TRENTON – Noting the devasting effects of the S-2 state aid formula, lawmakers hope their new bill would help restore some of the funding cut from local school districts.
Assemblymen Alex Sauickie and Paul Kanitra stated that a bill they introduced would appropriate $210.1 million to schools that previously received supplemental stabilization aid for their 2023-24 budgets.
Supplemental stabilization aid was one-time funding given to schools that were hit hard by S-2 and needed help to continue operating.
Since 2018, hundreds of the state’s school districts have faced cuts under S-2, the name of a bill that redirected aid away from some schools toward others. Certain schools were considered “overfunded.”
Jackson schools, part of Sauickie’s 12th Legislative District and just one of 16 school districts he represents, have lost $22.4 million in aid, leading to cuts of 214 positions, sports teams, AP classes and electives.
The district was forced to take a $10 million loan from the state, and pay a state monitor, to close budget gaps. The district needs $30 million to close its budget gap for the 2024-25 school year, but was informed April 10 that no districts will be allowed to seek loans.
“Students in my district have faced overcrowded classrooms and cuts to academic and extracurricular activities year after year,” Sauickie said. “It’s past time to admit the failure of this school funding formula and restore what’s been lost to ensure our students have the finest education New Jersey has been known for.”
“It’s not too late to reverse the damage done, but that day is coming,” Sauickie added.
The 10th Legislative District which Kanitra represents has also experienced a severe impact. Six districts – including Brick and Toms River, which have each lost almost 60% of their state aid – sued the state for details of the funding formula and won their case. Despite the legal victory, the state has not revealed the funding formula.
Toms River is facing a $26.5 million fiscal cliff; Brick schools have a $6 million budget gap for 2024-25 and will likely have to cut another 30 positions, he said.
“I’m going to go out on a limb here. Maybe program and staffing cuts that increase classroom sizes and decrease opportunities for students indicate that these schools weren’t actually ever overfunded,” Kanitra said. “It’s time to restore what was clearly, wrongly taken from these students.”
A source from Sauickie’s office said the Assembly bill is A-4230 and was assigned to a committee. The identical Senate counterpart is S-3076. It is sponsored by the entire Senate Republican caucus and was referred to the Senate Education Committee.
Chris Lundy contributed to this story.
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