Freehold Regional To Get Piece Of $4M In State Aid

MANALAPAN, NJ — A stabilization aid program for districts that have lost funding due to enrollment declines or funding readjustments means more than $4 million for certain Monmouth County school districts, state Sen. Vin Gopal said.

As Senate Education Chair, Gopal, D-Monmouth, obtained nearly $30 million in stabilization aid in New Jersey’s fiscal 2023 budget, which will support districts facing budget shortfalls or reductions in state aid. He serves District 11 and certain schools there are receiving more than $4 million.

Among them is the Freehold Regional High School District, which will receive $786,600, Gopal's office said.

Freehold Regional Superintendent Dr. Charles Sampson said the district is "thankful to Sen. Gopal for his work sponsoring this stabilization aid program and our inclusion in it."

But he urged "reworking" the state funding formula.

The district lost funding under S2, the state law that readjusted funding, increasing funding for some districts, decreasing it for others.

"We continue to implore all state legislators and Gov. Murphy to commit to reworking the state funding formula to aid all districts. The devastating loss of approximately $25 million in state aid under S2 to the Freehold Regional High School District can never be recouped, but we need our legislators and the governor to take action now to change this frightful financial landscape for our future.

"S2 has created a 'winners and losers' environment amongst school districts across New Jersey that must be remedied." Sampson said.

Gopal said "this funding will allow our schools, and districts across the state, to maintain essential services ranging from transportation to school security.

"New Jersey must continue working to create a more equitable and more reliable system for school funding. Until we realize that goal, however, stabilization aid is crucial to supporting our schools without further burdening our taxpayers.”

The New Jersey Department of Education has announced the following school districts will receive stabilization aid through the state’s fiscal year 2023 budget. Those listed are in Gopal's 11th District:

• Asbury Park: $678,526
• Eatontown: $282,180
• Freehold Regional: $786,600
• Monmouth Regional: $610,000
• Neptune City: $450,131.60
• Ocean Township: $1,269,450