Dr. McGann's Newsletter

As we embrace the energy and promise of this fall season, I want to extend a warm welcome to new students and their families who have just joined our Flemington-Raritan community. This year, the District registered 300 kindergarteners and over 200 preschoolers, 60 of whom are brand new students. Some of our kindergarten and preschool students have siblings who attend our schools, but many are new to FRSD. Our total population of students in Grades PreK-8 is nearly 3,300. We are honored to continue this journey with you and your children, building on their successes and supporting them through every step of their educational paths. Thank you for your continued trust and support in making our schools a place where excellence is nurtured every day.

This year, our goals center on fostering a dynamic and inclusive learning environment where every student thrives academically, socially, and emotionally. We remain committed to enhancing innovative teaching strategies, advancing academic achievement for all learners, and collaborating with you—our invaluable partners—to create a culture of respect, resilience, and achievement. Together, we are shaping a future where our students can flourish.

Below are a few updates and reminders:

• Preschool - We are continuing to expand the District’s free, high-quality preschool with three additional classrooms next year for a total of 45 new spots for preschool students. The preschool lottery opens on January 3 and closes on February 21. Parents can find more information here.
  
  
• Parent-Teacher Conferences - Conferences are coming up! J.P. Case Middle School and Reading-Fleming Intermediate School will have early dismissals for conferences from November 20-26. Our elementary schools have early dismissals for conferences from November 21-26. Parent-teacher conferences are a wonderful opportunity to review your child’s recent work and highlight your child’s strengths and areas for growth. Continue to stay in touch with your child’s teacher throughout the school year. The partnership between home and school supports your child’s success! View the full schedule with times here.
  
  
• School Recognitions - Reading-Fleming Intermediate School and Barley Sheaf Elementary School met the requirements to achieve certification and a Digital Schools Star recognition from Sustainable Jersey for Schools. Awards were presented on October 23, 2024, during the New Jersey School Boards Convention in Atlantic City. Learn more here.
  

This year, I am forming three Ad Hoc Committees to provide partnership in decision-making with community members in three specific areas:

1. Family Engagement - The Family Engagement Ad Hoc Committee will hold its first meeting on November 19. This committee is reviewing community concerns, receiving district updates and ensuring family voices are heard and considered in key District topics.
   
   

2. Preschool - The Preschool Ad Hoc Committee will focus on the preschool expansion program. This committee will be examining the District's potential growth, analyzing data, and synthesizing information to develop strategic steps to continue to expand free, high-quality preschool. The committee's first meeting is December 5.
   
   

3. Artificial Intelligence - The Artificial Intelligence Ad Hoc Committee will discuss A.I. in Education. This committee will be investigating how AI tools and technologies can be incorporated into teaching and learning and ensuring that applications promote access to AI resources in a trustworthy manner. If you didn't have the chance to attend our information session about AI on November 13, please click the link to view a recording. The committee's first meeting is December 10.

Last year, I heard our community loud and clear: school budget shortfalls were not shared out soon enough. This year, I am providing budget updates as early and often as possible. In fact, our auditors just completed their review of our budget and findings show we're facing deficits similar to last year. Lack of funding continues due to the unfair state formula created through the School Funding Reform Act.

This month, I've been meeting with Board of Education committees, administration, teacher’s union leadership, PTOs and Central Office staff to talk through budget planning, projections, considerations and options for funding solutions. School funding comes from a few sources including local property taxes, limited aid from the State of New Jersey, and the federal government. When developing the district budget, we combine the local property tax source with state and federal aid, grants, and other funds to cover salaries, classroom materials, facility upgrades, bussing, extracurricular activities, and more. We monitor current spending, analyze anticipated expenses, and allocate funds carefully to support district goals and provide for every student, every day at every opportunity.

Similarly to last Spring, the District is facing another steep deficit for the 2025-2026 school year. Retaining current staff, maintaining all programs and services, and meeting all contract requirements will raise costs higher than 2% of the District’s current budget. Future costs exceeding 2% of the current school budget create a gap in the budget for the upcoming school year. School districts are required to adhere to a 2% increase in the district budget unless permission is received from the local community to go above the 2% cap.

The gap in our budget is primarily due to the costs of providing a thorough and efficient education to students with widely varying needs, contracted salaries, retroactive health insurance claims, and the increasing costs of services. The preschool expansion award from the New Jersey Department of Education has been beneficial to the District to offset the costs of salaries of all preschool teachers and preschool teacher assistants. However, other costs continue to increase such as energy costs, anticipated to increase by $350,000, and security costs, which are expected to increase again by $22,000. Last year, the District’s security costs increased by 14%.

While we monitor current spending, analyze anticipated expenses, and allocate funds carefully, the state’s unfair funding formula hurts Flemington-Raritan Regional School District. The District’s State aid is less than the district received in 2014-2015 despite our increase in costs.

Balancing the budget is a complex task and fiscal choices are often difficult. Every decision can impact the way we deliver instruction to our 3,300 students in PreK through Grade 8. Our District remains committed to communication, transparency, collaboration, and fiscal accountability.

Those interested in a discussion are invited to attend a Town Hall meeting on Thursday, December 12 from 6 PM to 7:30 PM at J.P. Case Middle School in the media center. I look forward to sharing more details as dates are finalized after the reorganization of the school district’s board of education.

Thank you for your support and dedication to our school district and student success.

IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

November 20 - EARLY DISMISSAL/Gr. 5-8 - Gr. 5-8 Conferences

November 21 - EARLY DISMISSAL - Conferences

November 22 - EARLY DISMISSAL - Conferences

November 25 - EARLY DISMISSAL - Conferences

November 26 - EARLY DISMISSAL - Conferences

November 27 - EARLY DISMISSAL - Thanksgiving Recess

November 28 - SCHOOL CLOSED - Thanksgiving Recess
November 29 - SCHOOL CLOSED - Thanksgiving Recess

Superintendent of Schools

Email: kari.mcgann@frsd.us
Website: www.frsd.k12.nj.us
Phone: (908) 284-7561
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flemrarschools/
X: @karimcgann