Local Schools To Get More State Aid Than Promised

NEW PROVIDENCE/BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ — New Providence, Berkeley Heights and Mountainside School Districts will all receive more state aid than Governor Phil Murphy said it originally would, revised numbers released by the state Friday show.

New Providence will receive $1,445,115 in state aid for the 2018-19 school year, more than the $1,162,779 Murphy said earlier this year it would receive. The district received $1,056,815 in state aid for the 2017-18 school year.

Berkeley Heights will receive $1,563,766 in state aid for the 2018-19 school year, more than the $1,473,639 Murphy said earlier this year it would receive. The district received $1,296,302 in state aid for the 2017-18 school year.

Mountainside will receive $763,171 in state aid for the 2018-19 school year, more than the $613011 Murphy said earlier this year it would receive. The district received $569,584 in state aid for the 2017-18 school year.

Union County Vocational School will receive $9,453,475 in state aid for the 2018-19 school year, more than the $6,724,531 Murphy said earlier this year it would receive.

The district received $6,404,315 in state aid for the 2017-18 school year.

The Murphy administration says the new figures take significant steps to begin the process of fully and fairly funding New Jersey school districts, saying that $8.5 billion will be disbursed to the state's school districts, including an additional $68 million to bring aid in balance for underfunded districts.

"A stronger, fairer New Jersey means making sure that New Jersey's schools are receiving the funds they need to advance academic excellence for our students," said Murphy. "After years of neglect, we are turning the page to bring a balanced approach to school aid by removing the growth cap on funding increases and finally beginning the process of fully implementing the state's school funding formula established in 2008."

(Image via Shutterstock / Brian A Jackson)

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