Morris K-12 Would See Cut In Revised Budget

MORRISTOWN, NJ—The Morris School District would receive less state K-12 aid next year than previously proposed under Gov. Murphy's revised budget released this week.

"Supporting our public schools has been one of the bedrock priorities of my administration," said the governor on Wednesday. "The pandemic has created an unprecedented challenge for our schools."

Under the revised budget, the Morris system would be one of nearly 400 municipalities receiving less than what was proposed in February, and one of more than 190 which would receive less funding than in 2019-20.

Morris schools would receive $7,152,578 in K-12 aid under the revised budget, not the $7.4 million than Gov. Murphy slated for the district earlier this year. The cut represents a 0.10 percent (or $4,649) reduction in K-12 aid for the 2020-2021 school year under the new budget. The district received $7,157,227 last year.

The new budget proposal also contains $100 million in Coronavirus Relief Fund money for districts to bring schools into compliance with the state reopening plan health standards. School systems already within the guidelines would use that money to maintain those standards. The revised numbers also include $67.8 million in preschool education aid, for a total preschool allocation of $874.2 million.

The Morris School District did not immediately return a request for comment.

—with reporting by Tom Davis