Schools
South Brunswick Schools May Require Redistricting Due To New Homes
Redistricting may be recommended for the 2026-27 school year, the Superintendent said.
SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — With new homes coming up in South Brunswick, the school district may require redistricting for the 2026-27 school year.
During last week’s Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Scott Feder informed the BOE and community that the district will be potentially adding 125 students for the next school year.
This number was calculated keeping in mind the township expects around 735 units for the next year. This July, the township expects 200 new homes in the township.
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“It is the year after that that we have serious concerns,” Feder said. Around 1700 potential units are expected to be built in Northumberland Way, which will produce more elementary students than Brooks Crossing Elementary School can handle.
"We already have 500 plus kids at Brooks Crossing. We certainly can't handle 500 more. That means we cannot keep our districting as it is. Whether we reconfigure or not is another question, but we know we're going to have to redistrict,” Feder told the community.
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“This is a very unpopular thing to have to do in the school district. However, you cannot absorb 3100 new homes eventually without doing this.”
Feder also spoke about the budget implications of having more students in the district.
The district faces financial challenges due to New Jersey's tax laws, which limit school funding despite increased property taxes, Feder explained.
“Doesn't matter how much tax comes into the town, you don't get it. Just remember that that's the way it works in New Jersey right now,” Feder said. “If all of these kids come in and all this new money comes into the town, all you get is the kids and a small, infinitesimal amount of money over time from state aid, which is nothing in comparison to the need.”
A three-person committee is currently studying demographics and will present their findings to the BOE, who will then have to make a decision.
“This is a warning of sorts to inform the Board that at some point between the study we're going to be starting this year..., I would highly guess we will be making a recommendation to the board for redistricting,” Feder said.
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