State Aid to Increase for Morris Schools

The Morris School District will see a $343,548 increase in state aid in the 2013-14 school year according to figures released by the state Thursday, representing a 5.8 percent increase over last year's $5,973,619.

The district's state aid will total $6,317,167 in 2013-14. Of that, $2,923,993 will go towards special education.

The Morris Plains Borough School District will also see an increase in state aid of $186,032. The district's state aid will total $749,160 this year, representing 33 percent more than the $563,128 the district received last year.

The state Department of Education boasted that the 2013-14 aid package is the largest ever released by the state. Nearly $9 billion will go to public schools, an increase of about $97.3 million from the 2012-13 school year.

Many other districts in Morris County will see an increase in aid this year, including Lincoln Park, Dover and the largest increase in the county, 17.7 percent, for the Morris Hills Regional School District. The districts receiving an increase will average a gain of $75 per pupil.

"Throughout my time in office I have continuously argued that in order to grow New Jersey's economy we must invest in education, and my proposed budget is a reflection of my commitment to our educational system and communities across the state," said Christie. "However, even as we continue to fund education at the highest levels in state history, we must remain willing to reflect on how we are spending our money and work towards solutions that make every dollar we invest count."