Bill Will Appropriate Over $100 Million In School Funding

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy announced a bill in partnership with the Legislature to offer additional funding to school districts that will see a reduction in school aid from the State in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget as a result of the S-2 funding formula. The legislation –sponsored by Senator Vin Gopal, Senator Andrew Zwicker, and Assemblyman Roy Freiman – will make over $100 million available to eligible districts.

“My Administration remains committed to providing New Jersey students with a world-class education, which is why we continue to dedicate historic levels of aid for our schools in each year’s budget,” said Governor Murphy. “As we work towards ensuring equitable access to the high-quality education every student deserves, this supplemental funding will support districts in adjusting to changes in aid under our state’s school funding formula. I thank our legislative partners for their collaboration in reaching this agreement on behalf of educators, students, and their communities in the upcoming school year.”

“I thank Governor Murphy for being consistently responsive to situations of each New Jersey local educational agency,” said Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, Acting Commissioner of Education. “As we continue to navigate the impact of our school funding structure, and in light of unique circumstances, the over $100 million in supplemental funding will provide an additional layer of stability this year, and continues to demonstrate the administration’s responsiveness to every New Jersey student.”

“As we continue to increase funding for New Jersey’s outstanding public schools, unfortunately, some districts saw a reduction in State aid,” said Senator Zwicker. “These cuts would have been devastating to our schools, and I am grateful that we were able to come up with a solution to ensure the quality of education of all New Jersey students is not compromised.”

“There is nothing more important to invest in than our children’s future. The families who live in New Jersey deserve the best public schools in the country, and with this investment, we will continue that commitment to the people who live here. After all of the disruption to learning through the pandemic, the last thing we need is for families to worry about teachers being laid off or services being cut,” said Assemblyman Freiman. “While in office, I have fought for sound, responsible budget policies, and they’re paying off - we now have the ability to deliver quality services to New Jersey families and focus on lowering property taxes. This legislation represents that commitment, and I am proud to sponsor it.”

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“Our schools have come under tremendous pressures over the past three years due to the pandemic, ranging from uncertainty about resources, learning recovery and a growing teacher shortage. Now is not the time for more uncertainty, nor the time for districts to be asked to do with less at the precise moment they are trying to recover some sense of normalcy,” said Senator Gopal. “This restoration of funding will ease some of those pressures, smooth out remaining transitions, and help districts set course on a bolder, brighter future.”

The bill (S-3732) allows school districts that will see a reduction in school aid in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget to request an additional amount of aid equal to 66 percent of the difference between the amount they received in the 2022-2023 school year and the amount of aid currently proposed for the 2023-2024 school year. All eligible districts that submit a request to the Commissioner of Education will receive this additional funding, and must include a written plan indicating how they intend to fund operations in future years when this aid is no longer available.

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Don’t put a dresser in front of it, don’t plant shrubs outside that window,” the councilman added.

He said the officers who made the first attempt at the scene “were able to gain access through a window from the outside so it is certainly important to keep that window clear when you have one door.” In other news, members of the township police department will be getting some upgrades to their locker room and showers. The governing body approved a capital ordinance appropriating $53,000 for those upgrades.

The Council also passed an ordinance amending salary ranges and positions of bargaining unit employees. The township’s

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Virginia E. Haines had brought the proposal to the Board of Commissioners.

She explained “this program is authorized by the County Option Hospital Fee Program Act, enacted by the state in 2018 and later amended in 2021 to support local hospitals in designated high need areas to ensure continued Medicaid access to critical health care services for needy and vulnerable populations.”

Haines. “Simply put, by becoming a part of this program, our participating hospitals will receive about $41 million, almost twice the fee assessed under the program.”

Ocean County is one of 12 eligible counties to join the program and would also receive a future financial benefit of about $2 million annually as a result of participating in it. Under the program, the hospitals will be assessed a fee totaling budget introduction is expected to occur in April.

Council President Roxy Conniff noted that a 4-H Club was being formed in the township and “we are hoping to get that set up by June.” She said it would be of benefit to the school district’s STEM program.

“The mayor (Robert Arace) and I got a tour of the Community Garden out in Whiting. We had no idea anything was out there but it is a really great community garden. You can plant anything but white potatoes because it attracts a certain type of beetle.”

She encouraged residents to visit the township website and to click on the Manchester Community Garden for more information.

“I’ve also been working with Congressman Chris Smith’s office and there are a number of programs involving funding for local projects so I’m working with the congressman’s office to try to get some money for Manchester with projects that would be beneficial to our town,” she added.

Councilman Craig Wallis noted the coming of Memorial Day in May and a service that will be held in Whiting this year.

“Tracey Lynch, our recreation director, she is the person behind all these events that are held so if you ever see her around thank her for all the time she puts in. All the veterans that are there - we are always trying to make things better for them.”

Councilwoman Michele Zolezi also noted the high percentage of veterans within the community. “We are always super supportive of all our veterans here in Manchester as we have a large population of those who have served.”

The councilwoman attended the most recent Coffee with Cops event held at All Star Bagel on March 25. Police Chief Robert Dolan said that the next few events will go back to a weekday schedule and that there would be a pizza with police event during the summer.

“I really like seeing our police interact with the public and I think they do a really great job each and every day,” the councilwoman said. She encouraged residents to come out to future meetings of the Township Environmental Commission.

The Councilwoman added, “they are looking to facilitate some more programs here in Manchester so by all means go to the website and try to be supportive of them and try to get out to a meeting. I want to also remind people to shop locally. We’re here to support our own businesses.” about $22.7 million to be used as matching funds for the Medicaid program. In return local hospitals will receive about $41 million.

“We had discussions with the hospitals in Ocean County and they are in favor of participating in this program,” Haines said. “The additional funding the hospitals will receive will help cover the costs related to providing quality health care services for low-income individuals and families receiving Medicaid. Participating hospitals all serve Medicaid patients.”

John W. Doll, chief operating officer for RWJBarnabas Health said, “on behalf of our participating hospitals, Community Medical Center, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus, and the RWJBarnabas Health Behavioral Health Center, RWJBarnabas Health commends the leadership of Ocean County in its evaluation, design and decision to move forward towards the implementation of this innovative program.”

“The County Option Hospital Program enables hospitals within Ocean County to partner with County leadership to optimize Medicaid dollars to better serve our patients and community members. Through this unique partnership the State, County and hospitals are able to improve the NJ Medicaid program through increased reimbursement rates to maintain critical access and hospital services,” Doll added.

Doll thanked Ocean County for their engagement to date and said he looked forward “to the ongoing partnership for the benefit of our Ocean County residents.”

Haines explained, “the purpose of the program is to increase financial resources through the Medicaid program to support local hospitals and to ensure that they continue to provide vital health care services to low-income citizens.”

The ordinance’s second reading and public hearing will be at the Board’s April 19 meeting.

Berkeley Lady Seniors Trips

BERKELEY – Berkeley Lady seniors are going to Woodloch Resort in the Poconos May 15 for their spring getaway. They have the best food and entertainment and lodging on the lake. The price is double $836 each, single $985 or a triple for $688. They leave from Pine Beach. A $l00 deposit will hold your room.

On October 14, they are sailing to Bermuda from Bayonne on Royal Carribean’s Liberty of the Sea. They have a wonderful group of people that they travel with and hope you’d like to join. A balcony cabin is $1,670; an Oceanview is $1,508; and inside cabin is only $1,250. For two. A deposit for the cruise is $500. For more information or flyers, call Marge at 239 272-6857. This summer, they will be going to Surflight Theater and Hunterdon Hills Playhouse.