SECAUCUS —The Secaucus Public School District stands to lose all of its state aid – $1.68 million – under Gov. Christopher Christie’s proposed budget, which he presented Tuesday to the New Jersey Legislature in Trenton.
If passed by the state legislature, Secaucus would become the only school district in Hudson County to lose all of its state aid.
The local school system had anticipated the loss of this aid prior to Christie’s announcement. But the loss could force steep cuts in the local education system’s own budget, which the Secaucus school board must submit to the County Superintendent by March 22.
“Currently, the administration, business administrator, and the board are working to prepare a budget that will comply with state and county guidelines, while preserving a quality education for our students,”
Superintendent of Schools Cynthia Randina said in a written statement released days before Christie unveiled his cuts.
“Naturally, we will earmark those dollars that are essential to maintaining our core academic programs and those required by the [New Jersey] Department of Education for students to graduate.”
In a release issued today, Randina responded directly to the loss in all state aid:
“Yesterday afternoon, March 17th, the Governor notified all school districts in New Jersey about an additional cut to State Aid.
“The news for the Secaucus Public School District is not good. We typically receive 5% of our Education Budget in State Aid which is $1,686,138. This has been reduced to zero ($0).
“Secaucus is one of 59 districts in the State to have their aid eliminated, and the only district in Hudson County to lose all of its state funding.
“This additional reduction of $1,686,138 follows an earlier state imposed reduction to our district of $575,974 which we had already calculated into our proposed 2010-2011 Budget.
“We must now see where to find the additional 1.6 million dollars that must be cut from the budget which will go to the voters on April 20, 2010.
“This is an unprecedented situation for every one of New Jersey’s 600-plus school districts. It most certainly will not be ‘Business as Usual.’
“I will make every possible effort to craft a 2010-2011 Education Budget that will do the least amount of harm to our students and to the core programs that make this one of the best districts in Hudson County.”
“I will need the support of everyone in our community to preserve the future state of our schools which impacts the future stability of property values in our town.
“We are required to comply with these harsh mandates and with the help of my Business Administrator we will make these cuts and present a budget to the residents and taxpayers reflecting the loss of $2,262,112.
“How we achieve this and what the impacts will be on our organization will be presented to residents on Monday evening, March 29th in the Multi-purpose Room of the Huber Street Elementary School, at 7:00 p.m.”- E. Assata Wright