State Gives Lacey Schools Another $612,489

Lacey Township School District will be getting approximately $612,489 more in state aid than originally expected, according to Gov. Chris Christie’s Education Allocation Plan.

“We are keeping faith with our commitment to New Jersey’s children and families, spending more money per pupil on New Jersey’s students than almost any other state in the country,” said Christie. “Now is the time to complement the dollars spent with real education reform to bring a focus on student learning, accountability and results.”

In February, the state announced that , a one-year increase of $612,488. Lacey Township is now slated to receive $20,780,222, which is $1,224,977 more than last years state aid.

The school district lost $3.5 million in state aid two years ago, said James Savage, the Business Administrator.

“This gives us $1.2 back but we’re still short $2.3. So it really doesn’t get us back to where we were but obviously we’re pleased we’re getting more money,” Savage said.

After a $4.6 million cut in state aid and excess surplus, the school district had to cut personnel for co-curricular programs, computer modification, teaching supplies, maintenance and custodial overtime, expenses in the library, and the textbook and workbook account, Superintendent Richard Starodub previously said.

With an increase in state aid, the school district had already planned to restore a portion of the new math series for kindergarten to second grade and professional development and training as it relates to testing and a new math series, as well as move forward on its technology plan for the middle school.

Starodub was not immediately available for comment on whether other programs might be restored or if the budget might otherwise be significantly impacted.

Savage said that the school district is unable to determine how the budget will be impacted or what programs might be restored since the letter they received from the state said, “Guidance to follow.”

“We aren’t sure what we’ll be able to do with it,” Savage said.

Below are the updated state aid figures for the Lacey Township School District:

• 2010-2011 Total Aid: $19,555,245
• Governor's Budget 2011-2012 Total Aid: $20,167,733
• Additional Aid 2011-2012 Approp. Act: $612,489
• Equalized Aid: $17,965,107
• Education Adequacy Aid: $0
• Choice Aid: $0
• Transportation Aid: $0
• Special Education Categorical Aid: $2,352,617
• Security Aid: $462,498
• Adjustment Aid: $0
• Revised 2011-2012 Total Aid: $20,780,222
• One Year Aid Change: $1,224,977

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