Community Corner

School Funding Cut, PSE&G Investigation Vote This Week

Here's a look at the week ahead.

Local schools are facing "larger class sizes, fewer course offerings, possible four-day school weeks, loss of extracurricular activities, and teacher and staff lay-offs," according to a resolution being voted on by the Hillsdale Board of Education this week.

The board is scheduled to vote on the resolution asking federal officials to amend the Budget Control Act of 2011, a law which will automatically cut $1.2 trillion in funding to numerous programs unless congress passes an amendment before January 2.

It is estimated that public schools across the country would lose $2.7 billion from the cuts, about $73 million of which would have gone to New Jersey schools, according to the resolution.

Find out what's happening in Westwood-Hillsdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

New Jersey schools may have trouble replacing the funding because state law prevents a tax levy increase of more than 2 percent each year.

The school board will vote on a resolution this week asking congress to amend the law and not allow the cuts to happen.

Find out what's happening in Westwood-Hillsdalewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Hillsdale Board of Education meets at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the Board of Education Office behind Meadowbrook School.

PSE&G Investigation

The Hillsdale Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution this week requesting the Board of Public Utilities investigate PSE&G and other utilities for their response to Hurricane Sandy.

High winds from the storm caused thousands of local residents to lose power. Some remained in the dark for almost two weeks.

Councilman Tom Kelley, who responded to downed lines after Sandy, said the storm was one of the worst that New Jersey utilities have faced.

"I don't think they could have done much better than they did," Kelley said.

Councilman Doug Frank said that utilities may need to prepare better because so-called "100-year storms" are happening more frequently.

The Hillsdale Council meets at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Borough Hall.

Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Jim Leggate at Jim.Leggate@patch.com, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.


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