Abbott schools get less money Phillipsburg, others set to receive smaller portion of state funds. Friday, December 28, 2007 • By TRISH G. GRABER • The Express-Times TRENTON | Gov. Jon S. Corzine's plan to change the way the state funds New Jersey's 618 school districts is drawing opposition from the poorest communities and support from middle income districts. The proposal would provide between a 2 percent and 20 percent increase in state money to districts for the 2008-09 school year. The majority of Abbott districts, whose designation the plan seeks to abolish, would receive the smallest increases in funding. Advocates for those 31 districts, many of which would receive a 2 percent increase for the 2008-09 school year argued that the formula is unfair. Abbott districts take their name from Abbott v. Burke case in which the state Supreme Court ruled New Jersey's funding system was flawed and inequitable. The court ordered the state to provide supplemental funding to the poorest 31 districts, which includes Phillipsburg, to bring the quality of education up to the level of more affluent districts. Richard Shapiro, an attorney who represented 11 Abbott districts in Supreme Court against the state, said the formula would penalize children in those communities where districts will struggle to maintain programs while funding increases in fixed costs. "I'm not saying throw money at them, I'm saying give them what they need to maintain what they have," Shapiro said. Shapiro testified at an unprecedented post-Christmas hearing on the proposed school funding formula Thursday, setting up a vote on the measure before the lame-duck session ends Jan. 8. He was among those, including some legislators, who cautioned against swift passage of the proposal. "As much as I'd like to be part of something historic," said Assemblyman Craig Stanley, D-Essex, chairman of the education committee. "I don't know who's seen this formula before three weeks ago." The new formula distributes funding beginning with a base cost per pupil of $9,649 and adding supplemental funding for the number of students who receive free or reduced-cost lunch, have limited English proficiency or are in a special education program. Education Commissioner Lucille Davy said it's important to move ahead with the plan by the time the current legislative session ends on Jan. 7 so the government and school districts can incorporate figures from the plan into their new budgets, which would take effect on July 1. The proposal would cost an extra $532 million next year, bringing the total in state aid to $7.8 billion. The amount is included in next year's $3 billion budget deficit, Davy said. Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce on Thursday said the shortfall, paired with other concerns, is one reason to delay a vote on the proposal. "There is simply no reason to rush this process to a conclusion in the next 11 days," DeCroce said. "This legislation will have far-reaching consequences for parents, students, teachers, school officials and taxpayers for years to come." On Thursday, however, the administration's plan received a key endorsement to help push the process along. The New Jersey Education Association, which represents more than 220,000 educators, backed the proposal. "We recognize that passage of this legislation is only the beginning," said NJEA President Joyce Powell. "Adjustments will have to be made as we live with this formula, and we may even discover ways to improve it." Trish Graber is Trenton correspondent for The Express-Times. She can be reached at 609-292-5154. The Associated Press contributed to this report.