According to a statement released by the Governor’s office late Friday a $102 million deal that would restore 66 percent of the funding slashed for over 150 school beleaguered school districts is on the table. School boards across the state have been under pressure ever since Trenton’s 2023-24 proposed budget was released.
According to the statement, "All eligible districts that submit a request to the Commissioner of Education will receive this additional funding, and must include a written plan indicating how they intend to fund operations in future years when this aid is no longer available."
The Senate budget and appropriations committee will vote on S-3732, the bill which defines this agreement, on Monday. The bill was sponsored by Senators Vin Gopal and Andrew Zwicker with a companion bill by Roy Freiman, Paul Moriarty and Lisa Swain.
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Amidst all the Legislative cheering and patting each other on the back for a job well done, take note that the proposed bill leaves a lot to be desired.
Under the proposed bill, districts who request additional funding “must include a written plan indicating how they intend to fund operations in future years when this aid is no longer available.”
This undermines the entire awesomeness of the legislation as districts who need this additional funding due to a reduction in school aid will also need additional funding once this “extra funding” is no longer available.
Ergo, they will not be to indicate “how they intend to fund operations in future years when this aid is no longer available.”