Cozy Lake Elementary School in Jefferson Township, Morris County, is set to close at the end of the school year due to severe state funding cuts. The district faces a $3 million shortfall for the 2025-2026 school year, resulting from a 65% reduction in state aid since 2007-08. Despite efforts to cut costs, including reductions in staff, the district could not bridge the budget gap. As of now, Cozy Lake serves 227 students and employs about 62 staff members. The school was chosen for closure partly because it has fewer classrooms compared to another pre-K facility in the area. Jefferson has experienced the largest percentage loss in state funding in Morris County, exacerbated by a 31% drop in student enrollment over the past 15 years.
https://nj.com/news/2024/09/nj-elementary-school-closing-after-debilitating-state-aid-cuts.html
