Belleville, Nutley: Less School Aid Than Expected Amid COVID-19

BELLEVILLE, NJ — Belleville and Nutley are among nearly 400 districts amid the coronavirus crisis that will get less aid than what Gov. Phil Murphy first proposed.

Murphy has released revised state aid figures, saying they will overall remain steady from fiscal year 2020 despite the "historic financial challenges New Jersey is facing due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic."

But a number of districts – nearly 400 of them – will get less money than they expected when Murphy first offered his school funding plan in February.

Belleville will see a 5.1 percent dip.

Nutley will see a 1.6 percent dip.

Indeed, more than 190 school districts will see cuts from last year's funding, and they may need tax increases to make up the differences. Read more: These 190-Plus Districts May Face Tax Hike: NJ School Aid Figures

In his revised budget proposal, Murphy announced that funding for school districts will keep the state on track to fully fund public schools. Additionally, the revised budget proposal includes almost $68 million in new funds over FY2020 for preschools in New Jersey.

Murphy also announced $100 million in Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) funding to ensure schools can reopen safely.

“Supporting our public schools has been one of the bedrock priorities of my administration, and the COVID-19 pandemic has not changed our commitment to our students, educators, and staff,” said Murphy.

Many districts have complained that they will not be able to meet the safety standards required to reopen to in-person instruction. Some districts have even decided to start the remote because of this, and also because teachers don't believe they're safe. Read more: NJ Coronavirus, Reopen Updates: Here's What You Need To Know

Murphy said the pandemic "has created an unprecedented challenge for our schools."

"But I am proud that we can continue to support our districts, ensure the health and safety of students and school staff, and provide a high-quality education for all children," he said. "Together, we will weather these challenging times and build a state that is stronger, fairer, and more resilient.”

This article contains reporting by Tom Davis, Patch staff

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