Garden State Times

The Newark School Board recently approved a budget allocation of $2.8 million for catering services, covering continental breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and afternoon refreshments. This decision has drawn criticism from various quarters, particularly from Senator Declan O’Scanlon.

Senator O’Scanlon, a Republican representing the 13th District, expressed strong disapproval of the Newark School District’s financial decisions regarding event catering. According to Sen. O’Scanlon, the board’s spending habits represent a serious misuse of public funds.

“Newark School system has set the gold standard of setting taxpayer dollars on fire,” stated Sen. O’Scanlon. He continued, “As if ‘Staff Fun Days’ weren’t enough, Newark continued their obscene spending habits by sauteing, frying, and poaching our tax dollars in an all-you-can-eat buffet style of fiscal irresponsibility—Bon Appetit! And don’t get me started on their $1 million a year obscene travel budget! Meanwhile, over a hundred districts around the State are suffering from massive, education-damaging aid cuts from the Murphy administration. If we don’t address this ongoing waste, it won’t just be our tax dollars getting cooked—it’ll be our students.”

The senator has been a longstanding critic of what he terms “waste and abuse” within the Newark School District. In June, O’Scanlon criticized the district for organizing a “Superintendent’s Staff Fun Day” and for funding extravagant travel to destinations like Hawaii using taxpayer money.

In response to these and other fiscal concerns, Sen. O’Scanlon recently revealed his intention to introduce a new legislative proposal. This legislation aims to restore full funding to the school districts that experienced a net loss in state aid between the fiscal years of 2018 and 2025.