Hopatcong Schools to Get $760K Less State Aid in 2012

The is about to take a big state aid cut.

Hopatcong schools will receive $11,102,061—or $764,329 less—state aid in 2012 than it did in 2011, when it got $11,866,390, according to figures released by the New Jersey Department of Education early Thursday evening.

Board of Education member Frank Farruggia Jr. said he was stunned by the news, which came days after Gov. Chris Christie announced state public schools would receive $200 million more in aid than in 2012 than in 2011.

"I'm surprised and shocked that we lost funds and I don't really know what the basis is for that," Farruggia said of Hopatcong's 6.4 percent decrease. "I can't really comment any more than that until I figure out what's the reasoning behind it."

School board member Sue Madar initially had a one-word reaction: "Wow." Then she said she had hoped the district would at least get as much as in 2011.

Superintendent Dr. Charles Maranzano, Business Administrator Theresa Sierchio and several school board members weren't immediately available for comment Thursday.

There could be a siliver of good news, however, for Hopatcong schools. The school board it received from the state in July for the 2012-2013 school budget, which could cut the total state aid drop almost in half.

What do you think of the state aid reduction? Tell us in the comments.