Save Montclair Schools
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Last update: Oct. 12, 2025
Due to a 8.5+% ($12.6M) deficit from the 2024-2025 school year and projected 4+% deficit ($7M) for the 2025-2026 school year, all Montclair public schools are at risk of critical budget cuts.
According to reports by Superintendent Ruth B. Turner* and Interim Business Administrator Dana Sullivan* – both of whom are new as of July 1, 2025 and did not contribute to the budget shortfall – the district will no longer be able to meet payroll needs by mid-December 2025.
Due to requirements to provide 60-days advance notice, termination letters will be issued for several non-mandated district staff on Nov. 1. There is a chance for those termination letters to be rescinded if two special election measures are voted on Tue., Dec. 9. Read on for specific details.
We are an assembled collection of Montclair parents, an independent and unofficial group dedicated to cutting through the noise. Our goal is to bring all the scattered info about our schools into one reliable source of truth. We're a work in progress, with at least one parent representing every Montclair school, as we organize and transparently detail efforts.
How did we get here?
The following slides were shared by Superintendent Turner at the Montclair Board of Education (BOE) Special Meeting, Oct. 7, 2025:
2024-2025 Budget Deficits
This slide explains where the budget was overspent for the 2024-2025 school year.
The 2024-2025 Montclair Public Schools operating budget was $147,470,493 as presented on May 13, 2024.
The 2024-2025 deficit of $12.6M represents just over 8.5% of the budget for that year.
2025-2026 Projected Budget Deficits
This slide explains where the Montclair School District is projected to fall short in it’s 2025-2026 budget.
A Google search reveals the 2025-2026 Montclair Public School District budget was a $170.2M spending plan that was presented in March 2025 and adopted in May 2025.
The projected 2025-2026 deficit of $7M represents a shortfall of just over 4% of the approved budget for this year.
What cuts are suggested?
The Montclair BOE asked Superintendent Turner to attend the Special Meeting on Oct. 7 and present recommend areas where cuts can be made to resolve budget shortfalls for the 2025-2026 school year.
This list was shared by Superintendent Turner as the recommended areas where expenses must be cut to achieve budget resolution if Question #2 does not pass the special election. She explained that this list was determined by looking at what is mandated vs. what is discretionary spending under State Law. These are things that can be cut because they are not mandated.
She further explained that the expenses listed here do not achieve the full $7M gap that must be resolved for this school year; cutting these listed expenses still leaves the district with a $2.2-2.5M shortfall, which will need to come from somewhere.
She also made clear that the district is committed to protecting core education and special education services, as these are mandated services.
“This is not a scare tactic, this is our reality.” – Superintendent Turner
What solutions are proposed?
SOLUTION 1
Immediate advance of State Loan for deficit of $12.6M in 2024-2025 school year.
Measure approved by the Montclair BOE at the Special Meeting on Oct. 7.
This scenario appears to be unavoidable in order to continue immediate operation of the school district.
If a vote is not passed to raise taxes to repay the loan in the immediate term, the district will be required to repay this loan over the next 10 years and the Montclair School District will come under the control of a State Monitor (timing and terms to be verified with the district).
SOLUTION 2
Special Election: N.J.S.A. 18A:22-40
Question #1: A one-time tax levy to cover the 2024-2025 debt (to repay the advanced NJ State loan of approximately $12.6M).
Question #2: A tax raise to cover the 25-26 deficit (approximately $7M), reestablishing the new benchmark from which the annual 2% levy is raised.
It’s NOT an either/or question.
Here’s how all voting scenarios play out:
What if the township votes “no” to both questions?
If the township votes no on both questions it has decided to pay off neither the debt nor the deficit.
The $12.6M state loan (which was already approved by vote) means we are borrowing against future state aid.
If question 1 is voted down, we are committing to repaying the loan over the next 10 years, which comes with a state monitor, and which means that $1.25M of our annual district budget would go toward loan repayment every year for the next 10 years. In addition, we would pay the salary of the state monitor for those 10 years.
Because we will not have serviced the deficit, all of the cuts that have been proposed for January will go into effect, with the possibility the state monitor will require even more stringent cuts in January. There will also be further cuts in September 2026 and beyond, overseen by the state.
What happens if the township votes “no” to Question #1, but “yes” to Question #2?
This is the most difficult outcome to predict. If we vote no Question #1, we hold the $12.6 debt to the state, we owe $1.25M annual loan repayment, and Montclair remains under state oversight for the next 10 years. But because we have passed Question #2, which provides funds to manage this year’s deficit, we should theoretically have enough money on hand to avoid the proposed January cuts because the deficit has been serviced.
After that the picture becomes murkier: because Question #2 also includes a recurring, annual tax there will be more money on hand in future years, so future budgets may be better equipped to balance, and the severity of state monitor cuts may be less.
But there are a lot of unknowns in this scenario, including the particular priorities and personality of the state monitor assigned, the larger political climate and Gubernatorial race, and what should happen if the Montclair school system finds itself financially stressed at any point in the next 10 years—at which point the state monitor would have to enforce more stringent cuts.
What if the township votes “yes” to Question #1, but “no” to Question #2?
If Montclair votes yes on Question #1, we will have voted to pay off the debt and so we will avoid long-term state oversight and retain control of the school system.
But in voting no on Question #2, the deficit for the 2025-2026 school year remains, with no additional funds for this school year or coming years. All of the cuts proposed for January will go into effect, with further changes likely coming in September 2026, overseen by the Montclair BOE.
What happens if the township votes “yes” to both questions?
We pay off our debt and deficit, avoid state control and the January cuts, and give ourselves time to make judicious, meaningful changes to our spending, pursue accountability of the correct parties and not our students, and establish safeguards to ensure oversight of the budget.
State history has shown that state control tends to cut aggressively based on state minimums rather than community needs.
WHAT STATE MONITORSHIP MEANS.
*More info on the powers of a State Monitor here.
Slides following are from the BOE Special Meeting on Oct. 7:
How do we know this won’t happen again?
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At the BOE Special Meeting on Oct. 7, Superintendent Turner detailed several procedural measures to ensure appropriate oversight in district financial transactions.
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How much could this cost me?
No one wants to pay more taxes.
But we urge you to consider the costs to student education, the culture of our beloved town, and the cost of losing significant property value as the domino effects of this impact unravel.
vs.
Letters From Principals
Shared with Renaissance families, Oct. 10:
Dear Renaissance Families and Caregivers,
By now, Im going to assume everyone has seen Superintendent Turner’s message about the district’s significant budget deficit and the upcoming special election. (December) There’s no easy way to share this; the financial shortfall is unprecedented, and the impact WILL be devastating.
At Renaissance, we’re now facing the possibility of losing several key positions, including our counselor, nurse, curriculum support teacher, world language teacher, technology teacher, secretary, and security personnel. Although nothing has been finalized, the potential loss would have a profound impact on our small, close-knit community and day-to-day operations. In many instances, only one person fills each of those roles.
As I mentioned last night, please stay informed, attend meetings, and ask questions about the special election. Your voice and your vote matter. I know these circumstances will affect families differently, and I understand the emotions that come with them. All I ask is you remain involved and informed.
To better understand what’s at stake, I encourage you to research what happens when districts are placed under fiscal monitors or state control. In New Jersey, the state has taken over districts such as Jersey City (1989–2017), Paterson (1991–2021), Newark (1995–2020), Camden (since 2013), and Jackson (since 2024), and in each case, communities experienced years of lost local decision-making, program reductions, and slower recovery toward full autonomy.
I want to thank the many parents who’ve reached out with kindness and encouragement. In my 15+ years as an administrator, I have never felt something as intensely devastating as the potential impacts we are facing on our incredible students and team of educators. These changes can take effect as soon as December 23, 2025.
Our PTA president, led by Jaime Bedrin, is already working to share accurate information and resources. If you’d like to connect, please reach out to Jaime at ptapres@renaissancepta.org.
No matter what lies ahead, our dedication to your children will not change. That’s the Renaissance way and will remain so.
With appreciation and hope,
Maria Francisco, Renaissance Principal
Shared with Glenfield families, Oct. 10:
Dear Glenfield Families,
Montclair Public Schools is facing a serious budget shortfall. On December 9, 2025, there will be a special election where voters will decide on two questions related to school funding:
Whether to approve an additional $12.6 million for the 2024–2025 school year to cover the deficit from that year.
Whether to approve an additional $7.6 million for the 2025–2026 school year to stabilize next year’s budget.
If these questions do not pass, the district will be required to make significant reductions — including more than 100 staff positions, along with programs such as courtesy busing, sports, extracurricular activities, and clubs.
At Glenfield, this could mean the loss of approximately 11 staff members, including (Interventionists, curriculum support, counselor, nurse, secretary, technology teacher, world language teacher, security officer, etc.). Each of these positions plays an important role in maintaining a safe, supportive, and well-rounded learning environment for our students.
These reductions would have a direct impact on the student experience. They would affect class sizes, available programs, and the daily support that students rely on for both their academic and personal growth.
We encourage all families to:
Attend upcoming community conversations hosted by Superintendent Turner to learn more.
Attend Glenfield’s Town Hall on Tuesday, October 28th 6-8pm., and ask questions.
Most importantly, make your plan to vote YES in the special election.
No matter the outcome, our commitment remains the same: to provide every student with a safe, nurturing, and high-quality education. We appreciate your partnership and support during this critical time.
With urgency and commitment,
Dr. Frances A. Aboushi, Glenfield Principal
Questions asked and answered:
Q: What is meant by courtesy busing:
A: There is a difference between the current Montclair busing mandate and the NJ busing mandate. We would have to follow the NJ busing mandate to save on significant transportation costs.
NJ busing mandate:
A school district is mandated to provide transportation for students who live "remote" from their school. The distance that defines "remote" is based on the student's grade level.
Elementary school (K–8): A student living more than two miles from their school is entitled to transportation.
High school (9–12): A student living more than 2.5 miles from their school is entitled to transportation.
Current Montclair busing mandate:
Elementary school
Eligibility: Students in elementary school who reside 1 mile or more from their assigned school are eligible for free busing.
Ineligible: Addresses that fall within a 1-mile radius of the school are not eligible for district-provided transportation.
Middle school
Eligibility: Middle school students who reside 1 mile or more from their assigned school are eligible for free busing.
Ineligible: Students who live within a 1-mile radius of their school are not eligible.
High school
Eligibility: High school students who reside 2.25 miles or more from the district high school are eligible for free busing.
Ineligible: Students who live within a 2.25-mile radius of the high school are not eligible.
Q: Why would these cuts not reach $7M?
A: Because for the current year the cuts would only take effect in January, which is halfway through the school year.
Q: Even if question 2 passes, will there still be expenditure cuts?
A: There will still be significant expenditure cut conversations because of the structural deficit and cuts would need to take place by July/Sept. of next year.
Q: Can a state monitor recommend a raising of taxes?
A: A state monitor can only raise taxes to the extent that the law allows them to (2% annually) and/or for the health insurance waiver but would not be able to raise taxes any higher than the district can.
Q: (Working from an understanding that our current deficit is a result of spending down the district fund balance on recurring expenses…) what should the fund balance be used for?
A: Maintain the 2% for emergency moneys then choose an amount you’re comfortable you can generate every year ($500K-750K) and, although you can’t budget that your expenditures will always zero out, keep the rest in reserve accounts (which also helps cash flow).
Q: Would we have to pay the state monitor?
A: Yes. We would need to pay the state monitor ~$125 per hour (needs to be verified) for 32 hours per week.
Q: Will we hold steadfast to be committed to our mandates for our children with special needs.
A: Yes, it’s a legal mandate to meet the terms of IEP.
To offer clarity on this point - Superintendent Turner and the Office of Pupil Services have provided verbal reassurance that since IEPs are legal contracts, their terms will continue to be met as it is mandated by law. “Paraprofessionals for Kindergarten” are known colloquially as “Classroom Assistants” and are not present in classrooms as a result of IEP terms. If a child’s IEP calls for Paraprofessional Support, they will continue to have Paraprofessional Support.
This is not to say that there is no prospect for consolidation, as evidenced by the mention of five personnel cuts denoted in “CST/Related Service Providers” on the Budget Cuts slide.
Further, it would be expected that any IEP services provided by Curriculum Support Teachers, Reading Interventionists, or School Counselors would be consolidated or provided by another specialist, in compliance with the IEP. However, students without IEPs who receive support from these staff would evidently suffer a complete loss of this support.
Clarification of how compliance with IEPs will be met is needed from the district, and parents of children who receive these supports should be advised to follow the situation closely.
Q: Please clarify the amount of advance notice that needs to be provided.
A: By Nov. 1, the school system must notify the staff that there will be a reduction in workforce by Jan 1.
If point #2 passes, then those notices will be withdrawn… but some cuts would remain and more cuts would be proposed as we plan for 2026-2027 school year.
*The public will see that the school system is “right sizing” well before this vote.
Q: To confirm, we’ve already negotiated the current debt?
A: For LY 2024-2025 costs - Essex County regional is a big part of that. The school system is going to verify all of their bills, and won’t pay anything until it meets with them (obligated to pay out of district tuition - no negotiating with that and utility bills are still being analyzed). The school system will try to negotiate what it can but quite a number will be required to pay (e.g., 2025-2026: salaries, health insurance is self-funded so could be higher or lower, transportation is contingent on what is shared with other districts so those costs vary with limited control).
POVs From the Community
We’re all feeling the pinch.
Send us a message and tell us what you think, so we can share it here with the community. Let us know if you’d like to remain anonymous or not.
Let’s be respectful – comments targeting any specific school or subset of students will not be posted. This is about how our entire town will be impacted by this issue.
Comments shared here have been approved for posting by the people who made them.
“Whoever can’t understand that the increase in tax is nothing compared to the dumpster dive their home value is about to take is… I CAN’T!!!”
— community member
“Who will be 'local control' is my question - if the people that got us here, roll in the state monitors... Surely a top level objective should be a deep investigation into the alleged malfeasance, and a turnover of the boards finance committee”
— community member
“I’m voting yes because I worry about what the cuts will do to children and because I care about the people who will lose their jobs, who are not the people who should be losing their jobs. But a lot of people should be losing their jobs and we should know why they are not.”
— community member
Like so many in this town, and with two children in the public school system, I’m deeply worried about the repercussions of the MPSD budget deficit. I agree that this is a time to band together and find solutions as a community, and I’m heartened by the engaged, caring, and thoughtful residents who have stepped up to ask hard questions and participate in this process. I concur with the serious concerns about the possibility of a state fiscal monitor and have heard about the negative experiences of school districts that have had one imposed.
I’m frustrated, however, by a lack of acknowledgment of the inherent economic inequity perpetuated by a flat-percentage, proportional property tax. Yes, the amount of a property tax increase will differ by a home’s assessed value. You write, "we're all feeling the pinch," as if that is the same pinch... But the significance of that percentage tax and the financial strain felt by residents of different economic classes will be far from equal. For an owner of a $3 million home, $10,000 is a large sum to pay, a sacrifice, but would mean foregoing a luxury expense for that year. For an owner of a home assessed at $300,000, or for a renter facing rent increases, $1,000 more for the year will cut into affording basics. When we’re talking about stripping the school system of anything that is not “core academics”, we must recognize that $1,000 extra in property taxes for those families already stretched living in Montclair means they won’t afford out-of-school tutoring and music lessons for their kids, either. Know that when you’re asking for a fixed-rate property tax increase, you’re asking to put a disproportionate burden on your lower-income neighbors.
Why can’t we find another tax system (a sales tax, a restaurant tax, a luxury tax?) that would remedy this inequality? It is so frustrating that this crisis has created a situation where there is no time to find creative and more just alternatives in the rush to save our schools. In the meantime, some of us are asking, can we afford to live here at all?
I don’t have the solution to this very difficult equation. I don’t mean to undermine the laudable efforts to forge a path forward in our budget crisis; I do believe we should all pitch in to help. I just want to bring this town’s economic inequalities into focus in this discussion.
— Aviva Arad, Renaissance & MHS parent
“A $2,000 tax increase is approx. 0.0017% of the average value of a Montclair home. If a ‘school quality perception factor’ contributes just 1% towards the average Montclair home price, whether or not you are using the school system, we may be comparing over $10,000 home value put at risk vs. a $2,000 tax increase on average.”
— community member
“I have exited anger phase and have moved into action.”
— community member
“The biggest problem with all of this is confidence and trust. I think most people would be willing to say yes to #1 to get us out of this mess and just want to know that #2, $7.6 will keep their kids in their schools with normal things like art, music, librarians, clubs, working bathrooms, and all the special needs supports. THEN, we will somehow trust the BOE and Turner to restructure and find savings so we can make improvements along the way annually without ending up right back where we are in a couple years. This is what I keep thinking about and am hearing everywhere.”
— community member
Half of Montclair's school nurses are on the termination list. Remaining nurses will have to cover multiple buildings.
A school nurse is often the first responder when a child has a seizure, asthma attack, or severe allergic reaction to a food or bee sting. Seconds matter if your child needs an EpiPen or has low blood sugar, and a nurse's quick action could save their life.
Every student deserves a safe school - not just those who happen to attend one of the few buildings left with a dedicated nurse.
Without enough nurses, schools could have long gaps where no licensed medical professional is onsite. If untrained staff are asked to give insulin or respond to a seizure, it puts both the child and the district at legal risk.
When nurses are available, attendance improves and teachers can teach instead of managing health crises. Without a nurse, more kids will go home unnecessarily - and parents will get called away from work. School nurses keep everyone's kids safer, healthier, and in school.
We understand budgets are tight - but replacing nurses with untrained staff doesn't save money when emergencies, lawsuits, or parent backlash follows.
— community member
Thank you, thank you, thank you for coming to gather so quickly and creating this site and mission.
I am a “soon to be”, but currently non-tenured teacher at Bradford School teaching 2nd grade who will likely get a termination letter Nov 1. I love my job with all of my heart and my day-to-day support and impact on my students. I am devastated to think I may lose this coveted and cared for teaching position - through no fault of my own. Thank you for creating this site and standing up for teachers.
— community teacher