Brick Schools Await Final Word On State Aid Cut

BRICK, NJ — It's been two weeks since New Jersey lawmakers settled the 2017-18 state budget, a budget that included a $720,000 cut to state aid to the Brick Township School District.

And two weeks after that budget was finalized — three days into the new fiscal year and new school year — district officials are still awaiting final word from the state on the funding cuts from the state Department of Education.

"We're waiting for guidance from the Department of Education," Acting Superintendent Dennis Filippone said Thursday night at the Brick Township Board of Education meeting.

Filippone said district officials had some plans they are considering for addressing the aid cuts, but they were not revealing anything "because there's still a possibility the number might change," he said.

Though the cuts to adjustment aid were detailed in news reports before the state budget was signed by Gov. Chris Christie, Filippone said they were still waiting for official word on the number. He said district officials also are unsure whether the state will set parameters on where cuts can — or cannot be made to the budget.

With the uncertainty, at least one resident questioned why the board was hiring staff, after the board approved the hiring of several new staff members.

"With enrollment falling, you're going to have to start cutting teachers at some point," said Vic Fanelli, a frequent critic of the school board. Filippone said some of the hires were to replace staff members who were retiring or resigning from the district.

Former board member Larry Reid countered that staff and programs should be the last things cut. Citing a budget surplus that has been increasing, Reid said there were plenty of places that could be cut.

"With over 800 accounts (that make up the district's operations), you're never going to be 100 percent accurate" on the budget, Reid said. He said a lot of the supply accounts in the 2016-17 school year appeared to have money left over.

"To say you can't find $720,000 elsewhere (outside of staff) is ridiculous," he said.

Filippone and board President John Lamela said they hope to present a plan for cuts at the Aug. 10 board meeting, "as long as we get guidance more than a few days before," Lamela said.

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