Schools

Berkeley Heights Public Schools to Receive $426,000 in State Aid; Mountainside $202,000

Governor Chris Christie increases state aid to schools statewide.

Berkeley Heights Public Schools will receive $426,204 and Mountainside Public Schools $202,718 in state aid under Gov. Chris Christie's budget proposal for the 2011-2012 school year. 

Christie promised in his budget address Tuesday every district in the state would see an aid increase—part of a $250 million boost to education aid overall.

Last year, the governor sharply reduced aid to schools, including several in Union County. At the time, many districts had been making plans for their budgets based on suggestions of more modest cuts by the state Department of Education.

Find out what's happening in New Providence-Berkeley Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I agonized over making cuts to education aid last year," the governor said in his budget address. "They were the very last cuts I approved. It was not a decision I took lightly. It was not something I wanted to do. However, in a year where shared sacrifice was required from everyone, it was a necessary choice."

But he said hard decisions made over the last year allowed for some increase this year. Many districts will still receive less than they did prior to 2010-2011, however. In Union County, schools will get more than $13 million more in aid than last year.

Find out what's happening in New Providence-Berkeley Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In proposals tied to his budget, the governor is also pushing for reform to tenure, and for public employees to take on much of the cost associated with their benefits. He's also pushing for associated pension reforms. 

"The need for reform, of course, is more urgent than ever. ... We need to reward excellent teachers, put an end to automatic tenure, and give parents trapped in failing schools a choice for a better future for their children. Once and for all, we must reward excellence and there must be consequences for failure. This is the way it is all across America – we must finally bring it to all of New Jersey’s classrooms," Christie said.

What do you think about Gov. Chris Christie's decision to give Berkeley Heights and Mountainside aid?  

Check out the chart below for further details.

County: UNION

District: BERKELEY HEIGHTS TWP

K-12 2010-2011 Total Aid: $0

Equalized Aid: $0
Education Adequacy Aid: $0
Choice Aid: $0
Transportation Aid: $0
Special Education Categorical Aid: $0
Security Aid: $426,204
Adjustment Aid: $0
K-12 2011-2012 Total Aid: $426,204
One Year Aid Change: $426,000

County: UNION
District: MOUNTAINSIDE BORO

K-12 2010-2011 Total Aid: $58,067

Equalized Aid: $0
Education Adequacy Aid: $0
Choice Aid: $0
Transportation Aid: $0
Special Education Categorical Aid: $0
Security Aid: $202,718
Adjustment Aid: $0
K-12 2011-2012 Total Aid: $202,718
One Year Aid Change: $144,651

    » 2011-12 State Aid Summaries Home


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