Monroe Township school officials and a state legislator are headed to Trenton later this week to meet with state Education Commissioner Bret Schundler and discuss the district’s massive state aid cut.

“We’re going to attempt to make some changes,” state Assemblywoman Linda R. Greenstein (D-14) told an audience of about 120 people at the March 24 Board of Education meeting. “There’s a couple of items we are going to pursue.”

Monroe took a 94.9 percent hit in state aid, a reduction of $4,430,387 that left only $238,696 to get the district through the next school year.

“I find it incomprehensible that the state of New Jersey can provide less than 1 percent to this district,” an angry Wayne Holliday said at the March 31 board meeting. “It has the potential to be a huge problem for us. We’ve gotten to the point where we have to eliminate some of the co-curricular activities. There’s no appeal process if a district is above adequacy.”

Holliday, the district’s business administrator, gave a presentation on the school budget and officials’ efforts to cope with the loss of nearly all the district’s state aid.

“We are on our own,” Holliday said during the presentation as he outlined the district’s three sources of revenue — state aid, federal aid and the school tax levy.

“That’s it,” he said. “There are only three sources.”

The board voted unanimously to adopt the total budget of $89,743,644. That includes a tax levy portion of $80,584,528.

A resident with a home assessed at the township average would pay $3,906 in school taxes per year, an increase of about $300 over the current school year.

Board President Amy Antelis is still hoping the teachers union will agree to a salary freeze for the coming school year.

“There is no guarantee they will freeze their salaries,” Antelis said. “Yes, we have opened the door.”

If teachers did agree to freeze salaries, it would save roughly $1.1 million, she said.

The teaching staff’s contract runs out in 2011.

“We start negotiations in January anyway,” Antelis said after the meeting. “We’re going to try and start earlier this year.”

Schools Superintendent Kenneth R. Hamilton and Holliday have already agreed to salary freezes.

The budget also calls for the layoffs of at least 22 district employees, including world language teachers, two vice principals, paraprofessionals, technology support and other teachers, for a savings of $1,558,221. Operating costs at the district’s nine schools will also be reduced for a total of $1,397,825.

Board members stressed that a budget defeat could make things even worse.

The district’s after-school programs, all nonmandated courses, sports, summer programs, special services and early childhood programs could all be at risk if the budget goes down on April 20. The district could also consider a pay-to-play option where parents would pay $160 to $200 a month per child so they could participate in co-curricular activities, Hamilton said.

“We are looking at various options,” he said. “The preliminary budget has been approved by the county.”

Holliday said there are certain “nuances” about Monroe that make the

state’s funding formula unfair.

The district buses students to school because Monroe is primarily a rural community, with few sidewalks, he said.

“We do it because it keeps the kids safe,” he said.

The state Legislature has until June to approve the final budget figures, Greenstein said.

“All we have is the governor’s budget,” she told the audience. “I am extremely disappointed with the budget as it stands now.

“Schools must do what they must do now,” Greenstein said. “Your board, your superintendent, have a tremendously difficult job right now.”

Antelis pointed out that the district cut administrative positions after Hamilton came on board as superintendent last year, and set aside money for roof repairs.

“We did it because we thought it was the right thing to do,” she said. “We’ve been very proactive. I think it’s a shame what the governor is trying to do. This board in the future is going to take a very hard look at what makes us overadequate.”

Board member Lew Kaufmann said the board will follow the voters’ direction after the election.

“Ladies and gentleman, the bottom line is the voters of Monroe Township have the deciding say in how they want to see education in Monroe,” he said. “The bottom line is that when you vote for this budget, you will be telling this board what to do. We are accountable. The buck stops with us. Your mandate will be what you want us to do.”