East Windsor Will See School Aid Cut Amid COVID-19

EAST WINDSOR, NJ – The East Windsor Regional School District will get less school aid than first announced by Gov. Phil Murphy in February's school funding plan.

Last week Murphy released new state aid figures, saying they will remain steady from fiscal year 2020 despite the "historic financial challenges New Jersey is facing due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic."

Initially, East Windsor was slated to get $30,529,507 under Murphy’s February budget. But with his new announcement, the amount dropped to $27,664,327. However, this new amount is still 5.1 percent more than last year's budget.

Meanwhile, more than 190 school districts from the state will see budget cuts from last year. They may need tax increases to make up for the difference.

Read more: These 190-Plus Districts May Face Tax Hike: NJ School Aid Figures.

Murphy announced that funding for school districts will keep the state on track to fully fund public schools. The revised budget proposal also includes almost $68 million in new funds over FY2020 for preschools in the state.

"Supporting our public schools has been one of the bedrock priorities of my administration, and the COVID-19 pandemic has not changed our commitment to our students, educators, and staff," said Murphy.

Murphy also announced $100 million in Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) funding to ensure schools can reopen safely.

Murphy said the pandemic has “created an unprecedented challenge for our schools."

"But I am proud that we can continue to support our districts, ensure the health and safety of students and school staff, and provide a high-quality education for all children," he said. "Together, we will weather these challenging times and build a state that is stronger, fairer, and more resilient."

East Windsor will begin its school year with remote learning this September.

This article contains reporting by Tom Davis, Patch staff

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