We're going to call this meeting to order. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. >> Pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Adequate notice of this
meeting was advertised in the Asbury Park Press on January 9th, 2026 and on the in the Beacon on January 27 22nd, 2026 and by posting the notice in the Fork River Post Office, Lenoka Harbor Post Office District website and by filing a copy of the notice with the
Lacy Township Clerk as requested by the Open Public Meeting Act. Can I have roll call, please? >> Mrs. Opitz, >> here. >> Mr. Hurley, >> here. Dr. Forny >> here, >> Mr. Amato >> here, >> Mr. Bell
>> here, >> Mr. Goen >> here, >> and Miss Claus >> here. Uh before we get started, I'd just like to make a a quick statement. Um good evening. On behalf of the board of education, I want to formally recognize and commend the exceptional response of our local law enforcement, dedicated
staff, and our school safety and security team regarding today's school events. We talk a lot about safety plans at our meetings, but seeing those plans come to life so flawlessly is something else entirely. In moments of potential crisis, the distance between safety and
tragedy is measured in seconds. The immediate and coordinated action demonstrates demonstrated by our officers, our Lacy staff members, and security personnel showed how great our teams work together. Their ability to execute established safety protocols with such precision ensured that our
students and staff remain protected and informed throughout the duration of the situation. To our Lacy Police Department, we are profoundly grateful for your partnership and your unwavering commitment to our schools. To our internal security team, your vigilance is the backbone of our daily operations
and your performance today has earned the highest respect of the board. We often speak by our commitment to safety first environment. Today we saw exactly what that commitment looks like. I would like to thank everyone again for your dedication to the children of this district. Okay. Now we are going to move
on to the report of the superintendent. >> Right. I'm going to expand on that a little bit too. Thank you uh for those comments uh President Claus. Um, I'd like to make take a moment to address the safety incident that did occur this morning uh at all of our schools. Uh, at approximately 7:30 a.m., we were
notified by the Lacy Township Police Department of a report involving uh suspicious activities in the vicinity of Lacy Township High School. Immediately upon receiving this information, we implemented a secure protocol across the district as a precautionary measure while law enforcement investigated. In
close and ongoing communication with the Lacy Township Police Department, it was quickly determined that the reported threat was not credible and was specific only to the high school area. Based on that guidance, we made the decision to continue student arrival procedures. It is important to emphasize that that allowing students to enter the buildings
was a deliberate safety decision. We recognize that many students were already at bus stops throughout the community and we always believe it's safer to bring students into our buildings where there's a strong and visible police presence rather than leave them waiting outside. Okay? And that's really an important point here. All right? We don't want to
leave them stranded at bus stops. Okay? We are with our nice attached police department partners. We are the safest place. Okay? And getting them in quickly, getting them in smoothly and without any panic. Situations like this require rapid decision-making under
evolving conditions. Every decision made this morning was done in real time in collaboration with law enforcement and with the primary goal of ensuring the safety and well-being of our students and staff. I want to thank the Lacy St Police Department as well uh for their immediate response and partnership as
well as our administrators, staff and transportation team for their professionalism and coordination during the situation. My team is awesome. I have to tell you, okay, we have trained, we have worked, we have met, okay, we're we do what we can, all right, the safety
of our students will always remain our highest priority. And we continue to work closely with our local law enforcement partners to ensure we are prepared uh to effectively respond these situations. And again, thank you. And we had other law enforcement here as well. We had sheriffs here. I think we have Perkins Township here. So, I'd like to
thank them as well. Uh but we had a pretty >> wide situation. And I know some parents were a little bit concerned at seeing our presence. Uh but that's very strategic and it's very purposeful. Uh where our police officers work hand in hand with us. So that's the commentary I
wanted there. >> So thank you. Um on to the business of the day. Okay. Uh we're going to get we are gathered here this evening. Okay. Uh for the final adoption of the budget. Uh I want to reaffirm that the document that's before the board of education uh
is the culmination of a rigorous student centered planning process. Our mission has remained steadfast throughout the cycle. We want to protect the high quality instructional programs and services that define the Lacy Township School District. While we're navigating a challenging financial landscape, okay,
this is marked by a $6.2 million increase in operating costs and a reduction in federal funding. Okay, all that is real time stuff. We have crafted a balanced approach that prioritizes our classrooms. We have moved aggressively to manage our long-term liabilities, which has allowed us to achieve a 29%
decrease in debt service just this year alone. To sustain our core educational offerings, this budget offers includes a 5.87% tax levy increase, which translate to translates to an estimated impact of approximately $24 a month for the
average homeowner. These are difficult fiscal choices, but they are necessary ones. This budget represents a responsible path forward ensuring that despite external financial pressures which are not getting better, the quality of education for our students remains our highest priority. I also want to address the health benefits
which we're going to have a slide on as well. I have some slides. Okay. Regarding the specific pressures of our health benefits, the disparity in cost is putting an immense and unsustainable strain on our local resources. When we look at our enrollment, the vast majority of our staff members have moved
to newer Etn and Horizon educator health plans. And we have a legacy group that remains in some older plans. All right. To put this in perspective, a family plan under the new educator tier cost the district roughly $63,690 where the same coverage under a legacy
plan is higher at about $84,000. Altogether, the district spends $20.4 million annually on health benefits. Employee contributions are about 1.8 million of that. Okay. Local taxpayers shoulder 18.6 million. Okay. This burden
has become increasingly heavy and the New Jersey school employees health benefits program is facing a structural crisis. It was constructed years ago to save districts money. Now it's costing districts money. It's not our fault. It's not the town's fault. It's not a
budgetary fault. Okay. that the educator's health plan was designed for educators and is failing them. The state currently is doing nothing about it. It's a problem. Okay. While the private sector typically sees an annual cost increase of 5 to 7%, the state plans
shock districts this year with a 30% increase for just this year alone with projections of another jump of 30 to 45% next year if they don't do something about it. Those are the predictions. One of the primary drivers of this spike is the surge in prescriptions of GLP-1
medications. Ompic WGOI, you've heard all the commercials, okay, which saw spending increases of over 100% in one single year. Huge drivers of what's going on. These pharmacy costs are rising significantly faster than typical medical costs. Furthermore, the state
plan is struggling with the adverse with adverse selection. Under recent legislation, many healthier or wealthier districts have realized they can find cheaper insurance on the private market and and are choosing to exit exit the state pool. As these lower risk groups leave, the remaining pool of
participants becomes older and requires more medical care. Okay, which in turn drives premiums higher and encourages more districts to depart. We are currently looking to get out. Okay, we're working very hard on that. Okay. Historically, the state mandated a claim
stabilization fund to help absorb these types of price shocks, but years of high claims have effectively depleted those reserves. This leaves the state with no choice but to pass the full unmitigated cost of medical inflation directly onto school districts and their employees, creating this ridicul ridiculous
financial reality. As we go through the slides, we roughly could have stayed within the 2% cap this year if it wasn't for state health benefit increases. Okay, which the state promised us when they formed this many years ago. This
wouldn't happen and it is happening. Okay, welcome to New Jersey in some cases, right? All right, so let's look at the slides. Tom, are you going to help us here? All right, you've seen many of these slides before. I think many of you have attended these budget presentations. All right. But we do always from I'm
preaching like uh Pat to George did, tenative to final. There are some tweaks and some changes, but we have not changed the tax rate that we put out originally. We have remained within that even though we're required to make adjustments by the state by our executive county um uh school business
official. Okay. All those tweaks we were able to uh tweak the budget where it's not going to be any increase other than what we talked about originally. So again, okay, this budget represents no reductions in core programs, the instructional staff, instructional programs, transportation, and
co-curricular opportunities. Next, Tom. Okay, we've seen this slide before. We are saddled with these increases. Okay, when you talk about the health and prescription benefits which we already spoke about natural gas and electric
which actually may jump again July one uh based on well if uh if the governor reverses her freeze insurance and property and casualty we've talked about that our own all of our own homeowners seems to go up every year as well Tom
that requires us to balance this budget required reductions okay we couldn't balance the budget with those types of pressures. Okay, so those are the reductions. This slide has not changed from our two previous presentations. Okay, the full-time PAR professionals,
the health time full-time health aids, administrative staff salaries, out of district tuitions, which is a risk. Okay, if we get one student moving into the district that comes to us out of district, we have to pay for out of district. So, we're risking ourselves a little bit there. Transportation, fuel,
and supplies, that's again another risk. looking at fuel prices. Okay, we don't buy our fuel on the open market. We buy it as part of consortium, so we pay a little bit less. Uh maintenance supplies, technology reductions, which is largely our Chromebooks, athletic and co-curricular
supplies, and instructional supplies, which is mostly paper. We are very, very efficient on not using paper. Okay? All of our stuff is electronic. We're using less and less paper every day. We've done a very good job of that. Next, Tom,
here's the update. Tenative to final. Okay, these are some of the adjustments that we made. The tax levy, however, I'll remind everybody, is going to remain unchanged. Okay, there's no additional impact in the uh than what I presented originally, although we've tweaked the numbers. Um, you will see capital reserve activity. Okay, we
finally are ready to do the high school roof. We've been saving for years in capital reserve. Half the roof we're paying for in full and not bonding. Okay. through a ROD grant. The state is providing us with 40% of the high school roof, which is half the roof. The other
half of the roof is part of our referendum. We're transferring that money over into general fund, okay? With anticipated $10,000 in interest. That has to be reflected in your final budget. So, that is reflected now in the budget. There's certain revenue
adjustments. Um, pea adjustments had to happen. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but the line item of 2306 million had to be moved into a certain category. But that increase also ups our amount that we contribute because we still have
to pay for our special education students uh by the amount of $45,279. So we move that money over as well, okay, into the pea budget. Okay. So these adjustments reflect the updated revenues and funding alignment, but the overall fiscal stability is maintained
at no change into the original burden that we're putting on the taxpayers. Tom, the next two slides highlight, and I'll post these uh for the general public. These next two slides highlight next year's July one membership in health
plans to somewhat drive the point home, I guess you could say, I'm doing here. Okay. So, I've outlined two different slides. The majority of our staff who are eligible who take health benefits, we have about a hundred 100 that wave,
okay, their benefits packages because they probably have a spouse, they probably have a significant other who takes benefits. So, roughly we have about 500 eligible people. Um, and these are the people that take benefits through their employer, which is us,
okay? Lacy Township School District. So we have 347 that are in the educator health plans. Okay. And you can see the monthly rate is the medical RX the number enrolled total annual cost and average cost to district on the right
side for each of those plans. Single parent there's four types single parent child husband wife and family. Family is husband wife and one child or four children. It's the same rate. Okay. So those are the number there. Okay. 347
individuals are involved. I'll call these the newer plans, okay, for um uh our our staff. Okay, this plan, these plans and the plans I'm going to show you in a minute, staff contributes $1.8 million out of their paychecks for these plans. And I have
that on the next slide as a highlight on the bottom. Okay, the legacy plans, these would be employees who are employed, I believe, before 2015 were eligible for these plans. I've been here longer than that. I segueed into the newer plans, okay? Just work for my
family, for other individual decisions, okay? But these legacy plans exist in uh all aspects of state employment. Um, and we we can talk about that in a minute, too. Um the state has just recently cancelled these plans for state
employees who work in Trenton and Ruckers and a couple of the colleges. Okay. So we don't know exactly what's happening with these plans. Okay. So there's 46 individuals in these what we call legacy plans. Okay. And you can see the costs there. Okay. They are
significantly higher uh than the uh newer plans we'll call it in the state plan. Yeah. Okay. you know, health benefits are a large portion. So, you have uh those are the numbers that you have there. And again, I'm going to post this. Okay. So, that's what the numbers
look like. All right. Next, Tom. All right. Final budget. Okay. You've seen these slides before. I try my best to be the BA here. Okay. Um I like to try my best. Um so, you see the operating budget increases over last
year. Remember that it says revised because as you go through the entire year, you make sure that everything gets tred up in the numbers because you don't know exactly uh how much money comes in, how much money goes out. It's always within very close numbers. That's why it says revise there if anybody questions
it. Okay, so you have final and revised from last year just to give you that um uh to give you what it looks like here. Okay, so the operating budget, the granted entitlement, the debt service in parenthesis means it's gone down. Keep that in mind. Okay. And then the total
numbers on the bottom. Okay. So, this is our operating budget and uh and those different items there. Next, Tom. >> Can I do this, Tom? >> Oh, it does stuff on the bottom. So, the repayment of the outstanding debt continues to decrease. Next one. Okay.
Property tax levy. Okay. The operating budget, the debt service tax levy. Okay. Okay, the total property tax levy and then the net increase. Okay, 5.87%. Okay, that includes the 2%
rise plus the health benefit waiver gets us up to 5.87%. Okay, we like I said before, we probably would have been with this current budget that we've crafted in the 2% range if it wasn't for the health benefit increases
mandated by the state system which we kind of highlighted earlier. Dumb. And then total revenues. Okay, this includes everything on the revenue side between the property tax levy, state aids, extraordinary aids, grants and
entitlements. Okay, again in parenthesis means it's gone down. Okay. Um and then you have the totals there. Uh I think there's one there's one more slide, Tom. And then the average homeowner uh bill.
Okay. Uh the average home in Lacy in one year has gone from 288906 to 290668. And I know many of us sit in the room and go my house is valued more than that on assessment. So you'll have to gauge that for how much your taxes would go
up. Okay. So the tax bill uh goes from 4,766 to 50055. Just as by comparison, I know it's not a direct comparison because I just read it today because I'm always interested in what's going on in our governor's district which is Montlair. The average
tax bill on the average home in Monontlair for schools only is $15,000. Right? I was astounded at that number. Astounded. Okay. It shows our efficiencies. They are a bigger district, don't get me wrong, but I
think it really highlights the efficiencies that we're able to achieve down here. Okay. With the average bill being 5,000, that's their average bill. So there's obviously houses more and less in Montlair. And that's it. So, I'll put it on the website. >> Okay.
>> Does the board have any questions before we move on to public comment about the budget? >> No. >> Nope. >> Okay. We're going to move on. >> Ladies and gentlemen, we are now in opening the um this portion of the meeting um accordance to New Jersey Open Public Act. This is an opportunity for
members of the public to make comments to the board. Please note that this period is reserved for comments only. The board will not be responding to questions or engaging in dialogue. The board's role is of a policy-making body. Operational and administrative manner should be addressed through the appropriate chain of command, beginning
with the staff member or administrator most directly involved. All speakers are expected to present their remarks in a respectful civil manner. Rude or harassing will not be permitted. Please understand that defamatory remarks may create personal liability for the speaker and potential legal exposure for
the board. In addition to protect the rights, privacy rights of students and employees, the board will not entertain discussion regarding specific student or personnel matters. We thank you for your cooperation and helping us maintain an orderly and respectful meeting. An audience member wishing to make a
comment will raise his or her hand when called upon, state their name, address, or affiliation and intention to make a statement. Comments will be addressed to the board president. Comments will be limited to six minutes. No person person shall speak more than once. This portion of the meeting is for public comments
only. There will be no questions answered. The purpose of this board meeting is to perform our business in public. Everyone is entitled to a public comment. If there is a question for the board, there's an established chain of command to follow. Would anybody like to have a public comment tonight? Regina,
you can start. Regina Desenza, Sunset Drive, Sunrise Beach. The budget scenario that we presented tonight is is both difficult and pitiful for the taxpayers to endure. And I think more should have been done
to save a few jobs, especially your betrayal of certain longtime employees. Um, I do have a question. I don't know if he'll answer it, but next Wednesday, May 13th, was supposed to be coffee and conversation with the superintendent. Is that still on? Where and when? >> I'll put a flyer out.
>> 5:00. >> It's 5:00. >> I'll get a flyer out tomorrow. >> Which school? >> Say, please. Milton. >> Milton. Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Okay. Anybody else like to have a public comment? >> No. Okay. I'll close public comment. Uh, do you have anything else to add? >> I do not.
>> Okay. Board comments and we'll start with Brandon. Do you have anything? No. S. Anything? >> Um, just a few things. >> Sure. Um, this morning I got a phone call from my wife and she asked me what's going on at the high school. Then President Klaus called me and gave me an
update. And then later this afternoon, I had a curriculum meeting where I had the pleasure of sitting with that curriculum team and and and listening to Will or Mr. Zalinsky explain what happened today. And I'm very pleased with the the
action he took on the fly. Um, I know that some people were a little nervous about the decisions he made, but when he explained it to me and he explained it to the rest of the people in that room, we were very confident that he did he took the safety of our students, our
staff, our faculty, everybody into consideration and made the right move. And so, I wanted to congratulate you along with all the other guys who are getting congratulations today. >> So, well done on making those decisions on the fly. Um, I also want to explain my vote tonight because I believe our
community deserves clarity when it comes to decisions that impact their wallets and our students. Over the past three years, our community has seen a significant tax increases approaching 27%. This is an abstract to me. I'm feeling
it at home and I know many families in the community are as well. I support our staff. I'm not against fair compensation, but this vote is about priorities and outcomes. Here are the facts as I see them. We are approving a budget that raises taxes again. We are
reducing support in areas that directly impact students, including parent professionals. We are not meaningfully advancing curriculum in a way that shows measurable improvement for our students. And at the same time, we're making financial commitments at the administrative level.
What I struggle with most is this. How do we raise taxes then turn around and reduce positions that directly support our students? This disconnect is hard to justify. If we're asking more from our taxpayers, there needs to be a clear return on that
investment. Something our students, our staff, and our community can point and say, "This made a difference." Right now, I don't see that return in a way that is measurable or meaningful for our students. I also believe we need greater transparency on how we arrived
at these numbers, not just for the public, but so that every member of this board has a clear understanding of what is driving these increases and what outcomes we expect in return. I also want to acknowledge that we did review this budget in public. Excuse me. We
also reviewed this p budget in public and I appreciate the input that was shared around how funds are being allocated. At the same time, I don't believe that process went far enough. It didn't feel like we were fully explored alternative approaches or challenged ourselves to find ways to balance the
budget without relying on additional tax increases. And when we're making decisions of this magnitude, it is critical that we have full participation and engagement from the board so that every perspective is considered before we ask more from our taxpayers. This is not about being
against our staff or against our students. It's about making sure that when we ask for more, we can clearly demonstrate why it matters to those who benefit. I want to support a budget where that connection is clear. Tonight, I can't confidently make that connection. If we're asking for our
community to pay more, we owe them clear proof that it's making a real difference for our students. Thank you, >> Dan. Dan, is there anything you like? No. Okay, Karen. >> Okay. Yes. So, okay. as a new board member. Um, this was really difficult for me because it's the first time I'm
approving a budget and that increase in the health insurance of the four million was a lot to understand like the health insurance is 20% of the entire budget. So, it just breaks my heart that first that we have to let go of the full-time, you know, paraprofessionals and the
health aids, but that 4 million could have went to keep those people and also add teachers for the kids that have smaller class sizes. So it that was really difficult for me to get through it and I went through the budget for hours um for several days and
ask a lot of questions. So um I just want to recognize the pair of professionals and the health aids and thank you for everything. Um and also during teacher appreciation week this week um I'd like to thank all the teachers and staff. That's it. >> Okay. Thank you. Megan, is there
anything? No. Okay. Steve, >> no comment. Thanks. >> Okay. Um I just a quick comment. Um The paras are near and dear to my heart. I know some personally for many years. Um we did have a budget workshop and the board uh did come up with a list if we
were to get more money. Um you know the pars were on the list as well as more staff curriculum. Um you know so we'll see hopefully but um I'm sorry about tonight. I I know where this is going and I I do feel for you all. Okay. All
right. We are now going to move on to the adoption of the 202627 school budget year. Can I have a motion, please? >> Motion. >> Can I have a second? >> Second. >> Um, any additional discussion? >> Can I have a roll call, please? >> Mrs. Opitz? >> Yes.
>> Mr. Hurley? >> Yes. >> Dr. Forny? >> Yes. >> Mr. Amato? >> No. >> Mr. Bell? >> Yes. >> Mr. Goen? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Claus? >> Yes. Okay, that concludes our meeting. Can I have a motion to adjurnn?
>> Motion. Second. >> All in favor? I