JERSEY CITY — The City Council on Wednesday held a budget hearing to discuss the possibility of directing city funds to the local school district to help officials mitigate a funding crisis.

The hearing, however, was missing key participants: school district officials.

After confirming their attendance with Council President Rolando Lavarro, acting Superintendent Franklin Walker and School Board President Sudhan Thomas sent an email Wednesday morning declining to attend, citing the advice of legal counsel “to not participate in the budget hearing.”

“We’re being advised to maintain a separation and distinction of powers ... to avoid any of the exact charges that led to state control 30 years ago,” an email sent by Thomas, and read into the record by Lavarro, stated. “Our appearance at the budget hearing would create the wrong precedent and give out the wrong optics.”

The state took control of the district in 1989 after it said the district’s “total educational failure” had deprived its students of a thorough and efficient education.

The council had scheduled Wednesday’s hearing to discuss the possibility of directing monies to the school district — specifically by sending PILOT revenues the city holds to the district’s coffers. Council members were not pleased with district officials’ absence and shared their frustration.

"This is not an interrogation, this was an attempt to work together in cooperation, and frankly... I don't think there's any justification for them not being at this hearing," Lavarro said.

“It’s frustrating,” Downtown Councilman James Solomon said. “We invite them to have a conversation and at the last minute they renege. They’re under no obligation to show up, but to create a spurious legal rational. It’s irresponsible.”

In his email, Thomas asked the council to send him a list of questions if there is any information its members are seeking and also invited them to attend BOE meetings. “I believe such a letter and exchange of information will satisfy the objective of what ever you are trying to achieve through this public hearing,” Thomas wrote.

Jersey City’s school district is facing years of massive funding shortfalls as a result of unexpected cuts in state funding.

More than 600 teachers and staff in the district were under threat of losing their jobs in March when district adopted its preliminary budget for the 2019-20 school year. But through a number of measures — including raising the school tax levy, collecting millions from the city’s payroll tax, and floating the possibility of selling off his headquarters on Claremont Avenue — officials reduced that number to approximately 100 to 150 jobs.

Still, it is unclear how many positions will officially be eliminated. The district has about 5,200 employees, including part-timers.

The City Council is looking into ways to help the school district, and is discussing ways to send millions in PILOT revenue to the district.

Councilwoman-at-large Joyce Watterman on Wedesday suggested scheduling a meeting with board officials and three council members. Solomon, Watterman and Ward B Councilwoman Mira Prinz-Arey were considered as liaisons to the BOE.

"If they don't come to us, we can just go to them," she said. "That's all we can do."

The school district has a meeting scheduled for Friday at 5 p.m. at School 26 at 164 Laidlaw Ave.

Corey W. McDonald may be reached at cmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @cwmcdonald_. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.