District unable to fill positions Cut in Abbott funding blamed. P'burg school programs also affected. Wednesday, May 31, 2006 • By COURTNEY LOMAX • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | Most new positions and programs in the Phillipsburg School District won't be filled for the 2006-07 school year because of a decrease in state funding to New Jersey's poorest districts. The school board unanimously approved a $59 million budget Tuesday, which is about $7 million less than the budget approved in March. The board also approved an appeal to the New Jersey State Department of Education asking for $3.4 million of the $8.8 million the district had expected to get from the state. The cuts come after Gov. Jon Corzine announced in April that he planned to freeze overall funding to the 31 Abbott districts. The state Supreme Court earlier this month ruled the Department of Education could impose flat funding on Abbott districts -- the state's poorest school districts named after the landmark case Abbott v. Burke that ordered equitable per-pupil financing. The ruling did give districts appeal rights. Phillipsburg expected the state to supplement 13.4 percent of its budget. The supplemental aid would fund about 30 new positions and programs such as an alternative education program at the elementary level. Business Administrator Bill Poch said districts can appeal to the state for a portion of the money they need for the budget. To appeal, districts must show a zero increase for the 2006-07 budget, meaning programs must be cut. Board member Chafik Zarbatany Jr. said the district is forced to take step backward. "I hate all the positions we're not able to put in this year," Zarbatany said. "It's going to be a scary year." If the district doesn't win the appeal, it won't give up, Superintendent Gordon Pethick said. "We're ready to go forward with whatever we need to do," Pethick said. He said maintaining a zero increase for taxpayers means not meeting normal growth for the school year. He said the district will see changes taking place but he wouldn't elaborate on which positions won't be filled or which positions might be cut. "We have to make sure we maintain good programs for our students," Pethick said. The state will make a decision on the appeal by June 14. Poch said the teacher contract expires June 30 and a new contract might be affected by the decrease in state funding. Reporter Courtney Lomax can be reached at 610-863-3841 or by e-mail at clomax@express-times.com. © 2006 The Express-Times. Used with permission.