Westwood Regional Schools Receive Aid Reduction In Revised Budget

WESTWOOD, NJ — On Wednesday, Gov. Phil Murphy announced revised state aid figures for school districts across the state amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Despite the financial hardships the pandemic created, Murphy said they'll remain consistent with fiscal year 2020 numbers, even with the "historic financial challenges New Jersey is facing due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic."

School funding will remain consistent with the figures announced in July, Murphy announced Wednesday.

This means some districts, including Westwood, will see a reduction in aid from Murphy's initial budget proposal.

Initially, it was proposed that Westwood would receive $2,488,978 in K-12 aid in the 2020-2021 budget, but the revised proposal has Westwood slated for $2,300,240.

Still, this is an increase for Westwood from 2019-2020, when the district received $2,212,322.

The new budget proposal also included $100 million in Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) funding to help schools 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. "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. Together, we will weather these challenging times and build a state that is stronger, fairer, and more resilient."

Additional reporting by Tom Davis

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