JERSEY CITY -- The Jersey City Board of Education at their Feb. 18 meeting saw school board member and former Jersey City Mayor Gerald McCann announce a doomsday scenario for the Jersey City school district: 1,500 school employees would have to be laid off before the next school year.

He was referring to Gov. Chris Christie’s recent announcement that school districts across New Jersey should brace themselves for cuts, as much as 15 percent, in school aid for the 2010-2011 school year to tackle a $11 billion budget deficit in the next fiscal year.

“We need to understand that this is a serious problem that we are facing,” McCann said.

To put Christie’s proposed 15 percent cut in perspective, if the state aid amount for this school year stays the same next year, the Jersey City school district could potentially get $62 million less in the next school year’s budget. The budget for the next school year is usually approved by the board then voted on by the public at the April school board election.

For more on Christie's proposed school aid cuts to Jersey City, read this weekend's Jersey City Reporter. - RK