Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

 
     7-14-11 State GUIDANCE re: Using Additional State Aid as Property Tax Relief in this FY'12 Budget year.PDF
     7-14-11 DOE Guidance on Local Options for using Additional State School Aid in FY'12 State Budget.PDF
     FY'12 State School Aid District-by-District Listing, per Appropriations Act, released 110711
     7-12-11 pm District by District Listing of State Aid for FY'12 - Guidelines to be released later this week (xls)
     Democrat Budget Proposal per S4000, for Fiscal Year 2011-2012
     Additional School Aid [if the school funding formula,SFRA, were fully funded for all districts] per Millionaires' Tax bill S2969
     6-24-11 Democrat Budget Proposal brings aid to all districts
     6-1-11 Supreme Court Justice nominee, Anne Paterson, passed muster with Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday by 11-1 margin
     4-26-11 School Elections, Randi Weingarten in NJ, Special Educ Aid, Shared Services bill
     4-25-11 Charter Schools in Suburbia: More Argument than Agreement
     4-24-11 Major Education Issues in the News
     4-3-11Press of Atlantic City - Pending Supreme Court ruling could boost aid to New Jersey schools
     3-31-11 Charters an Issue in the Suburbs - and - So far, only 7 Separate Questions on April School Budget Ballots
     3-26-11 New Jersey’s school-funding battle could use a dose of reality
     3-25-11 Education Week on School Cutbacks Around The Nation
     Link to Special Master Judge Doyne's Recommendations on School Funding law to the Supreme Court 3-22-11
     GSCS 3-7-11Testimony on State Budget as Proposed by the Governor for FY'12 before the Senate Budget Committee
     Attached to GSCS 3-7-11 Testimony: Marlboro Schools strike historic agreement with instructional aides, bus drivers, bus aides
     GSCS - Local District Listing : Local Funds Transferred to Charter Schools 2001-2010
     GSCS Bar Chart: Statewide Special Education cost percent compared to Regular & Other Instructional cost percent 2004-2011
     GSCS Bar Chart: 2001to 2011 Statewide General Fund Transfers Required from Local District Budgets to Support Charter Schools (Increased from $85M to $317M)
     GSCS Take on Governor's Budget Message
     Gov's Budget Message for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Today, 2pm
     8-18-10 Property Tax Cap v. Prior Negotiated Agreements a Big Problem for Schools and Communities
     7-22-10 'Summer school falls victim to budget cuts in many suburban towns'
     7-12-10 Assembly passes S29 - the 2% cap bill - 73 to 4, with 3 not voting
     7-8-10 Tax Caps, Education in the News
     GSCS:Tax Cap Exemption needed for Special Education Costs
     7-3-10 Governor Christie and Legislative leaders reached agreement today on a 2% property tax cap with 4 major exemptions
     7-1 and 2- 10 Governor Christie convened the Legislature to address property tax reform
     6-29-10 GSCS - The question remains: ? Whither property Tax Reform
     GSCS On the Scene in Trenton: State Budget poised to pass late Monday...Cap Proposals, Opportunity Scholarship Act in Limbo
     6-28-10 State Budget tops the news today
     GSCS On the Scene in Trenton: Cap Proposals, Opportunity Scholarship Act in Limbo
     6-25-10 Appropriations Act bills for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 available on NJ Legislature website - here are the links
     6-23-10 Trenton News: State Budget on the move...Education Issues
     6-22-10 The Appropriations Act for the State Budget Fiscal Year 2010-2011
     6-22-10 Budget , Cap Proposals & Education News - njspotlight.com
     6-11-10 In the News: State Budget moving ahead on schedule
     6-10-10 Op-Ed in Trenton Times Sunday June 6 2010
     6-8-10 (posted) Education & Related Issues in the News
     Office on Legislative Services Analysis of Department of Educaiton - State Budget for FY'11
     4-23-10 Education issues remain headline news
     4-22-10 School Elections - in the News Today
     4-21-10 DOE posts election results
     Hear about Governor Christie's noontime press conference tonight
     4-21-10 News on School Election Results
     4-21-10 Assoc. Press 'NJ voters reject majority of school budgets'
     4-20-10 Today is School Budget & School Board Member Election Day
     4-18-10 It's About Values - Quality Schools...Your Homes...Your Towns: Sunday front page story and editorial
     4-19-10 GSCS Testimony before the Assembly Budget Committee on State Budget FY'11
     4-13-10 Testimony submitted to Senate Budget Committee
     4-13-10 Commissioner Schundler before Senate Budget Committee - early reports....progress on budget election issue
     4-12-10 'Gov. urges voters to reject school districts' budgets without wage freezes for teachers'
     GSCS 'HOW-TO' GET TRENTON'S ATTENTION ON STATE BUDGET SCHOOL ISSUES FY '11' - Effective and Well-Reasoned Communication with State Leaders is Critical
     4-6-10 'Gov. Chris Chrisite extends dealdine for teacher salary concessions'
     4-6-10 'NJ school layoffs, program cuts boost attention to Apri 20 votes
     4-2-10 Press of Atlantic City lists county impact re: school aid reduction
     4-2-10 'On Titanic, NJEA isn't King of the World'
     Administration's presentation on education school aid in its 'Budget in Brief' published with Governor Christie's Budget Message
     PARENTS ARE CALLING TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS FOR THE SCHOOL AID PICTURE - GSCS WILL KEEP YOU UP-TO-DATE
     4-1-10 Courier Post article reports on Burlington and Camden County district budgets
     4-1-10 Education in the News today
     4-1-10 New Initiatives outlined to encourage wage freezes - reaction
     3-31-10 What's Going on in Local Districts?
     3-29-10 The Record and Asbury Park Press - Editorials
     3-26-10 GSCS: Effective & Well-Reasoned Communication with State Leaders is Critical
     FAQ's on Pension Reform bills signed into law March 22, 2010
     3-26-10 School Aid, Budget Shortfall - Impt Related Issues - Front Page News
     3-25-10 STATE BUDGET FY11 PROCESS - IMPORTANT TRENTON DATES - April through May 2010
     3-23-10 GSCS Testimony presented to Senate Budget Committee on State Budget FY'11
     GSCS - Formula Aid Loss and Percent Loss by District - Statewide
     GSCS - Formula Aid Loss under 50%, by County
     GSCS - Formula Aid Loss of 50% or more, by County
     3-23-10 ' N.J. Gov. Chris Christie signs pension, benefits changes for state employees'
     3-23-10 State Budget Issues in the News
     3-21-10 Reform bills up for a vote in the Assembly on Monday, March 22
     GSCS FYI - GSCS will be testifying onTuesday in Bergen County on the State Budget
     3-21-10 Sunday News from Around the State - School Communities, School Budgets and State Budget Issues
     3-17-10 Budget News - Gov. Chris Christie proposes sacrifices
     3-17-10 Budget News - NJ Schools Stunned By Cuts
     3-16-10 Link to Budget in Brief publication
     3-15-10mid-day: 'Gov. Christie plans to cut NJ school aid by $800M'
     3-14-10 'Christie will propose constitutional amendment to cap tax hikes in N.J. budget'
     3-15-10 'N.J. taxpayers owe pension fund $45.8 billion' The Record
     3-11-10 Public Hearings on State Budget for FY11 posted on NJ Legislature website
     3-11-10 'GOP vows tools to cut expenses, tighter caps'
     3-9-10 'NJ leaders face tough choices on budget'
     Flyer: March 2 Education Summit Keynote Speaker - Education Commissioner Bret Schundler - Confirmed
     3-5-10 HomeTowne Video taping plus interviews of GSCS Summit@Summit
     3-5-10 GSCS Summit@Summit with Bret Schundler to be lead topic on Hall Institute's weekly 2:30 pm podcast today
     3-4-10 GSCS Email-Net: Summit @ Summit Report - A New Day in Trenton?
     3-4-10 'NJ education chief Bret Schundler tells suburban schools to expect more cuts in aid'
     3-4-10 'School aid cuts unavoidable during NJ budget crisis'
     3-3-10 'Public Education in N.J.: Acting NJ Comm of Educ Bret Schundler says 'Opportunity'
     2-24-10 'Tight funds raise class sizes that districts long sought to cut'
     2-22-10 Christie and unions poised to do batttle over budget cuts'
     2-22-10 Trenton Active Today
     2-19-10 'Acting NJ education commissioner hoping other savings can ward off cuts'
     Flyer for March 2 Education 'Summit@Summit'
     2-16-10 'Christie Adopts Corzine Cuts, Then Some'
     2-14-10 'FAQ's on NJ's state of fiscal emergency declaration by Gov. Christie'
     State Aid 2010 Reserve Calculation and Appeal Procedures
     2-12-10 News Coverage: Governor Christie's message on actions to address current fiscal year state budget deficits
     FY2010 Budget Solutions - PRESS PACKET
     School Aid Withheld Spreadsheet
4-13-10 Testimony submitted to Senate Budget Committee
by Jim O'Neill, Superintendent of the School district of the Chathams

TESTIMOMY – SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE – APRIL 13, 2010 Jim O’Neill, Superintendent of Schools School District of the Chathams

Chairman Sarlo, Vice Chairman Stack, Senators Beach, Bucco, Buono, Cunningham, Doherty, O’Toole, Oroho, Pennacchio, Ruiz, Smith, VanDrew; Thank you for the opportunity to address the Committee today. I will be brief and I will give the clerk a copy of my comments; I will also be glad to answer any questions if that would be helpful. • Everyone understands that Governor Christie inherited a financial crisis and I don’t doubt that anydecisions he made would alienate some people, institutions and special interest groups • Many of us sympathize with the Governor’s frustration with NJEA • However: o Many of us do not understand the philosophy, the rationale or even the math of what the Governor has offered to solve New Jersey’s fiscal problems o What gains in reduced spending through layoffs by school districts will be offset by higher unemployment claims? What really will be gained? Saved? • Everyone understands that if you restrict the tax levy you will make it more difficult for the suburban schools because most of their money comes from property tax dollars • Everyone understands that if you take more aid you will hurt the ‘Abbotts’ and more economically disadvantaged communities because their dollars come from state aid. • But to take up to 100% of the aid from districts that have sent hundreds of millions of dollars through income taxes which allow the state to send hundreds of millions of dollars to less fortunate communities seems unfair on the face of it and raises a question about the state fulfilling the constitutional mandate of Thorough and Efficient • It should also be evident to everyone that when the state took money from districts that cover 85-95% of the cost of running the schools you did not take state money, you took local money, at least 85-95% of it was local property tax money • Trenton frequently complains about how little NJ gets back from the Federal Government; many suburban towns are now looking at getting pennies or even zero back from Trenton • The citizens of my community could say that the state has decided to limit how much they can spend on their own children where 96% or more attend to top colleges and were we spend $2,000 less per student than the state average while at the same time taking the 55-60 million dollars they pay in income taxes and send it to another district where they spend @$27,000 per student or twice the state average and about two and a half times what we spend. • One of the things that Governor Corzine was given credit for by many educators and legislators was creating the new formula. It passed the Supreme Court test but we have now abandoned it. The commissioner indicates they ran the formula but could not fund it. Why wasn’t that formula used as a tool to reduce aid? • Perhaps my greatest concern with the way the school aid issue was dealt with is the fact that all were treated the same o High performing/low performing o Growing enrollment/declining enrollment o Spending under the state average/spending thousands over the state average o There is no indication that there was any recognition if the district accomplished the state’s goal:  A school district that is both efficient and effective  And the Governor’s rhetoric continues to perpetuate the myth that there are not well run school districts in New Jersey • After the state took 80-100% of the aid from many districts we embarked on the challenging task of seeking contractual concessions to help offset the loss of state aid. A few districts were successful; more with administrators than with teachers; some only took a freeze for part of the year. Many boards engaged their teachers association in earnest discussions to no avail. Yesterday the Governor encouraged citizens to defeat all budgets where teachers did not agree to a freeze. What purpose will this serve? Districts will cut more staff and teach the NJEA a lesson? Or that the Governor and the legislature, despite public comments to the contrary, do not care about public education and choose to punish school children who have no decision making power but will be penalized because two groups of adults cannot work out their differences. • Where does the obligation that the state has to our most vulnerable citizens temper the actions of those in decision making positions? • The Governor talks a lot about what is right. On many things I agree with him but I have never believed that the end justify the means and in this case a relentless pursuit of the end will result in children being victimized by those elected to ensure their safety and well being. • It is my contention and firm belief that one of the few things that continue to bring people to New Jersey while others leave the state are the abundance of excellent schools. When NJ schools become mediocre there will be one more reason for them not to relocate to NJ • The effort to resolve the state’s fiscal problems may well need drastic measures but the extent of the cuts to many districts were by any standard, excessive and we were forced to make those decisions in a 4 day window of time. You have months to resolve your budget issues, suppose you only had one week? The decisions would necessarily suffer from the expedited time frame. • We were told there would be tools to allow us to deal with these cuts in aid, we are told the tools are coming but tools that do not exist cannot be used. Pass some of the tools and by the way, I think the tools are great, I contributed to that list of tools and think they will be successful but they do not [yet] exist and therefore are of no help • I understand that there is frustration with property taxes in New Jersey but I don’t believe reasonable people think that decimating school budgets is a well thought out answer to the problem. It may be an outlet for frustration but it is not a long term solution. Whether you like school budgets or not, school districts followed the laws as they existed at the time. This year, like every other year, school budgets are the result of approval by the County Superintendent and the voters. • I know there has been controversy over the so called millionaire’s tax, the Governor is opposed but many members of the legislature are supportive. I hope someone is debating the idea of taking only half of the $800 million this year and putting that tax in at half the rate. It would at least give us time to consider and monitor the consequences of our decisions and to help the Commissioner and the Governor understand the impact of these cuts before it is too late. • You have a difficult task but this is an important issue. There are 1.2 million students in public schools in NJ. Their well being deserves your best effort and doing what is right for them should not be squashed because of a tangential battle with the NJEA. • If I was allowed one sidebar comment it would be that even if the Commissioner and the Governor are fans of Charter schools, now that they have the responsibility for public schools they should focus their energy on fixing those schools rather than promoting solutions that drain more money from those schools.