Point Pleasant Boro's Plea For Emergency School Aid Rejected

School district officials in Point Pleasant Boro are looking at their next moves after the New Jersey Department of Education rejected the district's application for emergency aid for the 2018-19 school year.

The school district had sought relief from the education department on cuts to its adjustment aid, asking for $364,599 for the 2018-19 school year.

But the Department of Education didn't see it that way, refusing to provide assistance.

Read more: Winning And Losing NJ School Districts In New Budget Deal

Brick is in similar straits: The district was notified of the rejection of its application for $1.9 million shortly before the Election/NJEA Conference week break. The Toms River Regional School District also is in similar straits after its application for $2.4 million in emergency aid also was rejected.

"We are disappointed by the denial of the application by NJ DOE as we provided much documentation and justification to warrant a full restoration of the $2.4 million they cut from our school aid in July 2018." Toms River Business Administrator William Doering said. "And unfortunately, this makes the hole even deeper for us to try and dig out of, and will expedite the negative impacts that our district anticipates having to endure over the next several budget cycles."

A group of districts filed suit against the state Department of Education over plans to cut millions in so-called adjustment aid. The state Legislature passed a law during the summer that removes the money from some districts on the argument that they are losing enrollment and therefore do not need as much aid.

The law, sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney, also mandates 2 percent increases in the property tax levy for districts losing aid that are "under adequacy," meaning the are not spending what the state says is needed to provide a thorough and efficient education.

With reporting by Karen Wall

Image Credit: AP Photo/Julio Cortez