Sept. 25, 2025- NJ Spotlight News reporter Joanna Gagis sought Toms River's perspective on her in-depth story about special education funding in New Jersey. Superintendent Michael Citta sat down Tuesday for a virtual interview with the reporter about the topic.

Costs for special education-related services in Toms River Regional Schools have risen 70 percent while out-of-district tuition has gone up 55 percent in the past eight years, the timeframe of the S2 bill that simultaneously stripped the district of millions of dollars in state aid. 

"There's no controls on any of these line items for the services for the kids," Citta said, who added that TRRS is only being funded one-third of what it should be for special services.

The segment aired yesterday evening on NJ Spotlight's daily telecast, which begins at the 13:52 mark. It features perspectives from Senator Vin Gopal and others, and you can watch it below: