BOE Finance Panel Plans Monday Meeting on Christie Aid Cuts

The Board of Education finance committee held a long meeting Thursday night and is planning for another long night Monday as the group works to plug a $4.22 million budget hole created by Gov. Chris Christie's decision to cut Westfield's school aid by 90-percent.

BOE Vice President Julia Walker, the finance panel's chairwoman, said the group has been working with a series of proposals submitted by teachers, administrators and residents. Schools Superintendent Margaret Dolan has been meeting with administrators and union leaders all week to find budget reductions since Christie made the announcement in his budget speech on Tuesday.

"There are lots of ideas on the table," Walker said.

The BOE had planning for a potential $750,000 loss in state aid based on a briefing from state Education Commissioner Bret Schundler in early March. The finance panel is now faced with finding additional budget cuts now that state aid is $3.5 million less than they'd planned for.

The finance committee is due to recommend a budget plan to the BOE at the board's meeting Tuesday night. A budget proposal is due to the county schools superintendent on Tuesday with final adoption on March 30. The county superintendent can veto individual line items in the budget, which Schundler has encouraged the county education leaders to do if budgets exceed the state mandated four percent property tax hike cap.

During Thursday's Parent Teacher Council meeting, BOE officials indicated there is a possibility that the board may hold additional special meetings next week. Walker said only the finance committee will meet on Monday. She said the panel is prepared for the hard work ahead.

"We've got our sleeves rolled up and green eye shades on," she said. "It is a big budget gap to fill and we want to protect programs."