School Funding Remains Constant

Ten school districts to get more state aid
By: DAVID LEVINSKY AND DAVID MACCAR
Burlington County Times
Others will receive the same amount as last year under Corzine's proposed budget.
dlevinsky@phillyBurbs.com
dmaccar@phillyBurbs.com

Ten of Burlington County's 41 public school districts will receive small increases in state aid under Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposed state budget, and the remaining districts will receive the same amounts.

The state aid figures were released Wednesday afternoon by the state Department of Education and are based on a new school funding formula instituted last year, officials said.

No districts received cuts, and 170 districts statewide got increases, according to Lucille Davy, state commissioner of education.

In Burlington County, Bordentown Regional, Burlington Township, Chesterfield, Delanco, Delran, Eastampton, Florence, Medford Lakes and Riverside will receive 5 percent increases in their total state aid, according to the figures.

The Burlington County Institute of Technology will receive a 2 percent aid hike.
Pemberton Township will continue to receive the most state assistance in the county with $83.1 million in total aid, followed by Willingboro with $39.9 million and Lenape Regional High School District with $30.9 million. All three are receiving the same amounts of aid as last year.

Chesterfield's $380,242 in total state aid is the smallest amount among Burlington County school districts.
Statewide, Corzine's budget calls for an estimated $300 million increase in aid to school districts, Davy said.
"Despite the global economic crisis, [Corzine] has protected education and made clear that educating our children to the high standards we expect here is a top priority," Davy said.

Eastampton Superintendent Robert A. Krastek said Wednesday that he was pleasantly surprised by the increased financial help, but he warned that cuts still might be needed in the district budget. He said he planned to discuss the cuts at a board meeting next week.

"Obviously [the aid increase] will help our budget this year," Krastek said. "We were expecting for it to be a difficult year because of the economic climate and this will certainly help."

Rancocas Valley Regional Business Administrator Robert Sapp said he was thankful his district received the same amount of aid as the previous year.

"You're always hoping for more, but I'm not complaining," Sapp said.
Municipal aid amounts for towns and cities are expected to be announced today.
March 12, 2009 02:20 AM