Long Branch Schools See Dip in State Aid

The Long Branch School District will see a decrease in state aid for the next school year.

The district, which is classified as an Abbott District, will receive $41,795,235 for the 2012-13 season, a $100,229 decrease from the current school year's state aid allocation.

Long Branch School District Superintendent Michael Salvatore said he was "surprised" to see the decrease.

"(Governor Chris Christie) was so encouraging about the increase in state aid and the investment in children to secure a brighter future," Salvatore said in a statement. "Nonetheless, I was a bit surprised to see the dip in state aid to Long Branch as our enrollment increased along with our free and reduced lunch population."

The district has 5,445 registered students as of Jan. 31.

Salvatore said in the past, state aid was calculated by enrollment, not attendance. He said the dip was due to a chance in the funding formula.

"This year’s figures were a result of a 3-year average pupil attendance rather than enrollment numbers," Salvatore said. "Therefore, despite our increase of more than 100 students, most of whom speak limited English and qualify for (free and reduced lunch)F/R, we received a reduction of more than $100,000."

Salvatore said the district is still classified as "underadequate" in terms of funding.

"We realize the urgency to remain efficient in our venture to provide a free quality public education to our children," Salvatore said.

School Budget

After learning of the district's state aid funding, the Long Branch Board of Education (BOE) submitted a tentative budget to the county during its meeting last week. The school was required to submit it before March 5.

The tentative 2012-13 budget totals $90,545,966, of which $32,186,556 will be raised through taxation.

This year's budget totals $74,517,816. Of that total, $31,570,923 - a zero percent increase from last year - is being raised from local taxpayers.

The Long Branch BOE said the budget should stay within stay within the state-mandated 2 percent spending cap, therefore .

The BOE voted to move school elections to November during its January meeting.

The 2012-13 budget will be presented to the public during the BOE meeting scheduled for March 28 at 7 p.m.