$774,169 More in State Aid Coming to Area Schools

Manasquan Public Schools will see a significant increase in state aid under new figures released by the New Jersey Department of Education.

In his Fiscal Year 2012 Budget address, Governor Chris Christie promised an additional $250 million in state aid for New Jersey's public schools.

Manasquan, which received zero state aid last year, will receive $227,823 from the state for the 2011-12 school year. The figure represents a fraction of the nearly $1 million in state aid the district received for the 2009-2010 year.

"I am thrilled," Manasquan Schools Superintendent Geraldine Margin said of the announcement. "We did not expect that at all."

Margin explained that the district had planned to cut three staff positions and a supervisor's position for next school year due to financial woes, but the new state aid figures would allow them to save "at least one" of those positions.

"To get about 25 percent of that back is just wonderful," Margin said of the financial aid lost by the district during the 2010-11 school year. 

Districts throughout the area also fared well with state aid:

• Bradley Beach received a total of $941,920 in aid, a $70,672 increase from the previous year.
• Avon received $98,094, up $34,033 from the 2010-11 total of $64,061.
• Belmar will see an aid increase of $105,738 for a total of $800,617 compared to last year's sum of $694,879.
• Lake Como will receive $535,803 in state aid. This figure represents an increase of $31,407 from the previous year total of $504,296 for the non-operating school district. 
• Spring Lake, which like Manasquan received no funding last year, will be given $75,059 in state funds.
• Spring Lake Heights will receive a total of $190,155 in state aid, up $73,271 from the previous year's $116,884. 
• Sea Girt, another district which received no aid in 2010-2011, has been allotted $42,728 in state aid.
• Brielle will see an increase of $113,438 from its previous year's total of $92,772 making its state aid for next school year $206,210.

State Senator Sean Kean (R-11) was among the local legislators to applaud the governor's decision to increase aid to suburban school districts.

"Suburban schools that have become accustomed to having their state aid cut the most, will instead see the biggest increases in state aid next year under the Governor’s plan," he said in a statement.