Clinton Township Newsletter

1 0 j a n u a r y 2 0 2 6 W W W . C L I N T O N T W P N E W S L E T T E R . C O M IMPORTANT DATES TO KEEP IN MIND: Dec 24 - Jan 2 - School Closed (Winter Recess) | Jan 19 - School Closed (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) Jan 20 - School Closed (Professional Development Day) www.ctsdnj.org www.ctsdnj.org I N O U R S C H O O L S : C L I N T O N T O W N S H I P S C H O O L N E W S Spruce Run Preschool Preschool Lottery Information for the 2026-2027 School Year: The Preschool Lottery is fast approaching! To be eligible for our program, children must be 3 years old on or before October 1, 2025. Registration will open on January 5, 2026 through the Spruce Run website, where you can find complete information about the lottery process. Please note that space is limited in our full-day preschool program, and students will be selected through a virtual lottery drawing on February 25, 2026. All families who complete the registration form are welcome to attend the drawing, though attendance is not required. Selected families will be notified by email following the drawing. We invite you to learn more about our program by joining us for a virtual Preschool Information Session on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 6:00 pm. Registration details for this session will be sent to all families who have registered for the lottery. We look forward to meeting you! Congratulations to Jen Patuto who was recognized as Governor's Teacher of the Year for Spruce Run Mrs. Patuto exemplifies e x c e l l e n c e i n education through h e r k i n d a n d caring approach to students, creating a c l a s s r o o m e n v i r o n m e n t w h e r e e v e r y child feels valued a n d s u p p o r t e d . B e y o n d h e r o w n e x c e p t i o n a l teaching abilities, s h e a c t i v e l y c o n t r i b u t e s t o our entire school In the New Year, we start thinking about our academic programs and the future, and how we can continue to grow our schools. Due to our teachers' hard work, the district has had three years of increased growth in the areas of English Language Arts and Math. We have asked our students to do more, and they have risen to the occasion. At the same time, we have worked to invest in regular maintenance and upgrades to ensure we do not get hit with surprise costs down the road. We have replaced three boiler plants and have done various HVAC and plumbing upgrades across the district. For the summer of 2026, we will be replacing an HVAC unit at PMG and fixing a section of the roof. For this project, we will get more than 30% of the original proposed cost from the State of New Jersey due to a ROD (regular operating district) grant we applied for and received in 2023. We are always looking for creative ways to save money and make fiscally responsible choices for the long term while still improving our school and education for our students. As we look at next year's budget, we know that the 2% cap on school taxes will no longer suffice when everything is increasing by more than 2%. However, we are also aware that no one wants to pay more taxes. As we ponder a budget question, we are taking concrete steps right now to offset the ever-rising costs. We will be instituting a club and sports fee at Clinton Township Middle School. We will be addressing busing for Spruce Run, as it is not developmentally appropriate to have three and four-year-olds on a bus, and it is not a cost covered by the state. This is an addition to other cost-saving decisions we have made, such as reducing staff, applying for grants, getting donations, and creating long-range plans. We have been doing this cost-cutting work for the past four years. This planning has created conditions where we can budget more efficiently. However, any further cuts to staffing will impact instructional outcomes. We have cut the fat, and we have cut into the muscle; any further cuts will be to the bone. That is why we may go out and ask taxpayers to go over the 2% in November for the 2027-2028 school year. A 5% increase will cost around $7 a month per $100,000 of home value. While personal budgets may be fixed, an extra $400 a year to ensure our schools continue to shine will pay off and ensure people want to purchase homes in Clinton Township. It is a positive investment in the future. As we go into 2026, we are optimistic about what we do to serve our students and community. We are making real change and exposing our students to fundamental learning experiences that will set them up for success now and in the future. Clinton Township School District is an outstanding school district, and parents and community members should be proud of what their taxes support! – Sincerely, Dr. Melissa Stager, Ed.D Superintendent, CTSD A MESSAGE FROM DR. STAGER, CTSD SUPERINTENDENT community by mentoring and assisting fellow teachers throughout the building. Her consistently positive attitude and natural problem- solving skills make her an invaluable resource during challenging situations. Mrs. Patuto's commitment extends beyond our school walls through her active involvement in the broader community, demonstrating the dedication and leadership that define an outstanding educator. She is truly deserving of this recognition. Patrick McGaheran School Kindergarten Round-Up! Kindergarten Round-Up is now occurring for Patrick McGaheran School. A child must be 5 years of age on or before October 1, 2026 to be eligible for kindergarten during the 2026-2027 school year. If you have a child who will be eligible for kindergarten next year, please notify our district as soon as possible by completing the Kindergarten Round-Up Survey online at https://bit.ly/PMG-K-26-27. If you have any questions regarding the kindergarten registration process, please contact our District Registrar, Ms. Grace Garabo at ggarabo@ctsdnj.org or 908-236-7235 ext 2512. Thank you! Kindergarten Information Night: Although the weather is cold outside, we are making plans for entrance into our kindergarten program in the Fall of 2026! To be eligible for kindergarten during the 2026-2027 school year, a child must be 5 years of age on or before October 1, 2026. Parents of incoming kindergarten students will be invited to our Kindergarten Information Night on February 19, 2026 at Patrick McGaheran School. Details will be sent to those who respond to the Round Up Survey. Please RSVP for our Information Night using this link: https://bit.ly/PMG-K-Info26. We hope to see you there! We are proud to recognize Ms. Jennifer Tarnoski as the New Jersey Governor's Educator of the Year recipient for Patrick McGaheran School. Ms. Tarnoski represents the best of early childhood education through her exceptional instructional practices, positive impact on student learning, and dedication to families. She creates

• Cover