The Money Was There — They Just Mismanaged It
Let’s stop pretending this was inevitable.
The foreign language classes, the instrumental music, the co-teaching support — these programs already existed with the taxes we were paying. They weren’t bonuses. They weren’t optional. They were part of the foundation of a well-rounded education in East Brunswick.
So how did we get here?
You can blame the state if it makes you feel better. But at the end of the day, this is a local failure. There was money. There were choices. And those choices led us to a place where restoring basic programs now feels like a heroic act.
On March 19th, the community made it loud and clear that the proposed budget cuts were unacceptable. Parents, teachers, and students spoke up. And now, in response to that pressure, Superintendent Victor Valeski issued an update:
“I will recommend the complete restoration of the Hammarskjold Upper Elementary School (HUES) schedule, including no impacts for foreign languages at HUES. I will also recommend the restoration of the co-teaching instrumental music program at both HUES and Churchill Junior High School (CJHS).”
That’s a step in the right direction. But let’s be honest — it should’ve never come to this.
We are not asking for extras. We are asking for the continuation of what our community already funded. When programs are pulled without a clear explanation of where the money actually went, we have every right to demand transparency — not just gratitude for our “patience.”
There’s a special board meeting on April 8th. It’s informational only — no action will be taken. But make no mistake: this is not the time to go quiet.
We shouldn’t have to fight this hard just to keep what we already had.
So the question remains:
Where did the money go?
And until there’s a clear answer, we keep asking.
