Marlboro schools receive more than $700k in extra state funding

Marlboro Township will receive $10.7 million in school aid for the 2011-2012 school year,  according to the new state budget allocation announced by Gov. Chris Christie’s office.

The budget is $600 million more than originally allocated for New Jersey schools. $450 million will benefit abbott school districts, while $150 million is allocated for non-abbott districts.

Marlboro Township is seeing an increase of $1,563,237 since last year. That is $781,619 more than the district was originally expecting.

Sharon Witchel, Director of Special Projects and Grants and School Community Relations, originally said the district is looking to work as a team.

“The administration will be making some recommendations, it is a collaborative effort,” Witchel said. “Certainly it is something that is looked forward to.”

But the state came down with a deadline for each district of July 19 to make a decision about whether or not the money would be used for a tax levy. 

The board was unable to meet that deadline because its meeting was held in the evening.

At the July 19 regular board meeting, Superintendent David Abbott said his decision is to use the money to defer taxes for either the 2012-2013 school year, or the 2013-2014 school year.

“It is by far the best use of the money,” said Abbott, noting that with the national debt ceiling debates, the board and the town as a whole cannot guarantee tax breaks, but the money from the state will help in the future.

Board member Bonnie Sue Rosenwald said in the meeting that she agrees with the decision, but was not happy that this did not come down to a board discussion.

“I agree with the assessment, but I feel the board was taken out of that decision,” she said.

Abbott told the board that there was simply not enough time, with the state’s deadline, to call a separate meeting for discussion. Abbott did attempt to contact board members.

According to Witchel, since the district’s budget had already passed and no programs had been cut, there was no need to revisit the 2011-2012 budget.

"Dr. Abbott said he attempted to contact the board president, who was unavailable. As the superintendent and an ex-officio member of the board, it is within his purview to make that decision,” Witchel said.

The state will pay the money over 18 payments to the district, over a period of several months.