Schools may get state aid increase

10 to 20 percent hikes slated locally

By Anthony V. Coppola, Staff Writer
   A new school funding formula proposed by Gov. Jon Corzine would increase state aid for local school districts ranging from a 10 percent boost for Millstone to 20 percent increases in Robbinsville, Plumsted and Upper Freehold.
   All New Jersey school districts would see at least a 2 percent increase in state aid under the new plan, and no districts would have their aid decreased over the next three years if the Legislature approves the plan, according to the state Department of Education.
   The governor unveiled the new formula Dec. 12, stating that it replaces the outdated, ad-hoc state aid system that currently exists.
   The Millstone School District would receive an additional $496,000 in state aid for the 2008-2009 school year, a 10 percent increase from 2007-2008 that would bring the total amount of aid for the district to $5,457,000. Millstone Superintendent Mary Anne Donahue said she remains hopeful about the projected amount, but is withholding judgment until the state releases the actual formula.
   ”When the formula becomes available, we want to compare our numbers with the state’s numbers,” she said.
   Dr. Donahue added the aid would help with the 19 percent growth in student enrollment that the district has seen between 2000-2006, but said the district doesn’t anticipate gaining any reimbursement for costs of special needs students.
   Other local superintendents share Dr. Donahue’s same concerns.
   Upper Freehold Superintendent Richard Fitzpatrick said an abundance of questions are curbing his enthusiasm about the news.
   ”Like so many of my colleagues throughout the state, I’m cautiously optimistic,” Dr. Fitzpatrick said. “If the preliminary info is accurate it would be exciting for us to finally receive the state aid that is appropriate for our district.”
   Upper Freehold stands to receive the maximum increase of 20 percent, according to the state Department of Education Web site. The increase represents $881,000 in additional aid from last school year. This would bring the district’s aid total to $5,247,000.
   ”The district has grown in size, but the aid hasn’t met that growth,” Dr. Fitzpatrick said. “This (aid) would dictate to those changes and allow our community to be treated fairly.”
   Dr. Fitzpatrick said he will remain committed to doing everything he can for students to ensure they are getting a powerful program.
   ”They are our destiny,” Dr. Fitzpatrick said. “We are trying to provide them with everything they need in all aspects of their development. The bottom line is the budget becomes the program, and all of that is contingent upon funding.”
   Robbinsville Superintendent John Szabo said it’s difficult to say whether or not he is pleased to see additional money coming into the district since questions about the formula have yet to be answered.
   The district is in line for $480,000 in additional aid, an increase of 20 percent, which will set the total aid at $2,880,000.
   ”Our concern with the new formula is we don’t know how the money was derived and how it will be applied,” Dr. Szabo said. “We’re also not certain if this is a short-term or long-term solution.”
   Even though Robbinsville is slated to receive a 20 percent increase, Dr. Szabo said the district could still use more.
   ”Other surrounding districts get substantially more money per pupil than we’re getting,” he said. “It’s a relatively inadequate amount, but overall it’s great that we’re getting $480,000. We welcome it.”
   Another district that welcomes the new funding plan is Plumsted, according to interim Superintendent Christine Carlson.
   The district would receive $1,867,000 for 2007-2008 under the new funding plan, a 20 percent increase from the previous year. Plumsted’s state aid would total $11,204,000 — a figure Ms. Carlson called exciting.
   ”Our policy is we don’t talk about the money until we get the money,” she said. “It’s exciting that we could be the recipients of a 20 percent increase after six years of flat aid.”
   Ms. Carlson said the only ones who suffer from a growing district stifled by a tough budget are the students.
   ”Our sports and academic programs have suffered as a result of the aid (loss),” Ms. Carlson said. “If this money comes through, we are going to be smart with the way we use it. We’ve always been smart.
   Statewide, the DOE plans to dole out $7.8 billion across the nearly 600 public New Jersey school districts, an increase of about $530 million from last year. A fact sheet on the new formula released by the state Department of Education states that the former 26 aid categories would be collapsed into 10. State officials indicated they would seek approval from the Legislature before this legislative session ends Jan 8.