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GARDEN STATE COALITION OF SCHOOLS Board Meeting Agenda July 13, 2005 East Brunswick Board of Education,10 – 11:30 a.m. [Note: Action minutes are in bold print throughout the body of the agenda.]1. Treasurer’s Report: Dan Fishbein, Treasurer Mike Gorski, CPA Report accepted unanimously.
2. President’s Report: Stuart Schnur
• GSCS Board Meetings Calendar: 2005-2006 – see GSCS website for revised calendar. • Annual Meeting June 2005 • Committee/Liaison Report
3. Executive Director’s Report: Lynne Strickland State Budget FY06: School Aid includes select district aid, e.g.: • S2558: $20M Bayonne, North Bergen, Hillside, Clifton, Weehawken/see ‘Cinderella Districts’ news articles/handouts & website. • Additionals e.g.s,: Trenton 1.5M; Lawrence 750K; Montclair 1M; Englewood 4M, Ewing 2.2M • High Expectation for Learning Proficiency (HELP): $15M • High Enrollment Growth districts: $12M; “…distributed to non-Abbott school districts whose resident enrollment for the 2004-05 school year”: 1] = to/or greater than 100 pupils 2] whose projected resident enrollment for the 05-06 school year exceeds its resident enrollment for the 04-05 school year by at least 2.5%,as determined by the commissioner. $800 X projected increase in resident enrollment if projection is less that 7% $1600 X “ “ “ etc., if projection is = to/or greater than 7% and less than 10% $2400 X “ “ “ etc., if projection is + to/or greater than 10%
• Not included in Appropriations Act, but negotiated with legislature and Governor’s office: +$150M for Abbott districts
School Construction: funding for September referenda questionable: as grants and as debt service Consensus: GSCS should continue to follow this matter closely, as well as participate in a coalition of stakeholder groups.
GSCS Network: Recruitment Efforts, Growth & Outreach, focus: S1701: GSCS is ‘growing’ its outreach via parent linkage throughout out membership. See GSCS website; important that central offices continue to reach out to parents/email address book outreach as well. IMPT:WORK ON BUILDING GSPN’s e-army list/send out recruitment letter to e-address books • S1701 update Moody’s Ratings Report, negative overtones for future ratings due to S1701 Administrative benchmarking costs: Long Range Facilities Plans not included • A3904Stanley/S2417Adler/Turner: Special Education Review Commission amended & passed in Senate late June but needs Assembly final vote before can be signed into law; GSCS will have a seat on the Commission. • Gubernatorial Campaign Update/Current Issues -Corzine campaign: Education Policy Representative Outreach to GSCS -Forrester campaign: staff meeting/campaign manager. • Data Information Session 9/27&28: Reock School Finance group [GSCS a member] Briefing for the Press on September 27 or 28 in Trenton. • Fall Strategies -GSCS: Outreach to education community to meet and develop blueprint for potential new school funding formula: Consensus for GSCS to draft invitation letter to education community/LEE Group for September ‘roundtable discussion’ on process and substance for new school funding formula, equitable for all public school children. To assure sense of equity outreach letter to be co signed by Education Law Center as well as GSCS. David Sciarra, ELC Director, has already agreed to do this. -Possible GSCS conference/NJ College venue mid-October -Trenton Day: Parent Network Lead 4. Board Member Input. 5. Summary and adjournment.
