NJ Senate bill could force hundreds of school district mergers without parental votes

S4861 bill targets small NJ school districts, raising union and parent concerns. (Getty Images)

New Jersey lawmakers are considering a bill that could consolidate hundreds of the state’s school districts without requiring parental approval. The legislation, introduced by State Sen. Vin Gopal, D-Monmouth, would allow county executive superintendents and the state education commissioner to approve mergers for districts with fewer than 500 students.Currently, voters in affected school districts must approve any consolidation. Gopal told NJ.com he aims to reduce the total number of districts from around 600 to “maybe 70 or 80” to address what he described as an affordability and efficiency crisis in public education.Bill targets small districts and regionalises schoolsUnder the proposed S4861 bill, county officials would draft consolidation plans to eliminate smaller districts and potentially expand regional districts. Gopal, in conversation with NJ.com, said the plan would also examine districts enrolling students only up to eighth grade and their transition into larger regional high schools.Approximately one-third of New Jersey’s districts serve fewer than 500 students. Gopal cited Neptune City, with 240 students at 35% capacity in a single building, as a potential target. In Cape May County, Cape May City and West Cape May recently received a $50,000 grant to study consolidation, with the two elementary schools enrolling a combined 241 students.Opposition raises cost and community concernsTeachers’ unions and school administrators have voiced objections. Steven Baker, spokesperson for the New Jersey Education Association, told NJ.com, “Consolidation and regionalisation efforts must be voluntary and based on the needs of the communities involved.”Debra Bradley, director of government relations for the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, highlighted potential hidden costs, stating in conversation with NJ.com that salary adjustments and transportation expenses could offset any anticipated savings. “At each juncture, as the Legislature considered potential cost savings, it discovered that the reality is much more complex, the cost savings more ephemeral, and the process potentially quite divisive,” Bradley added.Past consolidation efforts show mixed resultsNew Jersey has attempted voluntary consolidations in recent years. In Monmouth County, the K-6 districts in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands merged into the K-12 Henry Hudson Regional School District in July 2024 after voters approved the plan. By contrast, a referendum to add Seaside Heights to Toms River Regional failed, despite 86.9% approval from the four existing towns.Gopal told NJ.com that the bill would allow administrators to review mergers more broadly, including for larger districts like Colts Neck in Monmouth County, which has nearly 1,000 students across three schools and feeds into a regional high school.Legislative process and next stepsS4861 has not yet had a vote in the Senate, and no companion bill exists in the Assembly. The legislation must pass both chambers and be signed by the governor to become law. Gopal told NJ.com he hopes the proposal will “start a conversation” about district consolidation while thoroughly reviewing any potential changes.