BRIDGETON -- Concern about Gov. Chris Christie's changes to the state's school funding formula has city officials calling for support for an alternative plan.
Christie's plan will give $6,599 per student for each district, which will lead to a loss of $168,213,622 in aid for Cumberland County, according to Bridgeton Mayor Albert Kelly. A resolution approved Tuesday by Bridgeton City Council throws its support behind proposed legislation by Senate President Steve Sweeney and Sen. Teresa Ruiz. Kelly hopes to see similar resolutions passed in other Cumberland County towns.
Cumberland County is the poorest county in the state, according to 2014 Census data.
"Right now with the proposal that's on the table, it's an us-against-them -- suburban districts will gain and we will lose," Kelly said at the city council meeting. "We have to do something"
On Sept. 13, Kelly attended a meeting at Bridgeton Board of Education where Sweeney spoke about his plan.
"I wanted to bring it to council, because not everybody was there, but also to show the public that this isn't a Bridgeton problem," Kelly said. "This is a countywide problem. Every district in Cumberland county will be losing money under the current proposed program."
In the 2015-2016 school year, Bridgeton received $79 million in state aid, according to the Education Law Center. Under Christie's Fairness Formula, the aid will amount to $36 million -- a loss of $43 million for Bridgeton's school system.
According to the Education Law Center, Vineland will lose $70 million from last year's $136 million of state aid.
"The students and families of this district deserve equal opportunities for achievement and academic advancement so that they may become productive citizens and take their rightful places as tomorrow's leaders," said Superintendent Mary Gruccio of Vineland.
"Vineland Public Schools are blessed with rich diversity and students who possess amazing potential," she said. "Any repeal of funding shall only serve to curtail the growth and development of bright and deserving children who only seek the same opportunities for career and life success as young people in other New Jersey communities."
With Christie's plan, Millville will lose $35 million in state aid for its schools -- having received $67 million in aid last academic year.
"Gov. Christie's plan would simply destroy our school district and halt the progress the governor previously praised us for achieving," said Superintendent David Gentile of Millville. "Any plan that diminishes the current level of funding is bad for our community."
Sweeney's proposed legislation (SCR119) establishes a State School Aid Funding Fairness Commission. The Senate passed the legislation on Sept. 15 and it was sent to the Assembly.
Don E. Woods may be reached at dwoods@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @donewoods1. Find NJ.com on Facebook.