Most districts get higher aid

by Peter Geier, Staff Writer
   Local school districts fared differently in the state aid they will get in this year’s budget, but none lost ground on last year.
   In general, the four districts in the Messenger-Press area marked gains in transportation aid with modest increases in security and special education aid.
   Beth Auerswald, spokeswoman for the state Department of Education, said the most likely cause of transportation aid increases to the districts is, “last year, most transportation aid was capped at 80 percent. There is no cap this year.”
   The Robbinsville district will receive a total of about $2.9 million in state aid, up 5 percent from last year, according to the DOE. This figure includes a 34 percent jump in transportation aid and a 4 percent rise in special education aid.
   Total aid per pupil comes to $1,017, according to numbers released by the DOE.
   Superintendent John Szabo said he is pleased overall aid was not reduced, but disagreed with the DOE’s assertion Robbinsville will get an overall 5 percent increase this year. He argued the state provided less aid this year to help the district pay down its debt..
   ”Although we did see a total increase in general aid of $138,892, we saw a reduction in debt service aid of $112,552,” he wrote in an e-mail.
   He contended this means the actual increase is only $26,340 and said he plans to get clarification from the county superintendent of schools.
   Upper Freehold Regional will get about $5.4 million, an approximate 2-percent increase from last year. This total includes a 56-percent increase in transportation aid and 3-percent rise in special education aid, according to the DOE. Total aid to the district comes to $3,252 per pupil, the DOE reported.
   Superintendent Richard Fitzpatrick said the district is “very appreciative” of the increase and will use the money “wisely.”
   He also said district administrators had recently reduced planned expenditures by $618,851 to meet the state’s 4 percent cap on annual increases. The school board also recently cut $130,108 from next year’s budget, he added.
   Millstone will get a total of about $5.4 million — exactly the same figure as last year. That total includes increases in some aid categories and decreases in others. Transportation aid went up 27 percent, one area that saw an increase from last year.
   The district’s special education aid rose less than 1 percent from last year. Total aid to Millstone per pupil will be $2,433, according to the DOE.
   ”We were thankful there was no decrease,” Superintendent Mary Anne Donahue wrote in an e-mail. “However, flat funding does not help us account for increased costs.”
   Plumsted will get about $11.76 million in state aid, a 5-percent increase. Its transportation aid will jump 45 percent, and it will get about a 2-percent hike in special education aid.
   Total state aid per pupil comes to $6,338, according to the DOE.
   In response to the aid figures, Superintendent Mark DeMareo said last week that the district still was working on its budget.