A sign of the times

The unfortunate reality of New Jersey’s school funding system has forced many school districts to cut programs and raise taxes significantly over the past few years. Jamesburg, as its residents are well aware, is the perfect example of how the system can wreak havoc on a small district.

Since 2002, the district has had to cut staff positions at its two schools and has ceased funding of after-school programs, all the while raising taxes significantly due to frozen state aid and rising operating costs.

In the wake of this, members of the community have done what they could to help out, volunteering their services or pitching in to keep certain programs intact. Now with the PTA indicating an inability to fund middle school sports programs like it did during the last school year, officials are asking businesses and residents to donate money for the programs, and will be soliciting at events like tonight’s Cruise Night.

It’s a shame that it would come to this, as these programs are taken for granted in so many school districts supported by larger tax bases, but it is another sign that change is needed at the state level.