We're Exhausting Every Possibility, Superintendent Says At Budget Hearing Monday

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Middletown schools superintendent Jessica Alfone started off Monday night's public budget meeting by saying:

"We have had a lot of productive conversations over the last several days and those discussions are continuing to happen in small groups with the Board of Education and the administrative team. We are exhausting every single possibility that comes our way. April 8 is our board meeting where we will have an executive session and then a public portion, and we hope to have some specific information to give you at that time."

"The things you've brought forward are things we're having conversations about behind the scenes ... about what our next steps will possibly be," she added.

That April 8 meeting will begin with a private executive session, then followed by a public session — where Alfone said additional information will be revealed.

Also, later today the Middletown school district intends to send a survey to all parents/guardians. The school district wants to send that same survey to all community residents — not just public school parents.

On Monday night, one dad presented an idea he said the parent community came up with:

The Board of Education should sell two distinct properties it owns on Kings Highway: One 10-acre tract near the intersection of Sleepy Hollow Road, and another 8-acre wooded lot directly behind Village Elementary School. If using the sale price of land from the recent Mater Dei sale, the combined 18 acres could be sold for more than $10 million, which could plug the district's current $9.8 million budget gap, he said.

It remains unknown if the district will consider this idea. Neither Alfone nor the school board has said anything publicly about this idea, or other alternatives the community proposed.

The Middletown school district proposed a tentative $197 million budget for next year, with a $9.8-million budget hole the district says it has to close. The school district proposes closing Leonardo and Navesink elementaries, and Bayshore Middle School, plus close an additional one or two more elementary schools in the coming years.

Monday night's meeting was attended by many parents from the savemiddletownschools.com movement, wearing their signature bright blue T-shirts.

The first speaker accused "certain members of the board" of "playing partisan politics and ended up with lawsuits because of it."

Parents called the district's proposal to close three schools a "half-crafted plan" and one that was not backed up with data or evidence.

"Our seniors feel pushed out," said another mom. "Our parents feel even more pressure and we're destroying our property values. These are our largest personal investments. Why didn't you mention all this before the election last fall?" she asked the board, to much applause. "Why didn't you tell us about that before you asked us to vote on an open space initiative?"

Watch Monday night's public budget hearing:

It's Not Just 3 Schools: Middletown Seeks To Close More In Future (March 20)

The first public budget hearing: Older Middletown Residents: We Can't Afford 10 Percent Tax Hike To Keep Schools Open (March 27)

Gov. Murphy Responds To Proposed Middletown School Closures (March 27)