School District Puts Additional State Aid Towards Building and Instructional Improvements

The school district has plans to put the additional amount of state aid it will receive for the 2011-2012 school year towards building improvements and instruction.  

Earlier this month school districts across the state learned that Governor Christie . Hasbrouck Heights, which was already slated to receive $649,140 in total aid for the year, is now getting an additional $243,000 for a total of $883,213.

Dina Messery, business administrator said roughly $105,000 will go towards putting in the infrastructure into the schools for upgraded wireless technology, something the district has been talking about doing for years.

Messery added that it is estimated that about $30,000 will go towards improving the lighting and sound system in the high school auditorium, which is another item board members have spoken about over the years.

Although there are no specific plans laid out yet, Messery said about $99,000 is intended to go towards continued instructional improvements to meet district’s goal such as the improvement of students’ reading scores.

The board is expected to approve the revised 2011-2012 budget including the additional state funding Thursday night during the regular public meeting.

These additional state funds come from an extra $850 million being pumped into New Jersey schools for the 2011-2012 year which Christie had announced on July 12. Back in February during his budget address, Christie reported that all school districts would get more funding for the next school year. The previous year Hasbrouck Heights state aid was cut by more than half leaving them with $415,000 for the 2010-2011 school year.

The board and school administrators proposed a budget in the amount of . The $23,876,774 tax levy means that a homeowner in a residence appraised at the average home value of $436,000 will pay an additional $54 per year for the school portion of the tax bill.