Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

 
     5-1-12 Department of Education Release explains policy rationals for new rate methodology, federal requirements for revision of gradnuation rates
     4-11,12-12 p.m - Governor's Press Release re Priority, Focus and Rewards Schools Final list...PolitickerNJ and NJ Spotlight articles
     3-30-13 Education in the News - Dept of Education-State Budget, Autism Rates in NJ
     3-20-12 Education Issues in the News
     GSCS State Budget FY 2012-2013 Testimony
     2-29-12 NJTV on NJ School Funding...and, Reporters' Roundtable back on the aire
     2-26-12 State budget, School Elections, and Federal Grant funds for local reform initiatives
     2-24-12 Headlines from around NJ - from Google (hit on nj education-nj budget)
     2-23-12 Education in the News - Education reform noted in state budget message; Facebook grant to Newark teachers
     STATE AID DISTRICT LIST - PROPOSED for FY 2012-2013
     Education Funding Report on School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) issued 2-23-12
     Text of Gov. Christie's State Budget Message, given Feb. 21, 2012
     2-22-12 School Aid in State Budget Message - Is There a Devil in the Details
     2-21-12 State Budget Message for Fiscal Year 2012-2013
     1-24-12 Supreme Court Justices Nominated by Governor Christie
     1-17-12 Breaking News - Governor delivers State of the State Message, Signs 'November Vote' bill, A4394
     List of PRIORITY, FOCUS and REWARDS SCHOOLS per DOE Application on ESEA (NCLB) Waiver
     Education Transformation Task Force Initial Report...45 recommendations for starters
     9-12-11 Governor's Press Notice & Fact Sheet re: Education Transformation Task Force Report
     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)
     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
     4-21-11 Supreme Court hears school funding argument
     4-14-11 Governor Releases Legislation to Address Education Reform Package
     4-13-11 Governor's Proposed Legislation on Education Reform April 2011
     4-5-11 Education Issues in the News
     4-8-11 Education Issues in the News
     4-7-11 Gov. Christie - 'Addressing New Jersey's Most Pressing Education Challenges'
     4-7-11 Early news coverage & press releases - Governor's Brooking Inst. presentation on his education reform agenda
     4-3-11Press of Atlantic City - Pending Supreme Court ruling could boost aid to New Jersey schools
     4-2-11 The Record - Charter school in Hackensack among 58 bids
     4-1-11 N.J. gets 58 charter school applications
     3-30-11 Acting Commr Cerf talks to School Administrators about Gov's Education Reform agenda
     3-26-11 New Jersey’s school-funding battle could use a dose of reality
     Link to Special Master Judge Doyne's Recommendations on School Funding law to the Supreme Court 3-22-11
     3-22-11 Special Master's Report to the Supreme Court: State did not meet its school funding obligation
     GSCS 3-7-11Testimony on State Budget as Proposed by the Governor for FY'12 before the Senate Budget Committee
     3-4-11 'Teacher Evaluation Task Force Files Its Report'
     3-6-11 Poll: Tenure reform being positively received by the public
     Link to Teacher Evaluation Task Force Report
     GSCS Take on Governor's Budget Message
     Gov's Budget Message for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Today, 2pm
     Tenure Reform - Video patch to Commissioner Cerf's presentation on 2-16-10
     2-16-11 Commissioner Cerf to introduce education reform plans...School construction...Speaker Oliver on vouchers
     2-16-11 Commissioner Cerf talks to educators on Tenure, Merit Pay , related reforms agenda
     9-23-10 Breaking News - Star Ledger ‘Facebook CEO Zuckerberg to donate $100M to Newark schools on Oprah Winfrey Show’
     1-7-11 Opinion: The Record - Doblin: ‘Students are collateral damage in Christie’s war’
     2-7-11Grassroots at Work in the Suburbs
     1-13-11 Supreme Court Appoints Special Master for remand Hearing
     1-20-11 GSCS Testimony before Senator Buono's Education Aid Impact hearing in Edison
     12-16-10 p,m. BREAKINGS NEWS: Christopher Cerf to be named NJ Education Commissioner
     GSCS Board of Trustees endorsed ACTION LETTER to Trenton asking for caution on Charter School expansion
     12-12-10 'Rash of upcoming superintendent retirements raises questions on Gov. Christie's pay cap'
     12-8-10 Education & Related Issues in the News - Tenure Reform, Sup't Salary Caps Reactions, Property Valuations Inflated
     12-7-10 Education Issues continue in the news
     12-6-10 njspotlight.com 'Christie to Name New Education Commissioner by Year End'
     12-5-10 New York Times 'A Bleak Budget Outlook for Public Broadcasters'
     12-5-10 Sunday News - Education-related Issues
     GSCS Education Forum Stayed Focused on Quality Education
     11-19-10 In the News - First Hearing held on Superintendent Salary Caps at Kean University
     11-15-10 GSCS meeting with Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver
     11-18-10 Superintendent Salary Caps to be publicly discussed tonight at Kean University
     Governor's Toolkit Summary - Updated November 2010
     10-8-10 Education Issue in the News
     9-29-10 Christie Education Reform proposals in The News
     9-15-10 'Governor Christie outlines cuts to N.J. workers' pension, benefits'
     9-1-10 Education in the News
     8-31-10 Latest development: Schunder's margin notes reveal application error
     8-27-10 later morning - breaking news: Statehouse Bureau ‘Gov. Chris Christie fires N.J. schools chief Bret Schundler’
     8-27-10 Star Ledger ‘U.S. officials refute Christie on attempt to fix Race to the Top application during presentation’
     8-25-10 Race to the Top articles - the 'day after' news analysis
     8-24-10 Race to the Top Award Recipients named
     8-23-10 S2208 (Sarlo-Allen prime sponsors) passes 36-0 (4 members 'not voting') in the Senate on 8-23-10
     8-18-10 Property Tax Cap v. Prior Negotiated Agreements a Big Problem for Schools and Communities
     8-16-10 Senate Education hears 'for discussion only' comments re expanding charter school authorization process; Commissioner Schundler relays education priorities to the Committee
     7-22-10 'Summer school falls victim to budget cuts in many suburban towns'
     7-21-10 List of bills in Governor's 'Toolkit'
     Governor's Toolkit bills listing
     7-16-10 GSCS Information & Comments - S29 Property Tax Cap Law and Proposal to Reduce Superintendent salaries ....
     7-15 & 16 -10 'Caps - PLURAL!' in the news
     7-12-10 Assembly passes S29 - the 2% cap bill - 73 to 4, with 3 not voting
     GSCS re:PropertyTax Cap bill - Exemption needed for Special Education enrollment costs
     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
     GSCS On the Scene in Trenton: Cap Proposals, Opportunity Scholarship Act in Limbo
     6-11-10 In the News: State Budget moving ahead on schedule
     6-10-10 Op-Ed in Trenton Times Sunday June 6 2010
     Recently proposed legislation S2043 brings back Last Best Offer (LBO) for school boards in negotiations
     6-8-10 Education issues in the news today - including 'hold' on pension reform, round two
     6-8-10 (posted) Education & Related Issues in the News
     6-4-10 Education News
     6-3-10 RTTT controversy remains top news - articles and editorials, column
     6-2-10 RACE TO THE TOP (RTTT) 'NJ STYLE': It is what it is ...but what exactly is it? Race to the Top application is caught in a crossfire of reports - more information and clarity is needed
     6-2-10 RACE TO THE TOP (RTTT) 'NJ STYLE' :It is what it is ...but what exactly is it? Race to the Top application is caught in a crossfire of reports - more information and clarity is needed.
     GSCS 'QUICK' THOUGHT - Will the Administration's reform legislation being introduced just this month- May - have a fair chance for productive debate and analysis
     5-11-10 njspotlight.com focuses on NJ's plans for and reactions to education reform
     ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS CITED FOR ROUND 2 - RACE TO THE TOP GRANT
     5-8 & 9-10 Education Reform Proposals Annoucned
     5-9-10 'Gov Christie to propose permanent caps on salary raises for public workers'
     5-3-10 Newsflash! Governor Christie makes NJ Supreme Court appointment
     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
     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'
     4-18-10 Sunday Op-eds on school budget vote: Jim O'Neill & Gov Christie
     4-19-10 Lt. Gov. Guadagno's Red Tape Review Group initial Report released
     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'
     4-6-10 'Gov. Chris Chrisite extends dealdine for teacher salary concessions'
     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
     4-1-10 New Initiatives outlined to encourage wage freezes - reaction
     3-29-10 The Record and Asbury Park Press - Editorials
     3-26-10 GSCS: Effective & Well-Reasoned Communication with State Leaders is Critical
     3-23-10 GSCS Testimony presented to Senate Budget Committee on State Budget FY'11
     3-23-10 ' N.J. Gov. Chris Christie signs pension, benefits changes for state employees'
     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
     3-16-10 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 'GOP vows tools to cut expenses, tighter caps'
     3-9-10 'NJ leaders face tough choices on budget'
     3-5-10 HomeTowne Video taping + 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 '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'
     Flyer: March 2 Education Summit Keynote Speaker - Education Commissioner Bret Schundler - Confirmed
     2-25-10 Gov. Christie's Red Tape Review Comm., chaired by Lt. Gov. Guadagno, to hold public hearings In March
     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'
     2-12-10 Assembly Budget hearing posted for this Wednesday, Feb. 17
     FY2010 Budget Solutions - PRESS PACKET
     State Aid Memo (2-11-10) 2 pgs
     2-12-10 News Coverage: Governor Christie's message on actions to address current fiscal year state budget deficits
     2-11-10 Gov Christie address to Joint Session of the Legislature on state budget and current year aid reduction remains scheduled for today
     2-10-10 'Schools are likely targets for NJ budget cuts'
     2-9-10 News article posted this morning notes potential for large loss of current year school aid
     2-8-10 Northjersey.com editorial 'Tightenting our Belts'
     2-8-10'Gov Christie, lawmakers proporse sweeping pension, health care changes for public employees'
     2-2-10 GSCS BOARD TO MEET WITH COMMISSIONER BRET SCHUNDLER TODAY
     1-28-10 School Surplus plan to supplant State Aid in this year gaining probability
     Governor Christie's Education Team Transition Report
     Governor Christie Education Transition Team Report , released 1-22-10
     1-21-10'N.J.'s Christie won't rule out layoffs, furloughs to close unexpected $1.2B deficit'
     1-20-10 Editorials, Commentary on New Governor in Trenton
     1-19-10 Chris Christie - Inauguration Day
     1-18-10 Advance news on 'Christie as new Governor'
     1-14-10 'N.J. Gov.-elect Christie targets teachers' union with Schundler appointment'
     1-14-10 'To lead schools, Christie picks voucher advocate'
     1-13-10 More articles, plus Wikipedia information re New Education Commissioner, Bret Schundler
     1-13-10 Christie Press Conference reports
     1-13-10 Christie's New Commissioner of Education to be announced today - 12:30 Statehouse Press Conference
     1-13-10 New Commissioner of Education to be announced today - 12:30 Statehouse Press Conference
     1-12-10 Moving on...'Budget plan a wrinkle for districts'
     1-11-10 Transition News
     1-7-10 'N.J. Gov-elect Christie blast Democrats for lame-duck actions'
     12-27-09 'New Jersey competes for education reform stimulus money' (aka 'Race to the Top' funds)
     12-23-09 GSCS: Governor Corzine targets excess school surplus to replace state aid payments starting in Feb '10 - lame duck legislation anticipated
     12-15-09 GSCS is working with the Christie Transition Team
     12-12 & 13-09 Education Issues in the News
     12-11-09 'Gov.-elect Chris Christie's team got its signals crossed on education funding application'
     12-9-09 Governor-elect Christie talks more about his thougths for education
     12-5-09 'Once powerful teachers union faces tough times with Christie'
     12-3 Governor-Elect Chris Christie Announces Key Appointments
     12-3-09 'Gov.-elect Christie visits North Brunswick to talk with educators on district challenges'
     (12-8-09) GSCS Board of Trustees representatives to meet with Christie 'Red Tape' Group
     11-23-09 Governor-elect Christie names Transition Team Subcommittee members
     11-13-09 Chrisite's Budget Transition Team Annouced
     11-13-09 Education Week on: Gov-elect Christie's Education Agenda; Race to the Top Funds Rules
     11-12-09 Governor-elect Christie names his 10 member transition team
4-1-10 New Initiatives outlined to encourage wage freezes - reaction
'State offers teachers a break on benefits contributions if they accept pay freeze' Press of Atlantic City
"...For any contract negotiated before May 22, employees will not have to pay 1.5 percent medical...For any current contract for which a one-year extension with no salary increases for 2010-11 has been granted, employees will not have to pay 1.5 percent medical...For any new contract negotiated after May 22, employees will have to pay 1.5 percent medical..."

'N.J. teachers who revise contracts get break on benefits fee, state memo says' Star Ledger continuous news desk


"...New Jersey public school teachers who accept revised contracts by May 22 don't have to contribute 1.5 percent of their pay for health benefits for the 2010-11 school year, giving school staff an incentive to take a wage freeze or smaller raises..."

'N.J. teachers union is skeptical of Gov. Christie's letters on wage freeze' By Statehouse Bureau Staff


"...Twice in the past eight days, Christie has written to Barbara Keshishian, president of the New Jersey Education Association, to encourage her to endorse his proposal that teachers accept one-year wage freezes. But Steve Baker, a spokesman for the NJEA, was skeptical. He said the organization was rebuffed when it invited the governor to meet with its leaders shortly after Christie was elected in November..."If it was a genuine attempt to reach out to the NJEA, he would have made an attempt to reach out and have a discussion, not just send out a letter he released to the press," Baker said...

We are waiting for a sign, a smoke signal, any indication at all, that the NJEA, as an organization, will break with its iron-fisted refusal to move beyond its self-interest to that of the public interest," Drewniak(Governor's spokesman) said. "The atmosphere will change when that happens."

New Jersey's Budget Crunch

State offers teachers a break on benefits contributions if they accept pay freeze

Teachers who have new contracts by May 22 will not have to contribute 1.5 percent of their pay toward their health benefits, at least for the 2010-11 school year, a memo the state Department of Education sent to school district administrators last week states.

The issue provides a new incentive to school staff to take a wage freeze or smaller raises. But details of how the new 1.5 percent payroll deduction will affect contracts are still being developed, and districts and teachers are approaching the issue cautiously.

 “It is an incentive,” said Steve Baker, spokesman for the New Jersey Education Association. “But we really can’t say yet if it is having an effect.”

On March 23, Gov. Chris Christie signed into law Bill S3, requiring all school district employees to pay 1.5 percent of their base salaries toward the cost of health benefits. The law takes effect 60 days after the signing and applies to all new union contracts.

 The memo from Yut’se Thomas, DOE acting Assistant Commissioner, Division of Finance, notified districts that employees working under an expired contract must contribute the 1.5 percent payment beginning on May 22. But it also says that districts that settle new contracts before May 22 will not be required to include the payment.

 Frank Belluscio of the New Jersey School Boards Association said about 70 districts are currently working under expired contracts, a higher amount than in previous years. Among them are Hamilton Township, Greater Egg Harbor Regional and Mullica Township in Atlantic County and Maurice River Township in Cumberland County.

 School officials said they still have questions about whether the agreement would also include districts in which the contracts do not expire until June 30 of this year. The letter said more details and clarification will be forthcoming.

The DOE provided the following information Wednesday:

  • For any contract negotiated before May 22, employees will not have to pay 1.5 percent medical.
  • For any current contract for which a one-year extension with no salary increases for 2010-11 has been granted, employees will not have to pay 1.5 percent medical.
  • For any new contract negotiated after May 22, employees will have to pay 1.5 percent medical.

Hamilton Township superintendent Michelle Cappelluti said the union has a copy of the memo, and she believes the school board would be willing to meet on the issue, even though the district has gone to mediation and has a fact-finding session scheduled in April.

Hamilton Township Education Association President Diane Brunetti could not be reached Wednesday but said at Tuesday’s school board meeting that the union would consider the one-year wage freeze if the money saved would be used to save jobs in the district.

Teachers in Lower Township, Cape May County, already approved a new three-year contract, that does include the 1.5 percent medical payment. Superintendent Joseph Cirrinicione said the new contract calls for a two-percent net increase to employees each year, based on a 3.5 percent salary increase with a 1.5 percent reduction for the health benefit payment.

 “I’m already thinking about next year and the year after,” he said.

The contract in Maurice River Township expired in June 2008. Teachers union president Ray Hocker said saving the 1.5 percent would be an incentive for his members, but he is not sure an agreement can be reached in time.

 “I try to stay hopeful and positive,” he said.

 He said the cuts and layoffs planned for the small, rural district have been weighing very heavily on everyone.

 “It is having an impact,” he said.

 Maurice River Township superintendent John Saporito said he also was not sure an agreement with the board could be reached in time to meet the deadline. He said when the district sought a quote on its insurance for next year, the initial price came back 25 percent higher than this year.

 “People don’t understand how expensive benefits are,” he said, saying the cost can reach $25,000 per employee for family coverage with dental and prescription plans. “It’s been a very difficult negotiation. But we would all like it to be over.”

Contact Diane D'Amico: 609-272-7241 DDamico@pressofac.com

 

 

N.J. teachers who revise contracts get break on benefits fee, state memo says

By The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk

April 01, 2010, 6:12AM

.
New Jersey public school teachers who accept revised contracts by May 22 don't have to contribute 1.5 percent of their pay for health benefits for the 2010-11 school year, giving school staff an incentive to take a wage freeze or smaller raises, a report in the Press of Atlantic City said.

The state Department of Education sent school districts a memo outlining the rule in hopes of getting teachers to freeze wages, especially since about 70 districts are currently working under expired contracts, which is higher than usual, according to the report. On March 23, Gov. Chris Christie signed into law broad changes to pensions and benefits offered to public workers that required all school district employees to pay 1.5 percent of their base salaries toward the cost of health benefits.

 

N.J. teachers union is skeptical of Gov. Christie's letters on wage freeze

By Statehouse Bureau Staff

March 31, 2010,
TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie has publicly called leaders of the state’s largest teachers union "the bullies of State Street" and "crass union bosses." But a bit less vocally, he’s been trying out a new tactic.

Politeness.

Twice in the past eight days, Christie has written to Barbara Keshishian, president of the New Jersey Education Association, to encourage her to endorse his proposal that teachers accept one-year wage  freezes.

"I know it is not easy to negotiate even a one-year salary freeze," Christie wrote in a letter today, which was also addressed to Marie Bilik, executive director of the New Jersey School Boards Association and sent out as a press release. "And while it is not an easy choice, it is the choice that puts New Jersey’s children first."

But Steve Baker, a spokesman for the NJEA, was skeptical. He said the organization was rebuffed when it invited the governor to meet with its leaders shortly after Christie was elected in November.

Baker said he did not sense a conciliatory tone in the governor’s letter.

"If it was a genuine attempt to reach out to the NJEA, he would have made an attempt to reach out and have a discussion, not just send out a letter he released to the press," Baker said.

Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak said he was not aware of the governor reaching out to any unions before last week’s first letter to the NJEA.

Public worker unions have said they have been shut out by a governor who won’t give them a seat at the table to discuss issues, despite numerous requests for meetings.

The NJEA has returned the governor’s salvos with advertisements saying he supports millionaires over public schools. In one ad, a teacher asks Christie to "please stop hurting" public schools.

We are waiting for a sign, a smoke signal, any indication at all, that the NJEA, as an organization, will break with its iron-fisted refusal to move beyond its self-interest to that of the public interest," Drewniak said. "The atmosphere will change when that happens."

Christie has proposed giving money to school districts in which local unions accept pay freezes. Those funds would come from savings on certain federal payroll taxes, which the state pays on behalf of the districts. For example, a district that saves $1 million in raises for fiscal year 2011 could receive 7.65 percent of that sum, or $76,500, from the state.

The state has paid districts’ portions of employer payroll taxes and pensions since the mid-1950s, when state aid provided a very small share of public school revenue, school boards association spokesman Frank Belluscio said.

By Matt Friedman and Lisa Fleisher/Statehouse Bureau