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TUESDAY 03.22.16

Vianney has a tough battle for TOC crown

Manasquan falls in double-OT game. 1C

A MEETING
IN HAVANA

Lakewood
budget plan
cuts 68
teachers
Courtesy busing also eliminated in
attempt to dig out of $12 million hole
SHANNON MULLEN @MULLENAPP

LAKEWOOD - A proposed budget for the 2016-17

school year eliminates courtesy busing, slashes 68
teaching positions and cancels all middle school
sports and clubs, among other draconian measures
aimed at closing a projected $12 million deficit.
Some of the cuts although notably not the cancellation of courtesy busing service, which would affect
more than 10,000 schoolchildren could be avoided if
voters approve a series of eight referendum questions totaling more than $8.5 million in additional tax
levies in November. Together, the extra levies would
cost the owner of a home assessed at $233,000, the
township average, roughly an additional $790 per
year.
The districts team of state monitors, led by Michael Azzara, crafted the nearly $172.5 million budget
plan to dig out of a mounting deficit. The shortfall is
tied to sharp increases in mandated transportation
and out-of-district special-education costs that
havent been offset by any significant increase in
state aid.
While the school board is expected to vote against
the proposed budget at a public hearing set for May 11,
Azzara can override the vote.
At a special school board meeting Monday night,
both the school board and Schools Superintendent
Laura A. Winters distanced themselves from the
spending plan and called on the New Jersey Department of Education to provide the district with a greater level of state aid.
Winters called the budget tragically inadequate
and said its impact on students would be devastating.
The teacher cuts represent a 9 percent reduction in
AP

See BUDGET, Page 7A

Cuban President Raul Castro (second from left) walks with U.S. President Barack Obama as they inspect the guard outside the
Revolution Palace in Havana, Cuba, on Monday. The two leaders sat down in the palace for a historic meeting.

Obama and Raul

Castro confer on
U.S.-Cuba ties as
president makes
historic state visit

THOMAS P. COSTELLO/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Police investigators are shown at the scene where a

Sayreville officer was found shot dead Monday morning.

More on the meeting

Key issues between the two countries remain the U.S.
embargo and Cubas human rights record. Page 1B

AP

President Barack Obama holds Cuban President Raul

Castros wrist after their joint statement and news
conference in Havana, Cuba, on Monday.

Hero Sayreville
cop found shot
to death in car
SUSAN LOYER @SUSANLOYERMYCJ
CHERYL MAKIN @CHERYLMAKIN

NUMBER 70

SAYREVILLE - A nine-year veteran of the boroughs police force was found shot to death Monday
morning in a vehicle next to the former Amboy Cinemas just off the Garden State Parkway, according to
police reports.
Middlesex County Prosecutor Andrew Carey, during a morning news conference at the site, said that
authorities received reports of a body found in a car
on the site. He said that the victim was identified as a
Sayreville police officer who died from gunshot
wounds. He added that the officer was off duty.
The officer has been identified as Matthew Kurtz,
34, as reported by other news sources and according
to law enforcement officials. The Sayreville Police
Department and the Middlesex County Prosecutors
Office did not comment about the identity of the officer.
Kurtz, who was sworn in Feb. 5, 2007, as a township
police officer, received a bachelors degree in crimi-

SINCE 1879

See KURTZ, Page 7A

Get your tickets now!

Grateful for the

music, band?
Fans of the Grateful Dead: Head to the Paramount Theatre
on Saturday, April 9, to see two films, a musical performance and discussion. Visit APMFF.com for details.

Donald Trump sees clear path

to nomination after meeting
GOP officials in D.C. Page 1B

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VOLUME 137