As concerned families with children currently enrolled in the Middletown Township Public School District, we are apprehensive about their future. Our children have thrived in their environment and may potentially be unwillingly transitioned into a different institution with the upcoming new school year. 

We, the undersigned residents, parents, and taxpayers of Middletown Township, formally request an independent financial audit of the Middletown Township Public School District (MTPSD) due to serious concerns regarding financial mismanagement, lack of transparency, and potential misuse of taxpayer funds.

Reasons for the Request:

1. Lack of Transparency:

The public and as well as some board members were unaware of a budget crisis until an abrupt announcement of a $10 million deficit at the March 18th Board of Education meeting. No prior public financial discussions suggested this crisis was imminent, raising concerns about hidden or mismanaged funds.

2. Unjustified Spending and Budget Discrepancies:

The district spends approximately $21,000 per student, significantly above the state’s “adequate” spending level of $15,000 per student.
The administration claims massive budget shortfalls while continuing to maintain high administrative costs, with no detailed breakdown of spending provided.

3. Failure to Consider Alternative Cost-Saving Measures:

The district’s only proposed solution is drastic: closing schools, eliminating programs, and increasing class sizes. No analysis of administrative cost reductions, vendor contracts, or other non-instructional expenses has been presented.

4. Potential Mismanagement of Taxpayer Funds:

The district has refused to provide detailed financial data justifying the crisis. Multiple board members have publicly stated they were excluded from financial discussions that led to the school closure proposal.

5. Community Outrage Over Lack of Public Input:

The board announced the school closure plan via email only hours before a vote, preventing meaningful public discussion.

 

Parents, teachers, and students have strongly opposed the rushed decision and demand transparency.

 

Our Requests:

An immediate, independent forensic audit of the district’s finances for the past 5 years to determine if funds have been mismanaged or improperly allocated.

Full public disclosure of the district’s detailed budget breakdown, including administrative salaries, vendor contracts, and discretionary spending. A moratorium on school closures or staff layoffs until a thorough audit is completed and alternative cost-saving measures are fully explored. Public hearings and community input before any drastic decisions are made regarding school closures, layoffs, or program eliminations. As concerned citizens, we demand accountability and transparency in how our tax dollars are spent. The education of our children should not be sacrificed due to potential financial mismanagement or a failure to plan strategically.

We urge the New Jersey Office of the State Comptroller, the NJ Department of Education’s Fiscal Accountability Office, and the Monmouth County Superintendent to initiate an independent audit of the Middletown Township Public School District immediately.