Prior to this year’s work on the 2025-26 school year budgets, the New Jersey Department of Education wasn’t too kind to the Stafford Township School District for the past seven years. In total, the state has depleted its aid to Stafford by nearly $5 million, according to district officials.

Surprisingly, the state is allowing districts that have fallen into “inadequacy” status – in which enrollment climbs but aid losses helped create budget shortfalls, meaning the district either absorbed the…