The BRICK Times Vol. 24 - No. 3
In This Week’s Edition
MICROMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
JERSEYSHOREONLINE.COM
Top Educators Honored By School Board
BREAKING NEWS @
jerseyshoreonline.com
Government Page 7
Community News Page 6, 9-14
Dr. Izzy’s Sound News Page 16
Inside The Law Page 18
Photo courtesy Brick Schools Teachers and educational services were recognized as Governor’s Educator of the Year. By Alyssa Riccardi BRICK – The Brick Township School Dist r ict recog nized its teachers and educational services professionals who were selected to be the 2023-24 Governor’s Educator of the Year for each school. The Governor’s Educator of the Year Program aims to recognize educators who have gone above and
beyond in their service to New Jersey students. The program recognizes excellence, creates a sense of pride, and brings public attention to the work of outstanding educators. The nomination process com mences in November when each school community is invited to nominate teachers and educational services profes-
sionals using a rubric. Each school committee evaluates the nominations and announces their school representatives in December. “I’m thrilled to honor the recipients of the Governor’s Educator of the Year Program for the 2023-24 school year,” Director of C u r r icu lu m a nd Instruction Dr. Alyce Anderson said. “We
gather as a communit y to honor these talented educators as May marks Teacher Appreciation Month.” At the recent Board of Education meeting where this was announced, Anderson addressed that Superintendent Dr. Thomas Farrell unfortunately could not attend the meeting. (Educators See Page 8)
Grants Go To Open Space, Parks & More By Judy Smestad-Nunn BR ICK - D u r i ng a r e c e nt Tow n sh ip Council Meeting, the gover ning body approved the insertion of a $1.2 million NJ Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Program grant for the preservation of the Breton
Woods property. Development of the 32-acre wooded property was averted when an $8.55 million deal was struck in January bet ween the Ocean County Natural Lands Trust Fund Advisory Committee, the township and the contract purchaser, developer D.R. Hor ton, where
the county would pay $ 6 . 8 4 m i l l io n a n d Brick would pay $1.71 million, which was offset by the grant. The governing body approved the addition of a number of grants into the already-adopted 2024 municipal budget, which is per mitted when the amount was not deter-
mined at the time the budget was adopted. T he G reen Acres Program also awarded $1.1 m illion for the Mult i-Pa rk I mprovement plans for the renovation of parks throughout the township, most recently Cedar Bridge Manor Park. Also, the cou ncil
approved the insert ion of a $20 0,0 0 0 grant, awarded by the State’s Department of Community Affairs, which will be used to help offset the cost of senior dialysis transportation. A $14,0 0 0 g r a nt, awarded by the State’s Division of Highway (Grants - See Page 5)
May 25, 2024
Controversial $162.2M School Budget Approved By Alyssa Riccardi BRICK – The looming $162.2 million budget which was passed by Brick Township Board of Education members in a tight vote now threatens jobs cuts and large classroom sizes. At the May 9 meeting, members approved the $162,235,456 budget for the 2024-25 school year. The budget was originally presented to the board at the April meeting, however the board failed to pass the budget – with a tied vote of 3 in favor, 3 opposed, with board member Nicole Siebert absent. According to district documents, the approved budget is $162,235,456. Of this, $124,063,219 is to be raised by property taxes. The higher number includes the general fund, special revenues, and debt service. The district’s general fund, which aids the majority of the district and its operation, is $149,166,394 with a tax levy of $123,930,014. The budget includes a 2.99% increase in the property tax levy, Superintendent Thomas Farrell said. Previously, there was a mandated 2% tax levy cap. However, the district received a waiver allowing them to exceed the cap by .99%. This
was due to health benefits increasing in costs. The tentative budget, which was unveiled at the March meeting, was $158,431,294 – a nearly $4 million difference. Farrell said the increase was a result of several different impacts, including a $3 million increase for health benefits. In addition, the district no longer can rely on the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds, which the schools were receiving during the pandemic. Brick is one of many dist r icts suffer i ng under S-2, a law that lowered state aid for some districts and sent it elsewhere. The NJ Department of Education reported that Brick School District is receiving a total of $14,519,578 in state aid, which is down $112,455 – a .77% decrease from the 202324 school year. These details on the budget were all presented to the public by Farrell at the April meeting. The full presentation can be viewed on the district’s website and YouTube page. The presentation addressed the key factors that affect the budget: reduction of State Aid; Staffing; Special Education Programs and
(Budget - See Page 5)
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