Deonna Purrazzo Advocates for New Jersey School Funding Reform

Deonna Purrazzo, the Ring of Honor women’s pure champion, returns to her hometown in New Jersey. Her aim is to raise funds for her alma mater and highlight the funding challenges schools face in the area. Purrazzo’s event, JTown SmackDown, is set for Jefferson Township High School in Oak Ridge this Friday night.

Purrazzo works closely with athletic director Bill Koch, focusing on the unfair S-2 funding formula. This formula, part of a 2008 reform, attempts to address funding disparities, but Purrazzo believes it exacerbates issues in the township.

The funding formula for schools in New Jersey, the S-2, is not fair. It’s not equitable to the students of the Highlands and the Pinelands.

Purrazzo’s efforts also address the Highlands Act, which safeguards land crucial for New Jersey’s water supply but restricts development. This restriction hampers growth in areas like Jefferson Township, affecting their tax base and resulting in higher taxes.

Since the formula ties funding to enrollment, reduced population in small towns leads to decreased resources, while larger cities like Newark can expand easily. Purrazzo urges a reevaluation of how funds are allocated, particularly in regions with growth limitations.

The New Jersey Education Association is revisiting the funding formula, aiming to implement changes by the 2027-28 school year.

During a March rally, Jefferson Township Superintendent Jeanne Howe warned of potential cuts and increased class sizes if funding issues remained unresolved. Meanwhile, efforts continue at the state level to counteract reductions caused by the S-2 formula.

Returning to her high school, Purrazzo hopes to amplify the issue. She spoke emotionally at a rally earlier this year, reflecting on how the town shaped her life and career as a professional wrestler.

For the JTown SmackDown event, Purrazzo teams up with her husband, Steve Maclin, against VSK and Emily Jaye. Other matches include Goldy versus Griffin McCoy, Tiara James against Tina San Antonio, and Oxx Adams facing Marcus Mathers.

Jaye, an emerging women’s wrestling talent, has appeared in promotions like Gamechanger Wrestling and Boca Raton Championship Wrestling. Purrazzo advises her and others like her to never give up on themselves.

Don’t quit on yourself. Believe in your vision 100% and don’t let others deter you.

The event starts at 7 p.m. ET, aiming not only to entertain but to bring much-needed attention to an ongoing funding struggle in New Jersey’s education system.