State gives Paterson schools $5.1 million in emergency aid
By Jayed Rahman
Published: December 9, 2019
The city’s school district is getting $5.14 million in emergency aid from the New Jersey Department of Education.
School officials had requested $24.66 million in emergency aid last summer after 234 jobs were eliminated due to budget shortfalls. Among the cuts were 166 teacher, 23 vice principal, and 29 supervisor jobs.
The aid application stated the district would use the award to rehire teachers at every school and restore eliminated vice principals and supervisors.
Governor Phil Murphy’s administration announced $15 million in emergency aid to 29 school districts late Friday. Newark requested $36 million and received $4 million; Jersey City requested $215 million and received nothing.
Paterson was the sole district in Passaic County to apply for emergency aid.
The spring layoffs in Paterson led to big class sizes in the fall, many classrooms have 30 or more students, according to school officials.
School officials are facing another budget crunch in the 2021 academic year budget. Last month, school officials revealed the district is facing a $63.7 million shortfall.
Email: [email protected]