$714,085

That is the amount of money in what was dedicated state aid to the Woodbury City Schools that the state will now NOT pay as a result of Governor Chrisitie's executive order last week.  Due to the financial crisis the state finds itself in for the current budget year, school districts across the state have been targeted as a main means to making up the shortfall.

Any money that was in a "excess surplus" account or in specially designated "reserve" accounts was used in the calculation to determine how much a district would have to find in these areas in lieu of what were to be state aid payments.  Woobury has used money in these accounts in the past to perform maintenance and upgrade work to our facilities and to also provide for taxpayer relief with respect to the local property tax.

Obviously, any of the good that would have come from this money has been eliminated.  It will now simply be used to pay bills.  Additionally, this decision will likely have serious impact on the development of the next school year's budget.

Unfortunately, this may not be the end for bad economic news for schools.  In a mid-March address, Governor Christie will provide an outline for state aid to schools for the 2010-11 school year.  This state aid number for Woodbury will be a key determiner for decisions related to our school programs for the future.

As a superintendent faced with the financial complications of school funding, it makes me wish for snow!  

Stay tuned.