N.J. schools brace for possible aid cuts | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/21/2010

N.J. schools brace for possible aid cuts | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/21/2010

Lay off teachers and staff and increase class sizes. Ax sports programs and clubs. Scrap class trips and keep the school band home. Eliminate programs, put off repairs, scuttle faculty training, and raise taxes - if possible.


Those are some of the scenarios New Jersey school district officials are considering as they await word on whether Gov. Christie will cut education funding in next year's budget, which he will propose March 16.


Faced with a $2.2 billion deficit in the current budget, Christie on Feb. 11 issued an executive order that slashes $475 million in aid to schools and will force districts to spend their surpluses and reserve funds to make up the shortfall.


Christie vowed the cuts would have no ill effect on education this school year. But school administrators say they had planned to use the surpluses to offset anticipated flat or reduced state aid in the next budget. They are being punished for being fiscally prudent, they said.
Then last week, the governor and acting Education Commissioner Bret Schundler repeated advice issued by the Corzine administration: Districts should prepare for possible aid cuts next school year - even 15 percent.


Given the lack of aid specifics and the tight time frame for school boards to approve tentative budgets once figures are released, district officials are creating various scenarios, including the doomsday variety.


"We're scrambling right now, and things are changing rapidly," said Gary Dentino, Waterford School District superintendent. "We don't see light coming through to us. We only see dark."