By Kathy Shwiff
The Morris School District Board of Education approved a $155.7 million budget for the 2026-27 school year on Monday.
The spending plan includes a tax levy of $111.4 million, up 3.5 percent from a year earlier.
Board Vice President Linda Murphy said a 17 percent increase in the cost of healthcare benefits allowed the district to exceed the state’s 2 percent cap on school district tax levy increases.
Anthony LoFranco, the district’s business administrator, said 21 positions were eliminated, saving $2.4 million, and $1.8 million was cut from other areas of the previous budget.
No changes were made from the proposed 2026-27 budget presented last month, he noted.
The average Morristown homeowner will pay about $331 more in school taxes, while a typical Morris Township homeowner will see an increase of about $78.
In public comments during the meeting Monday, a half-dozen residents urged the board to continue its support for the district’s special-education program, which they said has improved in the past few years.
Several praised Diana Pinto-Gomez, the district’s assistant superintendent for pupil services & bilingual education, and credited her with restoring parents’ trust after the program was changed several years ago. Those changes hurt students, they said.
Superintendent Anne Mucci reassured the parents that “we have a tremendous commitment to our special-education students and to all students.”
“While there are reductions of several administrative and teaching positions, there is nothing in our budget that indicates any reduction in services or any reduction in programs for our special-education students,” she said.
With four administrative positions being cut, “all of us are going to be doing a little bit more than we were this year.”
In changing the administrative structure, the district looked at models that previously were successful, she said.
There will be a supervisor of special education for grades K-5 instead of one director and one supervisor, she added.
CHANGING PROVIDER?
Murphy said the board is considering changing its health-insurance provider to Cigna from Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield to limit cost increases. “We’re excited about the possibility that we’re going to be able to get some control over the situation.”
She pointed out that the cost of the state health-benefits plan for public employees is increasing more than 50 percent this year.
The Morris School District is adding vision and dental benefits at no cost to the district, Murphy said, without elaborating.
Murphy also said the district is adding five new 29-passenger vans and selling six of the older 54-passenger buses. It expects to receive more than $150,000 from those sales.
School meals will increase by 15 cents in each category starting in the fall, she added.
HR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Board member Alan Smith said a new executive director of human resources, replacing the director of human resources & personnel relations, would “free up capacity for Dr. Mucci to really have personal attention in areas that are particularly of importance.”
“We still will have this director of special-education services reporting directly to Dr. Mucci.”
LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
Mucci said Wednesday, June 17, 2026, will be the last day of school because one potential snow day was not used.
Morristown High School’s graduation will be Thursday, June 18.
The turf field at Frelinghuysen Middle School is expected to be finished by Aug. 15, she said. “The project is progressing nicely.”
The board approved the withdrawal of about $2.2 million from the district’s capital reserve account for the turf field project.
The board will recognize teachers and staff members who are retiring at its meeting May 11 and will celebrate the high school Class of 2026 at the June meeting.
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Residents without kids shouldn’t have to pay ridiculous taxes to fund others’ kids.
Dear Members of the Board of Education,
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the recent and proposed cuts to the special education budget and the decision to replace staff members who have provided outstanding support to our students over the past three years.
Special education services are essential to the success, safety, and emotional well-being of students who rely on consistent, skilled, and compassionate support. The current staff members have built strong relationships with students and families, demonstrated dedication to their roles, and contributed positively to student progress. Replacing staff who have proven their value over multiple years raises serious concerns about continuity of care and the quality of services provided.
Budget cuts in special education do not only affect staff, but they also directly impact students who already face significant challenges. Stability, familiarity, and trust are critical components of effective special education programs, and frequent changes can be disruptive and harmful to student outcomes.
I respectfully ask the Board to reconsider these budget decisions and staffing changes. Please explore alternative solutions that preserve essential services and retain experienced staff who have made a meaningful difference in our students’ lives. Investing in special education is an investment in the future of our community.
Thank you for your time, attention, and commitment to the well-being of all students. I appreciate the opportunity to share my concerns and hope they will be carefully considered.
To provide more context regarding the ‘half dozen parents’ concerned about special education: the women who spoke during public comments are actually the board members of the district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Group (SEPAG). They are raising serious issues that affect over 900 special education students—concerns that many feel are not being given the weight they deserve. It would be invaluable if Morristown Green could feature an in-depth article on this topic to better inform the community.
For those interested in the specifics, full details can be found on the SEPAG website: https://msdsepag.org/events