Board
told not to ask for supplemental aid
ATTORNEY advises P'burg to go
ahead and submit financial request.
Tuesday, March 28, 206 • By SARAH CASSI •
The Express-Times
PHILLIPSBURG | State education officials
have told the state's neediest districts not to request
discretionary aid in their 2006-2007 budget
requests.
Superintendent Gordon Pethick received a
fax from acting Commissioner of Education Lucille Davy on
Monday that detailed new budget "regulations" requiring
Abbott districts to withdraw aid requests.
Phillipsburg is requesting $8.8 million
in supplemental funding for its $65.9 million spending plan,
13.4 percent of its budget.
"It's a blatant disregard for the Abbott
V decision," Business Administrator Bill Poch said. "It will
be devastating to the district and the staff of the
district."
Phillipsburg is one of the state's 31
Abbott districts -- poor school districts named after the
landmark case Abbott v. Burke that ordered equitable
per-pupil financing. The Abbott V decision refers to the
state Supreme Court's fifth decision on Abbott v. Burke made
in 1998. The decision provided for supplemental programs in
Abbott districts, such as preschool, technology and
alternative school options.
Phillipsburg is proposing an alternative
education program at the elementary level.
"As long as we can show the need, it's
supposed to be funded," Pethick said.
Last year, the district requested $3.7
million in discretionary aid, but eventually received
$800,000.
Officials said Phillipsburg's attorney
Richard Shapiro advised the district to submit its
discretionary aid request in its proposed budget to the
state.
Poch said he plans to submit the request
to the state by Friday, and will include a letter from
Shapiro. Poch said officials from Newark and Jersey City
plan on doing the same.
The state has until the end of May to
release discretionary aid funding, Poch said.
If the state refuses to provide the aid,
Poch said the district could face across the board cuts in
programs and staff. Poch said if that happens, Shapiro is
ready to go straight to the state Supreme Court.
Pethick will learn what other Abbott
district officials plan to do at a meeting of urban and
Abbott superintendents Wednesday morning in
Trenton.
Davey's instructions came days after
state education officials notified eight Abbott districts
their funding might be cut because their property tax rates
are too low compared to their economic development. Newark,
Jersey City, Garfield, New Brunswick, Perth Amboy, Asbury
Park, Long Branch and Neptune all face funding
cuts.
Reporter Sarah Cassi can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by
e-mail at scassi@express-times.com.
© 2006 The Express-Times. Used with
permission.
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