Cranford Schools Will See Increase in State Aid

The Cranford Public School District will receive a $1,038,944 increase in state aid for the 2011-2012 school year, Governor Chris Christie announced Tuesday. The aid is a 138.2 percent increase from the anticipated numbers released in February.

“This year, New Jersey increased state aid to school districts by $850 million over last year, restoring every dollar of the cuts we were forced to make last year and increasing aid by an additional $30 million,” Christie said in a press release. “Now is the time to complement the dollars spent with real education reform to bring a focus on student learning, accountability and results.”

Over the past year, devastating cuts were made to districts across the state, and Cranford was no exception. However, in February of this year, the district received some good news with a $519,473 increase for the 2011-2012 school year. The funds were a welcome change from the year before, when the district .

The increase was made largely through the efforts of District 21 representatives Senator Tom Kean Jr., Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, and Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz. The group worked with Christie in an effort to allot a fairer share of funds to District 21, which boasts some of the highest-performing schools in the state. 

"I am pleased that the Governor has made tough choices that will increase state school aid and allow our public schools to continue to set the standard," Bramnick said in a press release.

"I am certainly pleased that children in our school district will benefit from the increased educational funding that is part of the fiscal 2012 budget," Munoz added. "One of our top priorities is investing in our youth and providing them with necessary resources to prepare them for the future. The additional funding is welcome news and reaffirms our commitment to provide a quality education."