As legislators hammer out the details of how to fund our schools next year, voters in Toms River and Seaside Heights are taking the matter into their own hands.
A vote is being held today to decide whether the two districts should merge and if they do, it could bring millions of dollars in state aid back to Toms River that's been on the losing end of the school funding formula for years now.
But not everyone is on board with the move.
Ted Goldberg is in Toms River to hear from education leaders and community members as they cast their votes.
Depending on how today's election goes in five short towns.
Seaside Heights could lose its only school.
Huge void elementary all.
In what's a win win situation for our taxpayers and the community?
I think it's a travesty.
Our regionalization plan is on the ballot, which could push Seaside Heights into the Toms River School district.
Suzanne Hagan and Sherry End saw teach that huge void and are co-presidents for the teachers union there.
It's a landmark.
It has been here for years.
It has.
It provides so many services for our students that they we fear they will not get over the bridge.
If the referendum passes.
Boyd Elementary would stay open for just five more years or until enrollment drops below 125 students.
Seven or eight years ago, we had approximately a high 210 year year to 300 mark or down to 184 students.
Seaside Mayor Anthony Vaz used to be superintendent of schools in Spotswood.
He says a merger would be a big boost for local students.
They'll have a diverse curriculum which will bring pre-K to eight, 8 to 12 in a district that has a straightforward curriculum.
Right now, our kids say to sixth grade, they go to Central.
What other surrounding towns?
The curriculum we have is not equal.
Toms River is sending us to east over supposedly, and our test scores are much higher than theirs.
So it kind of just proves the fact that we're getting sent over the bridge for a better education.
When the school they're sending us to has lower test scores than we do.
World digging out of post COVID and certainly our funding issues over the last years have an impact on on Toms River scores completely.
But East over it is not a school who needs a Tsai who needs improvement.
I know that huge boys school scores have come out of Tsai.
Tsai refers to a state program for under-performing schools.
Toms River superintendent Michael Sydow doesn't deny that Boyd Elementary students have higher test scores than where they would go.
But he says bringing more students to Toms River brings more state resources.
In Toms River.
It's going to bring about 35 to $40 million over the next ten years in tax levy revenue that comes from Seaside Heights that will benefit all the children.
Hagan is skeptical that Seaside Heights taxpayers will benefit long term.
If you ask any community that started sharing services with another school district and they go, they come to equalize taxes, you want to pay far more in the end, especially when you go to a community that pays 51%.
While NC is afraid that longer travel times for seaside students mean they won't participate in as many activities as their Toms River classmates.
We fear our students may not be able to participate in the after school activities, PTA functions, concerts, programs and clubs because there is no transportation to and from.
Transportation will be consistent as part of our regional school district.
Everything that we have and we do for our children here, they become an extension of our family.
Seaside students currently go to Central Regional for middle and high school in Ocean County.
Doug Corbett is their acting superintendent and he tells us if the referendum passes, quote, the Central Regional School District will be left with a $3 million hole in its budget.
Our communities should not be on the hook to assist neighboring towns and school districts who should really be looking at other options and long term plans to better manage their funds and provide it for their own constituents.
For this plan to move forward, voters in Toms River and Seaside Heights must approve it.
In Ocean County, I'm Ted Goldberg.
NJ Spotlight News.