Christie's Speech Anticipated By District Officials

Gov. Chris Christie is scheduled to deliver his budget address later today, and school officials are bracing for what might come.

Doug Wild, who heads up the Board of Education’s Finance and Facilities Committee, said this morning that the speech today will give the board an idea of the fiscal direction Christie will take in regard to aid to school districts.

But, Wild said, the real effect on the Wall Township school system will not be clear until Thursday, when the state aid figures are released.

“We’ll have an idea of what he’s going to do in the speech today, but the real impact comes (when the aid figures are released),’’ Wild said.

, district officials have said, prompting the school system to consider closing West Belmar Elementary School to help close the district’s budget gap.

, which is currently under study by Middletown-based T & M Associates,  intent on blocking the school from closure. Results of the T&M feasibility study are due later this month, officials have said.