SOURCE

By DIANE D’AMICO Education Writer, 609-272-7241
(Published: Thursday, April 16, 2009)

NEWARK - The Education Law Center released a report Wednesday saying the state is underfunding hundreds of school districts by $303 million because of a provision that caps the amount of extra state aid they get next year at 5 percent.

The ELC said the cap will hurt mostly middle-class districts across the state that should be getting even more funding under a new state aid formula.

Affected districts include the Atlantic County districts of Absecon, Atlantic County Institute of Technology, Buena Regional, Corbin City, Egg Harbor Township, Folsom, Galloway Township, Greater Egg Harbor Regional, Hamilton Township, Hammonton, Mainland Regional, Northfield,and Somers Point.

Underfunded Cumberland County districts include Bridgeton, Deerfield Township and Lawrence Township.

Gov. Jon S. Corzine’s proposed budget does add $304 million in school aid next year, with virtually all of it going to the districts listed as underfunded in the ELC report. Some are growth or working-class districts that have been lagging behind in aid for years.

But the proposed budget also imposed an aid cap, saying underfunded districts could get no more than a 5 percent increase in aid each year.

So while Egg Harbor Township will get almost $2 million more in aid for next year, the report says the district is still owed about $5.8 million more based on the new formula.

“The ink is hardly dry on the new formula, and legislators are ready to break it,”ELC Executive Director David Sciarra said. “We are once again neglecting the needs of at-risk students in moderate- and middle-income communities.”

He said that this time the 31 urban Abbott districts cannot be blamed because most got no increase in aid at all under the new formula.

Assemblymen Vince Polistina and John Amodeo, both R-Atlantic, criticized the state for not giving all districts what they are due.

Amodeo said he is aware the governor put more money into education next year, but the districts that are owed more money should get it. He said he did not know if he could come up with $300 million in other cuts to raise the money but thought cutting health benefits and pensions for part-time employees could generate some funds that could be given to the schools.

Polistina said based on what they spend per student, he believes some of the urban districts are still getting more than they need.

“The system should still be more equitable,” he said. “We need to treat all kids fairly.”

E-mail Diane D’Amico:

DDamico@pressofac.com

Underfunded districts

The Education Law Center said hundreds of school districts should get more state aid under the new state aid formula. Locally affected districts and the amount still owed:

ATLANTIC COUNTY:

Absecon: $134,858

Atlantic County Institute of Tech: $229,302

Buena Regional: $2,028,552

Corbin City: $32,895

Egg Harbor Township: $5,822,644

Folsom: $90,080

Galloway Township: $279,120

Greater Egg Harbor Regional: $4,520,140

Hamilton Township: $3,190,514

Hammonton: $1,902,745

Mainland Regional: $762,572

Northfield: $571,264

Somers Point: $709,369

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Bridgeton: $1,305,281

Deerfield Township: $313,172

Lawrence Township: $73,447