Somerset-Berkeley School Committee Keeps School Choice Cap at 15 Seats for 2026-2027

SOMERSET — April 7, 2026 — Somerset-Berkeley Regional School Committee voted unanimously Tuesday to hold its annual school choice allotment at 15 ninth-grade seats for 2026-2027, consistent with a practice Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Schoonover said has been in place for more than 10 years. Schoonover projected a total incoming grade nine class of 203 students, drawing on 146 expected transfers from Somerset Middle School and 42 from Berkeley Middle School, with the 15 school choice seats making up the balance; he noted five Berkeley Middle School students are grandfathered for automatic admission under a prior version of state law. The committee also approved 16 mid-year budget amendments to bring overexpenditures within reporting thresholds, established the Sergeant Brian Cordero Memorial Fund Scholarship honoring a Somerset High School graduate and police sergeant, and voted to reappoint Schoonover to the Reed's Collaborative Board of Directors for 2026-2027. Member Ms. Solomon reported that Berkeley faces a $4.8 million override question on May 9 and a possible 10 to 15 specific program cuts if the override fails. The committee entered executive session on collective bargaining strategy for AFSCME-represented Administrative Assistants and Custodians without returning to open session.