South Brunswick Schools May Still Lose Over $1M Under New Deal

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ — A bill to distribute $102.7 million among 161 NJ school districts facing potential state funding cuts could bring relief to many school districts.

The new bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 36-0, allots $2,681,738 to South Brunswick Schools which is facing an aid cut of $4,063,240. The district still stands to lose $1,38,1502.

The bill, sponsored by Senators Andrew Zwicker and Vin Gopal ensures each district receives up to 66 percent of the difference between the amounts given to districts in 2022-23 and budgeted for 2023-24, and appropriates money from the Property Tax Relief Fund.

"New Jersey’s outstanding public schools are considered the best in the country, yet every year we are asking some of these districts to make devastating and fully unexpected cuts that would increase class size, cut essential programs, and result in educators across the state losing their jobs,” Zwicker said. “Today’s solution will ensure the quality of education for all New Jersey students continues this year while we work on a systemic solution for future years.”

South Brunswick is one of the school districts in the state that continues to lose state aid under the S2 funding formula. The district saw its funding cut by more than $1.7 million last school year. More: South Brunswick Schools Facing $1.7M State Aid Cut For '22-23

The district expected losing $1.2 million in aid this year, and in anticipation, created a community-wide budget committee to help navigate the cut. More: South Brunswick Schools To Form Committee To Help Navigate Budget Cuts

But the district was put in a tight spot with Murphy announcing over $4 million in cuts while leaving very less time to prepare and adopt a tentative budget.

Under the new proposal, the school districts are eligible to receive a share of $102.8 million in additional aid, but must submit a written plan to the Commissioner of Education “explaining how the district is going to use the funds and how the district is going to fund operations in future school years in which the district does not receive Stabilization Aid or similar Supplemental Stabilization Aid."

Board President Lisa Rodgers gave testimony to the Senate Budget Committee asking to eliminate the reporting requirement.

“Districts must now pull resources to complete a report that everyone knows won’t be looked at and will wind up on some server. There’s not enough time to review these reports or is each district being asked to commit to future cuts that are untenable by all that’s known today. Districts are burning the midnight oil, identifying people and programs to cut now even with the $102 million. How do you expect them to figure out next year’ when factors like inflation are unpredictable? What if the DOE feels the information in the plan isn’t enough?,” Rodgers said.

Here’s the full text of Rodgers' testimony:

Thank you, Senators Zwicker, Gopal and Assemblyman Freiman for S3732 / A5328 and thank you to all senators and assembly for supporting this bill we look forward to its passage today and it is our hope that this is the beginning of a constructive process of funding reform for all students.

I would like you to consider a floor amendment to cut lines 22-28 on page 6. The bill states in order to receive Supplemental Aid a school district must submit to the Commissioner of Education, “a written plan explaining how the district will be using the funds and operate in future years in which districts do not receive it.” 161 districts just started breathing a bit easier, expecting $102 million but now must focus on completing a report, explaining how we are going to do without this money next year, while figuring out cuts for this year.

What does the Commissioner plan on doing with this report? Has the lack of funding been predetermined? The formula is dependent on variables only available during each year’s budget cycle, so how can we predict the future when we cannot find a path forward today. It’s like your expecting districts to develop budgets based on the value of money 20 years ago.

Districts must now pull resources to complete a report that everyone knows won’t be looked at and will wind up on some server. There’s not enough time to review these reports or is each district being asked to commit to future cuts that are untenable by all that’s known today. Districts are burning the midnight oil, identifying people and programs to cut now even with the $102 million. How do you expect them to figure out next year’ when factors like inflation are unpredictable? What if the DOE feels the information in the plan isn’t enough?

Finally, let me ask you if you’re running a business, and have 4 production lines, all mirror images of each other and one costs $16,000 and the other three-all over $18,000, which managers do you want an efficiency report from to reduce costs? Now, use district per pupil costs. South Brunswick, one of the most efficient, is at $15,792, compared to districts like East Brunswick, North Brunswick and West Windsor Plainsboro, all over $18,400. ($18,484, $18,400, $18,597*). I’m not picking on these three districts that are receiving over $15 million, but why isn’t the DOE interested in how these districts are going to reduce costs, what’s THEIR plan? All students are entitled to a thorough and efficient education. This extra report is inefficient, wasting valuable resources: time, money, people. You have a chance right now, to show educators, students, taxpayers you care - because I believe you do - but we are running out of time. In six weeks, pink slips go out and over 5,000 teachers and staff will be impacted. This extra requirement is unnecessary and unfair to districts already dealing with state aid reduction in the face of a 40-year high inflation rate.

Again pass the bill today and consider a floor amendment and reissue state aid numbers with revised allocations. Thank you again for providing this essential relief to these 161 districts it will definitely help.

But we need to stop kicking the can.

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