To say Kate Van Tassel’s first day on the job as the Barnegat Township School District’s new business administrator/board of education secretary was eventful would be quite the understatement.

She began her position on March 18; two days later, a preliminary school budget for the 2024-25 school year was due to the Ocean County Schools Superintendent. She and other district officials also had to figure out how to offset a $1.9 million cut in state aid.