After State Finds Funds, Schools Rush In

Since the beginning of the school year, school districts have had to investigate and track any suspected incidents of harassment or bullying as part of the state's anti-bullying legislation.

To do this meant each school needed someone to follow-up on reports and track the incidents, superintendents had to review reports, and school staff and volunteers had to be trained. State officials laughably said this would not be an expense occurred for this work—likely because the state didn't provide any money for schools to pay for it as required by the state constitution.

Not surprisingly, in January, the Council on Local Mandates—which reviews laws to determine if they constitute a state mandate—said the state would have to pay for the work, when Warren County's Allamuchy school district balked at the law.

Surprisingly, the state quickly found $1 million for schools to pay for the HIB policy. Is it enough?

"With as many schools, and as many school districts as there are in New Jersey, I don't know how far that million will go," Warren Township Schools Superintendent Tami Crader said.

The approved on Monday an application for $56,551 from the funding to pay for the district's expenses instituting HIB policies for the school year.

She said the figure is "probably a conservative estimate of the time and resources" required.

Crader said she hopes to know the amount the district will receive before the end of the school year.

Crader said she expects the state will only be able to provide a percentage of the requested amounts for schools.