Watch as students, staff, parents, and community members joined Mrs. Howe as she testified before the Assembly Budget Committee hearing, standing together in support of Jefferson Township schools.

In a recent episode of The Suffering Podcast, Superintendent Gene Howe and Business Administrator Bill Koch discuss what’s driving these challenges, including the state funding formula, S-2, and ongoing financial pressures on the district.

Students, parents, and local leaders packed the Jefferson Township High School bleachers to call for Highlands Impact Aid and warn about the impact of continued school funding cuts.

Listen as WRNJ’s News Director, Joyce Estey speaks with Highlands Impact Aid Founder, Tom Fasano ON AIR regarding the budget crisis within Jefferson Township Public Schools.

Proud to reshare this message from a JTHS Class of 1987 alum whose career in animation — including work on Kung Fu Panda, Hotel Transylvania, Despicable Me, Adventure Time, and SpongeBob SquarePants — began right here in Jefferson.

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Speakers provided students with practical guidance on contacting elected officials, writing effective messages, and understanding how decisions are made.

Eliminating academic programs, extracurriculars, and athletics doesn’t just reduce offerings—it removes the experiences that shape students’ confidence, engagement, and future opportunities.

Mayor Eric Wilsusen explains why Jefferson’s school funding crisis stems from state policy failures, not local decision-making, and why Highlands districts deserve fair consideration.

Balancing the budget under current state funding levels could require consideration of significant program changes. This includes eliminating Gifted & Talented programming at JTIS, with potential savings of approximately $100,000. This is not a recommendation, but an illustration of the impact of ongoing funding challenges.

To close a projected $4.8 million funding gap, the Board must examine difficult options. This includes increasing K–6 class sizes to as many as 33 students, resulting in potential savings of approximately $1 million.

This measure is not being recommended at this time, but illustrates the kinds of decisions that may be required under current funding constraints.

As outlined in the district’s 2026–2027 Budget Presentation, closing the funding gap would require eliminating services. This video shows what eliminating transportation would mean for students and families and why solving the gap through service eliminations alone is not realistic.

Jefferson Township Public Schools has taken extensive steps to manage escalating costs, including staff reductions, school reconfiguration, and the use of reserve funds. This update outlines the actions already taken and why the current funding challenge reflects the limits of what districts can absorb.

Over the past seven years, Jefferson Township has experienced significant cumulative state aid losses under New Jersey’s school funding formula. This update highlights how those reductions compound over time and why they continue to place long-term financial pressure on the district.

Jefferson Township Public Schools is facing a projected $4.8 million budget gap for the 2026–2027 school year. This overview explains the context behind the challenge, as presented to the Board of Education, and why it cannot be addressed through efficiencies alone.