Budgets show ups and downs of N.J. schools

School district budgets, which go to public hearings this week, are a mixed bag in South Jersey this year, reflecting communities’ special issues and circumstances. Last year, deep cuts in state aid resulted in reduced staff and programs, larger classes, and activity fees in many districts. In most cases, the cuts were about 5 percent of a district’s budget. More than 80 percent of districts reduced classroom teaching staff, according to the New Jersey School Boards Association. http://bit.ly/hQlMrN