, 2018, bins will be placed outside each school for parents to drop items off for their child.  Please use the intercom to notify the main office that you placed an item in the bin and be sure to have your child’s first and last name on the item.  The school staff will retrieve the item and give it to your child in a timely manner.

Continuing the protocols already in place, you will be expected to present a form of photo identification when entering the building.  We ask that you do not hold the door open for any other visitors; each visitor must ring the main office for entry. Additionally, all visitors will be required to answer the following questions when ringing the main office:

• Your name;
• Whom you are here to see;
• Purpose of your visit; and
• If you are expected.

We thank you for your cooperation to help us improve the safety and security of the students and staff in our buildings.

Should you have any questions, please contact the main office of your child’s school.

Sincerely,

Jeanne Howe
Superintendent of Schools