HRT - Hormone Replacement Therapy in Lincoln Park, NJ

LINCOLN PARK — Rumor became reality in the borough Tuesday night as school board officials confirmed the news spreading around town for days: A drastic budget deficit will require layoffs and other cuts for the 2024-2025 school year.

More than 200 residents and teachers packed the auditorium for the board's meeting at Lincoln Park Middle School, where Board of Education Vice President Todd Henches acknowledged the fiscal distress.

"Obviously we all know why we are here this evening," Henches said. "Obviously it's been stated that there are some significant shortfalls in the budget, and that creates a tremendous amount of concern, fear and uncertainty for everybody in our school district, namely our staff, faculty and parents."

The specific amount of the shortfall was not revealed by district officials, but one resident during a public comment period cited social media rumors ranging from "hundreds of thousands of dollars to $2 million."

How big is Lincoln Park's deficit?

Pressed for an answer by one resident, board President Jennifer Aiello said "I honestly don't know the number."

"At this point, there is a lot of information flying about and some of these decisions that people are talking about may not have been made already," Henches said. "But again, as parents of children in our district, we're all concerned."

But Superintendent Michael Meyer confirmed, "There will be staff reductions and we are working to decide how to make changes that are least impactful for our students."

Board members expressed frustration with Meyer's revelation of "significant fiscal constraints" and some said the assessment took them by surprise. They voted unanimously against adopting a tentative budget of $27 million − up from $25.6 million last year. They also unanimously rejected related financial resolutions regarding travel expenses, professional services and an enrollment adjustment.

School Board president 'disgusted and embarrassed' after budget

"I voted no on the budget tonight because the process leading up to this decision has been marked by a lack of transparency and clarity regarding the financial situation of the district," Aiello said. "There's been inconsistencies and uncertainties that have not been adequately addressed."

"I will be honest with you, I used to be proud to be a board member," Aiello continued. "Now I am disgusted and embarrassed."

Teachers said they were "blindsided" on Friday when they were advised of the budget crisis during a scheduled professional development day.

The district serving about 11,000 residents consists of two schools, the K-4 elementary school and a grades 5-8 middle school, with a combined enrollment of 878 students. Older students attend Boonton High School in a shared-service agreement.

Teachers warn of 'devastating cuts'

Jennifer Zammit and Carolyn Kerwin, co-presidents of the Lincoln Park Education Association union, represented district teachers at the meeting.

"We understand this means devastating cuts to our programming, staff and ultimately our students' school experiences," Kerwin said.

More than 30 other people, mostly parents, spoke during the public comment session. Many expressed their support of the teachers and even board members and urged them to find "innovative solutions."

Others took the board and administration to task.

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"I don't understand how we didn't see this, and by we, I mean you guys, the people in charge," Christina Joslin said, tearing up while praising the teachers of her young daughters. "We have some of the best educators that we're going to lose because they will leave, and I don't blame them, or we're going to lose them due to incompetence. Let's call it what it is,"

Nicole Messina, who identified as both a district parent and a teacher in another district, said, "I want to apologize to this room of amazing teachers for the faults and failures of others that will ultimately affect you, your livelihood, your performance of your job and most importantly, our children."

"I know I speak for every outraged parent in this room when I say we support you and we are grateful for you," she continued. "However, I know I'm not alone when I ask, 'how did we actually get here, and who is responsible for this situation?'"

Superintendent explains deficits

Meyer said the deficits were discovered when the district started putting together the upcoming budget in January.

"Before we got to that point, we knew there were significant costs associated with special services that were were required to provide for, and they were not budgeted because they couldn't be anticipated," Meyer said. "That was a big piece of this. The other piece has to do with the tuition at the high school, which fluctuates from year to year."

District officials noted the send-receive agreement with Boonton High School has not been revisited in more than 20 years. "We are working on addressing that with Boonton," Meyer said. "We have zero control over what is required for the high school students."

By comparison, students in nearby Boonton Township attend Mountain Lakes High School on a 10-year shared service agreement. Those districts are currently in negotiations for a new agreement and new tuition rate.

Next steps for the budget

At this point, Meyer said, "We don't have specifics about the details, we're still trying to find out.

"People were mentioning we need to go back and do further accounting," he continued. "I don't disagree. We have nothing to hide. We have done nothing but try to provide the best education for the students. In an effort to try and keep our services at the same levels they've been, that's exceeded the revenues that were coming into the district. That's how we ended up in this situation."

Meyer said Lincoln Park would continue to investigate causes and solutions but the board faces an April 30 state-mandated deadline to submit an approved budget for next year.

"It's not an easy situation we're in," he said. "As we have more answers, I'm happy to share them with you."

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

LOCATION: Jersey City, Hudson County between Routes 1 & 9 along the Hackensack River.

PURPOSE: To restore approximately 34 acres of wetlands and 11 acres of wetland transition area. The project has restored the area’s native salt marsh community to enhance the overall ecological health of the Hackensack River ecosystem, improving the tidal hydrology and increasing public access and recreation to a restored urban ecological oasis.

FUNDING: $10.6 million in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal and Marine Habitat funds under the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) of 2009 and $2.3 million in oil spill settlement funds from the Harbor Spill Restoration Committee. Additional funding was provided by the Office of Natural Resource Restoration from natural resource damages of settled sites in the same watershed.

BACKGROUND: In 1998, the NJDEP in association with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), NOAA and Hudson County began discussions of restoring tidal channels and tidal wetlands and properly closing and developing the abandoned 80 acre landfill at Lincoln Park. A Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) was completed in February of 2004 by the USACE. The EA formed the basis for the complete design plans and specifications that were funded and created under the oversight of the NJDEP. The Office of Natural Resource Restoration (ONRR) competed with over 800 grant applicants for federal funding and received the largest ARRA grant given out by NOAA. The ARRA funding was absolutely essential to make this project a reality.

BENEFITS: In addition to properly closing an unregulated landfill, this restoration helps to improve water quality in the Hackensack estuary and restores the area’s native salt marsh community improving the overall ecological health of the Hackensack River ecosystem. This project also provides a unique opportunity in this urban setting for the public to experience a thriving tidal wetland and observe a host of aquatic dependent wildlife in their natural environment.

PROJECT SUMMARY: Approximately 267,000 cubic yards of solid waste material were removed from approximately half of the landfill and consolidated on the northern section of the park outside of the restoration area. The county closed the remaining portion of the landfill making it into a 9-hole golf course for public recreation.

All areas within the wetland restoration site were over-excavated and backfilled with two feet of clean fill material (dredged sand) to create a clean substrate for all wetland and open water areas. Coordination of the project among Hudson County, NJDEP, NOAA, USACE and the Port Authority resulted in beneficial reuse of dredged material from the USACE and Port Authority harbor anchorage project. The dredged material (sand) was brought in by a ship and pumped into a confined dewatering facility created on site. This successful government coordination saved money for both Hudson County and the NJDEP, saved valuable space at the off-shore dredge disposal area, and prevented tens of thousands of trucks from rolling through the streets of Jersey City. The material was then used to provide suitable substrate for growing the wetland plants and aquatic organisms. Dredged material was also used to cap and properly close the landfill.

The site elevation has been lowered and graded so that it is once again regularly flowed by the tide. The site was planted with approximately 100,000 native wetland and upland plants that have a high habitat value for raptors, wading birds, waterfowl, fish and aquatic invertebrates. The creek system design maintains a tidal connection with the existing 9+ acre man-made lake. A weir was installed where the tidal creek and the lake meet, to allow for lake levels to remain stable. The lake was dredged and two feet of clean sand was placed at the bottom. The perimeter of the lake has been planted with intertidal vegetation and the lake shores planted with native species. A walkway/nature path was constructed and provides recreational opportunities for the park users including fishing, birding, walking, and biking. The walkway will ultimately be connected to a larger more comprehensive riverfront trail system.

PARTNERS: NJDEP, NOAA, USACE, Hudson County Parks Department, Hudson County Improvement Authority, Port Authority of NY and NJ and USF&WS.

AWARDS: David Bean, Project Manager with the Office of Natural Resource Restoration received the 2010 Excellence in Restoration award from the NOAA Restoration Center. The award was presented by Secretary of Commerce, Gary Locke on Earth Day 2010 at Lincoln Park. The project team received the Partnership Award from Coastal America in January of 2012.

3-minute read

LINCOLN PARK — Nearly 20 teachers and other staff are facing layoffs at the end of the school year as the borough school district grapples with a projected budget shortfall of more than $2 million for the 2024-25 academic year.

About 150 people attended a Lincoln Park Board of Education special meeting Thursday, a follow-up to a packed March 19 board meeting at which officials revealed the depths of the K-8 district's financial troubles.

Board members stood Thursday to address many of the questions that they could not answer at the last meeting.

"Frankly, we did not have enough information," Board Member Dawn Caicedo told the audience.

Board Member Mark Halupka refuted rumors spread on social media of missing or stolen money by explaining the difference between a deficit and a shortfall, the latter of which is the issue in Lincoln Park.

Lincoln Park BOE explains shortfall

"Nothing is missing or stolen," he said. "Deficit is where spending exceeds revenues. A shortfall is where projected expenses exceed the projected revenues. That is the position we are in."

He cited reasons for the shortfall, including higher costs for transportation, healthcare, salaries, special education needs and out-of-district placements.

Faced with state statute requiring them to submit a balanced budget for 2024-25 by April 30, and limited by the state's annual tax cap increase of 2%, the board was required on short notice to "cut expenses," Halupka said.

Board members and Superintendent Michael Meyer did not discuss the specific number of layoffs or positions to be cut, saying any such information could lead to personnel privacy violations. He did confirm the affected staff included custodial, office and administration employees, "not just teachers."

Board Vice President Todd Henches told the Daily Record he did not know the exact number of affected staff but had heard an estimate of 19. That number, he said, could change depending on retirements and staff attrition that could lead to rehires.

Superintendent: 'I take ownership'

Meyer presented an overview of the district's economic woes: "We had to close a shortfall of a little over $2 million, which this preliminary [$27 million] budget has done."

"As superintendent, I take ownership of the situation we are in," Meyer said. "I recognize that I need to probe deeper and challenge information as it is presented in order to develop a more precise understanding and to ensure that my staff can demonstrate a thorough explanation of the decisions they are making."

He also apologized to board members for delays in informing them of the shortfall, promising to improve his communication with the board in the future.

A new business administrator will be starting shortly, Meyer said, and a forensic audit will be ordered to investigate the shortfall.

Earlier:'Disgusted and embarrassed': Layoffs loom as Lincoln Park schools face budget crisis

Only a handful of people, mostly district parents, spoke during the public-comment sessions.

Dana Fieldhouse, who has one son in Lincoln Park Elementary School and another in the middle school, expressed her anger. "I think your excuse as to why you lost $2 million is pathetic," she said. "I used to say I am proud to live in Lincoln Park. Now I am embarrassed. You let go of some amazing teachers and this will break the students' hearts."

Staff cuts will increase class sizes

The district, serving a borough of about 11,000 residents, consists of two schools, the K-4 elementary school and a grades 5-8 middle school, with a combined enrollment of 878 students. Older students attend Boonton High School in a shared-service agreement.

Cuts to the teaching staff will force an increase of class sizes, Meyer said. Average class sizes will increase from 16-17 to 20-21 for language arts and math courses. Science and social studies classes will increase on average from 19-20 to 23-24.

Parents and teachers in the audience were critical of the decision to inform the affected staff members on Good Friday, March 29, as the district was heading into spring break.

"I know that not everyone would agree with how things are handled, but there's no good time for this," Meyer said. "But I wanted to let the staff know as early as possible. I don't think it's fair to wait until the last minute."

Following public discussion, the board voted unanimously to adopt the preliminary $27 million budget for 2024-25. No breakdown of the specific tax increase or cost to residents was presented. Those details will be included in a final vote on the budget scheduled for the board's April 30 meeting.

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

3-minute read

The latest deluge put 2 feet of water in the garage of Lincoln Park's Kristen Perry.

On Dec. 18, it was 4 feet. That was the first of three storms within three weeks that her family had to prepare for, endure and clean up. Perry, 53, and her husband Brian, 50, have lived through numerous floods since moving into their yellow raised ranch on the corner of Ryerson Road and Pequannock Avenue.

They bought it 14 years ago to be near Brian Perry’s family.

“Honestly, my brain is just fried from all this,” Kristen Perry said, adding she has a tension headache this week.

It's anxiety that thousands of North Jersey homeowners are dealing with — and one unlikely to go away, given expectations of more bad weather in the coming days and projections that climate change will lead to more wild weather in our future. Therapists say the mental health toll of repeated flooding is often overlooked after such disasters — and an ordeal that needs to be taken seriously.

"People who live in flood zones like this that are repeatedly flooded, when we hear the word 'rain,' you see the entire neighborhood on edge,” Westwood resident Peggie Maisch said on Wednesday, after enduring the latest inundation of her Harding Avenue home.

Back in Lincoln Park, Kristen Perry worries about her son walking through dirty, muddy floodwater when she sees neighbors’ garbage floating through her yard. She worries about her husband’s flights up and down the stairs, moving household items to higher ground before storms and putting it all back together again after the waters recede.

'A muddy mess':Boys & Girls Club of Lodi cleans up from yet another flood

"God bless him. He always just moves his stuff out of the garage and he doesn't complain. He's 50 years old. He can't be carrying all this heavy stuff up from the garage every time it floods, every week. I'm talking about weight benches and mini refrigerators," she said. "He's carrying all that stuff up the stairs every time."

At this point, the Perry family would like to get out. But selling a flood-zone home isn’t easy. She watched a neighbor’s home sale fall through after rainstorms when the prospective buyers saw the trouble they’d have.

Before the flood: Heightened stress, over and over

A 2021 study of Kerala, India residents after recurring flooding, published in the Nepal Journal of Epidemiology, found such episodes can have a profound psychological impact. Researchers emphasized the need for comprehensive mental health support in disaster management.

People might not always make a conscious connection between their overall heightened stress and the repeated experiences they have endured, but there are a number of warning signs when it comes to flooding, said Michael Tozzoli, CEO of Ridgewood-based West Bergen Mental Healthcare.

Of course, having to constantly worry about upcoming weather conditions, especially when the news is blasting out alerts of snowstorms or heavy rainfall will cause anxiety. And the anxiety will be heightened for people who have been through traumatic flooding.

What may seem like attentiveness to weather forecasts can turn into a feedback loop that creates more and more tension as keeping an ear out for updates becomes excessive, Tozzoli said.

Then the fear and nervousness that people feel as they anticipate another flood can be pervasive and impact their daily lives as they worry about the safety of their homes and families. Sleeping less and worrying more as storms approach.

'Entire neighborhood on edge':North Jersey residents face more hardships from flooding

As the water recedes: What to do

Sadness, frustration or helplessness: It's normal to have strong reactions to the damage caused by flooding.

The study from India found a significant decline in psychological well-being among people repeatedly affected by the floods as well as a sense of powerlessness that comes from the inability to control your environment.

It’s important to recognize and normalize these feelings, Tozzoli said. It’s not a shortcoming or personal failing to be at your wits' end.

He advocates for proactive mental health planning, similar to preparing for a flood. Identify and set up emotional support in advance. That can be someone to talk to or a professional if more help is needed.

Taking on small, manageable tasks can help you regain a sense of control, but Tozzoli recommends seeking professional help to cope with these challenges effectively.

Leverage community support when possible. The Morris County Office of Emergency Management refers people to the American Red Cross during flood events, which offers mental health support, spiritual care and personalized recovery casework.

These services are aimed at addressing both the immediate and long-term needs when it comes to recovery from disaster.

Anyone looking for help can reach the Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767.

Jersey City residents: would you mind losing a few acres of Lincoln Park so that Jersey City could build a school there? Would you mind if Lincoln Park land was to be replaced by inferior pocket parks (“replacement lands”), miles away?

Recreational and open space park land would be replaced by the school, cars, buses, pollution, noise, garbage and hundreds of school personnel and students. Wildlife and foliage would suffer.

This is what is currently occurring in Braddock Park, the only other major park besides Lincoln Park, owned by Hudson County. But all county residents would “pick up the tab.”

And it could happen to Lincoln Park and other major parks throughout New Jersey, thanks to “diversion” loopholes in the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s regulations.

The problem began in 2001 when Nick Sacco was concurrently North Bergen Mayor/State Senator/Assistant Superintendent of Schools. That’s when North Bergen moved its 17 trailer preschool into Braddock Park, in violation of NJ environmental and educational regulations.

North Bergen has falsely claimed for 23 years that there isn’t another location for its preschool. Not true; North Bergen recently bought the unused 10 acre High Tech High School campus in North Bergen and is converting it to a middle school for 1700 students.

North Bergen planned to move 7th and 8th graders from the elementary schools into the new middle school, thereby making room for all the preschoolers (250-330), in the elementary schools.

In a 2018 North Bergen referendum, voters ratified this Department of Education-approved realignment plan and appropriated $65 million for it. Now North Bergen has betrayed NJDEP, NJDOE and the public and is trying to keep its preschool in Braddock Park, falsely claiming there isn’t enough room in the elementary schools.

North Bergen’s numbers don’t add up.

Besides the elementary schools, there are other locations in the township for all or part of the preschool as well, but North Bergen only has eyes for Braddock Park, which is supposed to be protected from non-recreational use by NJ DEP.

Because North Bergen does not want to move the preschool out of Braddock Park all Hudson County taxpayers are responsible for paying for/providing five times as much new replacement parkland as North Bergen illegally diverted.

The proposed replacement lands are bad jokes. One is in an industrial area adjacent to Route 495, consisting of a bridge embankment with a sidewalk. Another, is a concrete plaza in Hoboken, underneath the 14th Street viaduct. Another, a pocket park that serves the apartments next-door to it, is half closed to the public because of its landslide potential.

We need to stop this fiasco now or it will open the door to future diversions of Braddock and Lincoln Parks for schools, town halls, condos, etc.

Please call or email Senator Stack ([email protected]), Mayor Steven Fulop ([email protected]) and NJ DEP ([email protected]) and tell them to stop the North Bergen Preschool diversion of Braddock Park.