Lacey Hearing On 2024-25 School Budget Postponed

LACEY, NJ — The Lacey Township Board of Education has canceled its special meeting for Tuesday, April 30, that was set to be a public hearing on the 2024-25 school budget.

A legal notice published Thursday announced the cancellation. It followed a lengthy meeting on Tuesday where students, parents and teachers urged the district administration and school board to not cut teachers. Read more: 'My Teachers Saved My Life': Lacey Students Fight Budget Cuts

The notice says additional information will be posted on the district's website.

Dozens of school employees are at risk of having their positions cut as the district grapples with a loss of state aid resulting in a $6.9 million budget deficit. Read more: 'Financial Crisis' Could Have State Overseeing Lacey Schools

The budget situation is further complicated by the state Department of Education's notification to all districts that they will not be able to seek loans to cover deficits for their 2024-25 budgets — an option that has been most visibly utilized by the nearby Lakewood public schools for the last several years.

The state education department's deadline for school boards to adopt the 2024-25 budget is May 15, 2024.

Here is the full text of the public notice:

LACEY TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION

SPECIAL MEETING
PUBLIC HEARING &
ADOPTION 2024-2025 BUDGET

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the LACEY TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION Special Meeting - Public Hearing & Adoption 2024-2025 Budget scheduled for Tuesday, April 30, 2024, has been canceled. Please monitor the District website for further updates on the 2024-2025 Budget.

Sharon Ormsbee
Business Administrator/Board Secretary