School Board Officials Optimistic Despite Christie Aid Freeze

Just one week after Gov. Chris Christie announced a mid-year state aid freeze, members of the Board of Education were optimistic about how the district would weather the news while in the midst of the budgeting process for 2010.

District Business Administrator and Board Secretary Lou Pepe said that Christie’s cuts will mean an $87,500 freeze in expected state aid to the district this year.

“We will be able to adjust for that,” he said.

Board president Tom O’Rourke said in addition to these immediate freezes, the district is expecting a “double-digit” reduction in state aid this next year. Comments from Christie this week indicate that number could be as high as 15 percent or roughly $400,000.

“In my heart I believe that Summit will withstand this and come out a lot better than a lot of other districts,” O’Rourke said. “But it’s a very trying time. I’ve not seen things as difficult before as they are.”

Pepe said he and Superintendent Dr. Nathan Parker have been meeting with teachers to explain the budget process and appear to be meeting the timeline for developing the budget the board had previously laid out.

"We’ve been working diligently on trying to finalize  our budget this year,” Pepe said. “It’s been quite a challenge this year waiting for information from Trenton. And every time we do it seems like less dollar to all districts.”

O'Rourke said a lot of credit goes to the administration for the district's right budgeting and foresight to implement a five-year budget plan and a five-year construction plan. A few years ago, he said, the district did not have the surplus funds it has built up for itself today.

"We can weather it now," he said.