JACKSON – Members of the township council noted some good news for the school district with the receipt of funds from the state. The district was also recently assigned a state monitor in accordance to procedures of its request for a loan.
Council President Jennifer Kuhn said during a recent council meeting that “the mayor received a communication from the state. The mayor and the Jackson Board of Education were instrumental in getting $2,137,000 in Stabilization Aid in which will help offset the money lost with the decrease in state school funding.”
“The mayor notified Superintendent Nicole Pormilli and Board of Education President Giuseppe Palmeri. This is really, really good stuff,” the council president added.
Palmeri was present at the council meeting and stated his thanks during the public comment period of the session toward all the work that went into securing the funds.
Last year the school district faced a financial crisis that called for the Board of Education to seek a $10 million loan from the state after the district’s budget was struck. The State of New Jersey allows districts that have received a reduction in state aid to apply for Stabilization Aid.
The district put in an application for Stabilization Aid and laid out all of its needs, challenges and funding losses, as required to be included in the application. These funds are not a loan but a form of aid that operates the same as the state aid the district receives during the budgeting process.
The Stabilization Aid funds will go toward the overall operation of Jackson’s school district and will lessen any monies the district would borrow from New Jersey to support its 2023-2024 school budget. That may mean that the BOE will now seek an $8 million loan instead of the original $10 million.
Pormilli told The Jackson Times, that she was grateful for the call from the mayor informing her the district would be receiving some relief. We appreciate the efforts and support of the mayor and others who helped us advocate for the funding we desperately need after being so devastated by aid cuts these past seven years.”
“This is a strong example of how hard we are all working together to serve the students of Jackson. I look forward to getting our official notice soon,” Pormilli added.
Mayor Reina told The Jackson Times, “I’m elated that we were even considered let alone got $2.1 million. I am waiting for the official announcement. The have $21 million in that Stabilization Fund and I was told it would be very difficult. So, in working with Superintendent Pormilli and getting the application in not only on time but early, I don’t know what happened. I never expected it.”
“Being that there was only $21 million and so many school districts that were hit with funding taken away, us being a strong Republican town in a Republican County we weren’t given much options. I’m thrilled that our kids and our taxpayers reap some back benefit. It is sad, we lost some $6 million and got back $2 million of what was taken away and that means scholastic, athletic and everything hopefully in those two categories can be restored,” the mayor added.
Mayor Reina stressed, “I am glad the state gave us back something. I have kudos for the senator who helped us get this done. It is encouraging that people can cross the aisle to do what is right for the kids, with state education. I was completely caught off guard when I got the phone call.”
“That is really good news and I am very happy for the school district for the state aid that has been announced. It has been a long time coming,” Councilman Nino Borrelli said.
“I want to congratulate all residents of Jackson especially the children who will benefit from this and I want to congratulate the Board of Education for all of their hard work and a special shout out to the mayor who is definitely an advocate for our schools. We need more than $2 million but this is a huge step in the right direction,” Councilman Mordechai Burnstein said.
