Graduating eighth graders at Robert Treat Academy Charter School in Newark received a record $6 million in scholarship offers to attend private boarding and day schools in the fall.

The scholarship offers this year exceeded the average $4 million a year that previous classes have received since the first class graduated in 2005, said Theresa Adubato, the principal of Robert Treat.

"We are extremely proud of our students," Adubato said. "The scholarship offers that this class received are a reflection of all the hard work they have put into their academics during their elementary school years."

The Newark Charter School Fund is hosting a first-ever Charter High School Fair for Newark students who want to learn more about their high school choices.

The fair is open to all Newark students and parents, particularly seventh and eighth graders looking to learn more about their high school options. In addition, some Newark charters have spots available students who will be sophomores next school year.

NEWARK - The Newark Public Schools' $1.012 billion budget for the next school year turned a major corner when the advisory board approved it on a 6-3 vote here at the Central High School Auditorium March 29.

Board members Alturrick Kenney, Marques-Aquil Lewis and Antoinette Baskerville-Richardson voted against the proposed outlay. Board President Elaina Pintor Marin, vice president Shanique L. Davis-Speight and panelists Shavar Jeffries, Ivan Lamourt, Juan Rivera and Nakia J. White, however, carried the measure.

Pintor Marin saluted outgoing members Rivera and White for their overall six years' service after their last vote. The board president also wished Lewis, is vying against eight other candidates, "my heartfelt best of luck" in the April 17 school board election.

The $1,012,577,293 spending plan for the 2012-13 school year, however, is not yet finished.

The Newark Public Schools Advisory Board has put off voting on State District Superintendent Cami Anderson's 2012-13 restructuring plan here at the Oliver Street School March 27 until April 24 at the George Washington Carver School.

The almost full board has instead refocused themselves on the 2012-13 school year budget as presented by Anderson's administrators and with the latest state and federal aid allocations dialed in. The estimated $935 million spending plan was scheduled for at least one public hearing 6-8 p.m. March 29 at the new Central High School on 18th Avenue.

Concentrating on the budget - and campaigning for the April 17 advisory board election - has prevented the board from scheduling a public business meeting next month. The next set public regular meeting, including a likely vote the restructuring plan, will therefore be at Carver's auditorium on 333 Clinton Place.

That month-long refocusing may well allow communities among the 15 schools to be affected by the restructuring time to plead their case. Some of those schools' PTAs/PTOs, teachers, administrators and concerned parents have been making their appeals since demonstration pickets went up in front of the Camden Street School 7:30-8:30 a.m. March 22.