Here's The Public Meeting Schedule To Address Middletown's School Budget Deficit

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — The Middletown school district has released the dates of the public meetings it will hold to solve a budget shortfall without closing schools.

These are a series of public meetings the district will hold to try and find a way to plug an approximate $10-million budget gap this year without closing three schools, as the district suggests.

When the Middletown school district first introduced the proposal to close three schools (Leonardo, Navesink elementary schools, and Bayshore Middle School) at the school board meeting last Tuesday, many parents asked to be involved in the process.

The Middletown school board accepted the help.

The Middletown school district budget for the '25-'26 year is approximately $200 million. Board president Frank Capone told Patch last week the district has a projected deficit of $10-$15 million this year. However, final numbers are not available yet, because the district does not get final supplemental aid funding from the state until July.

Here is a letter sent out Friday:

Dear Middletown School Community,

After reflecting on this week's Board of Education meeting and the feedback from the community, the administrative team and the Board of Education are actively working on vetting further options to eliminate a significant shortfall in next year's budget. As we are vetting the options, we would like to hold a series of open forums for community members to attend to their concerns and ideas. All community members are welcome at any of the scheduled events.

After the first two forums, the district will be putting out a survey to all community members for feedback, and the Board of Education will be holding a special executive session on April 8. Following this meeting, alternatives will be shared with community. The final two forums will be for the community to express feedback on alternatives to balance next year's budget and ensure a path forward for the future.

The event dates/times can be found below:

• Wednesday, March 26 at 6:00-8:00 pm at the High School North Auditorium
• Monday, March 31 at 6:00 - 8:00 pm at the Thompson Gymnasium
• Tuesday, April 1: Survey Sent to Community Members
• Tuesday, April 8: Board of Education Special Meeting: (Executive Session only)
• Wednesday, April 9 at 6:00-8:00 pm in the High School North Auditorium
• Thursday, April 10 at 6:00-8:00 pm at the High School South Gymnasium

The events will also be live streamed via the district's YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWHOQXCU45XIIKpEkbgxEaw

I want to reiterate to the school community that nothing is finalized in regards to the budget until the April 30 meeting, and what was presented this week was a proposal. We are open to these future conversations and look forward to hearing from the community at-large.

Jessica L. Alfone, Ed.D.

Superintendent
Middletown Township Public School District
(732) 671.3850, ext. 1002