Wayne residents get chance to advise school board on its budget
By: Philip DeVencentis
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network - New Jersey
Wayne - The Board of Education is forming a citizen panel to serve in an advisory role on the school district budget.
.....
The initiative, which trustees approved through a resonator on February 5, [2026] is meant to improve public understanding of a process that typically unfolds behind closed doors.
.....
The seven-member committee will meet four times in the next several weeks to learn about cost drivers affecting the spending plan and to offer nonblocking feedback for review by the school board. It will not direct staff or modify budget line items.
..... Donald Pavlak Jr. the school board president, said its goal is to foster discussions about "real numbers, real constraints and real needs of students."
..... "Public education is funded by our community," Pavlak said, "and it impacts every family, whether or not they have children in our schools. when people have access to the facts, and the process is transparent, the conversation becomes more productive, and confidence in the system grows."
..... The shift toward deeper engagement comes as districts across New Jersey struggle to cover enormous budget deficits: an estimated $17 million in Hackensack and up to $20 million in Montclair. The school system in Lakewood township, the most populous municipality in Ocean County, faces tens of millions of dollars i debt and state oversight.
.....
In Wayne, trustees offset a $7.1 million shortfall last year. [2025]
..... The stakeholders group will include a high school student, a local business owner, a longtime taxpayer or senior citizen, two parents and two residents at-large. Pavlak will make the appointments and name a chairperson. Before the budget adoption, the committee will supply trustees with a summary of what it learned. The document will contain key takeaways and prioritizes for officials to bear in mind.
.....
Trustees are accepting applications for committee members on the district website at wayneschools.com .
..... The district administration is scheduled to unveil a prosed spending plan on March 5. [2026] trustees will vote on the final budget on May 7. [2026]