Middletown, NJ Mayor Proposes Plan to Keep Schools Open Amidst $10 Million Deficit

New Budget Proposal Averts School Closures

• 🎭 Parents expressed relief as a new budget proposal from Middletown Mayor Tony Perry aims to keep all schools open and prevent cuts to on-site safety officers.
• 💡 The proposal addresses a $10 million deficit that had threatened the closure of navyn and Leonardo elementary schools and the consolidation of Bayshore Middle School.

Key Elements of the Mayor's Plan

• ✂️ The plan involves an estimated 40 administrative and duplicate role cuts districtwide, with no in-classroom teaching positions eliminated.
• 💰 The town would acquire a 10-acre property expected to generate revenue without raising taxes.
• 🤝 Additionally, the town would contribute $600,000 towards school safety officers, alleviating the burden on the school district.

Positive Reception and Next Steps

• ✅ The school superintendent described the proposal as a "positive outcome for our students and families," estimating it would provide the district $2.6 million.
• 🗓️ The proposal now awaits a vote by the Board of Education at their meeting next Tuesday.
• 😟 Parents like Jenny Cox remain cautiously optimistic, emphasizing the importance of schools as a "safe happy place" for their children.