Middletown Mayor's Plan to Keep Schools Open and Preserve Safety Officers

Mayor's Proposal to Save Middletown Schools

• 💡 A new two-part proposal has been announced by the mayor of Middletown, N.J., aiming to keep two elementary schools open and prevent cuts to on-site school safety officers.
• 📌 This plan comes after a previous proposal to close Navasink and Leonardo elementary schools due to a $10 million deficit in the school district.

Financial Strategy for School Stability

• 💰 The first part of the mayor's plan involves acquiring a 10-acre plot of land valued at $2 million, expected to generate additional town revenue without raising taxes.
• 🛡️ The second part entails the town absorbing the costs for school safety officers in each building, saving the school district approximately $600,000.
• 📊 Combined, these actions are projected to provide the district with $2.66 million in support funding, stabilizing the district and allowing schools to remain open.

District-Wide Impact and Next Steps

• ✂️ Despite the new plan, approximately 40 administrative and duplicate positions are still expected to be cut district-wide.
• ✅ Parents expressed optimism and a strong desire for their children's schools to remain open.
• 🗓️ The Middletown Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the mayor's new plan next Tuesday.