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The East Orange School District abruptly switched to a half-day schedule today, October 17, surprising parents and students. Superintendent Dr. Christopher Irving issued a brief statement explaining that the shortened schedule was due to “unforeseen circumstances.” He also apologized for the delay in communication and thanked the families for their understanding, but refrained from giving details of the reason.

However, sources familiar with the situation have pointed to a connection to the district’s recent announcement of major layoffs. More than 70 district employees, including teachers and support staff, are expected to lose their jobs by Dec. 15 due to budget cuts. With many teachers raising alarm about these impending layoffs this morning, rumors are circulating that the half-day schedule may have been an attempt to address the sudden staffing shortage.

This wave of teacher absences has sparked fears of a strike, ostensibly in protest at the threat of layoffs. Although no official strike has been announced, the timing of these calls suggests that employees may be taking matters into their own hands to express their frustration. This would not be the first time educators have taken such actions, particularly in response to financial pressures that threaten both their jobs and the quality of education in the district.

The layoffs come as East Orange struggles with severe budget deficits, with Superintendent Irving previously pointing out that the district’s meager $200,000 in state aid was not enough to cover basic operating costs. Out-of-district tuition, transportation, food and, most importantly, employee salaries have become overwhelming financial burdens. These issues are not unique to East Orange, but are part of a much broader trend across the state.

Many school districts in New Jersey have been forced to cut staff in recent years, largely due to the controversial S-2 school funding formula that Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law. The formula aims to redistribute state aid to better align funding with districts’ needs. But critics argue that this leaves many districts — particularly urban and historically underfunded districts — struggling to keep up.

Under S-2, districts that previously received more state aid than the formula now calculates necessary have faced significant cuts, creating widespread financial challenges. For East Orange, the results are clear: The district’s already tight budget couldn’t handle the reduced aid, pushing the administration to take drastic measures like layoffs and today’s unexpected schedule change.

Unfortunately, East Orange is far from the only district affected. Across the state, many other school districts are also facing similar cuts and layoffs. Reports from counties like Brick Township, Toms River and Jersey City reflect the same concerns. They, too, have struggled with dwindling state aid under the S-2 formula and been forced to cut jobs, increase class sizes and, in some cases, end school programs altogether.

Teachers and staff in these districts are feeling the pinch, and some are taking action to protest the cuts. Earlier this year, teachers in Toms River and Brick Township demonstrated against layoffs, with some schools even closing for a day in solidarity with striking teachers. Growing unrest among educators across the state has led to calls for Gov. Murphy to reevaluate the funding formula and rethink how state aid is distributed, even as his administration continues to insist that S-2 is designed to bring long-term equity to the state’s school systems to bring state.

For parents and students in East Orange, the future feels uncertain. With layoffs looming and the district already struggling to operate on such tight resources, today’s half-day schedule could be the first of many disruptions to come. The loss of more than 70 staff will undoubtedly place further strain on remaining teaching staff and fears are growing about what impact this will have on the quality of education in the future.

While the impact of the S-2 formula ripple across the state, the East Orange community, like many others, faces a difficult road ahead. Teachers, parents and students are wondering not only how the district will manage these changes, but also whether their concerns will be considered in the larger discussion about education funding in New Jersey.