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ON THE HOMEPAGE TODAY at www.gscschools.org
GSCS notes with deep sadness the sudden passing of Dr. David Rebovich on Friday, October 12, 2007. An outstanding political analyst, commentator, and beloved political science teacher at Rider University, Dr. Rebovich was the keynote speaker at the GSCS 16th Annual Meeting this June. He will be missed.
GSCS QUICK FACT: GSCS General Membership Meeting (open to conference attendees) 10-24-07 in Atlantic City...At Room 417, Convention Conference Center,4:30 p.m., immediately following the NJSBA's Fall Workshop "State Legislative Update". See you there!
TRENTON PRESS CONFERENCE OCT 22: GSCS on School Funding Formula - MEMBERSHIP ATTENDANCE IMPORTANT
GSCS has scheduled a press conference on school funding to not only discuss the absolute need for the state to get a funding formula proposal laid out for viable public debate so that a formula can be in place for the 2008-2009 school year, as consistently promised by state leadership and the legislature. GSCS' also plans to release its suggested benchmarks for a new formula at that time............................................ MEMBERS, PARENTS - HELP MAKE IT CLEAR HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE BY SHOWING UP - ATTEND THE PRESS CONFERENCE ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 11:30 IN COMMITTEE ROOM 1, at the Statehouse Annex............. We will gather in the Statehouse Cafeteria at 11 a.m. Please let GSCS know of your attendance plans by emailing to ' kathygoldenberg@comcast.net '. Directions attached, click on More...
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10-10-07 Key Questions for Legislative Candidates
KEY QUESTIONS FOR LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES By David Rebovich - Managing Director of the Rider University Institute for New Jersey Politics. He also writes a regular column, "On Politics," for NEW JERSEY LAWYER.
"Jon Corzine, the guy with all that money, turned out to be the Governor who likes to pass the buck, when it comes to dealing with important policy issues, that is. A new school funding formula, comprehensive ethics reform, and asset monetization, arguably the three top issues New Jersey, will all be debated and presumably addressed in the next legislative session that begins in January 2008. These issues apparently are too controversial to talk about during the current campaign season, according to the Governor and the legislative leaders in his own party. How foolish for anyone to think that this is precisely the time when candidates should discuss high priority, challenging issues and present policy proposals that deal with them..."
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10-12-07 Coach Corzine's tactic to win the game? Punt…
STAR LEDGER 12-12-07 Tom Moran's column 'On Politics' ......"Two months before legislative elections, Democrats are doing all they can to make sure the campaign is as dull as possible....They have a suitcase full of big plans on all the key issues -- crime, school funding, ethics, housing and the enormous state debt...But they won't reveal them until the election is over, when all those pesky voters have gone home and stopped paying attention. ....The governor denies that this lucky timing (of discussing tough issues during this Fall's legislative campaigns) has anything to do with politics, and you can believe that if you want....But it fits a pattern. He's also punted on school funding, an issue that's bound to be explosive because the state's lack of funds means there will be winners and losers...And after Democrats have won a race that will be remembered as the Seinfeld campaign of 2007 -- a contest about nothing."
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GSCS and Municipalities talking together about school funding
The League of Municipalities has established a Mayor's School Funding Committee, chaired by Edison Mayor Jun Choi. GSCS' Lynne Strickland has been invited to committee meetings. Read Star Ledger editorial, click on more below.........
A consortium of elected officials, mayors, board of education members, and town officials from Somerset County, are also meeting on the subject of state aid and property taxes. GSCS was invited to present to this group. Read article & editorial, click on More...
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GSCS General Membership Meeting (open to conference attendees) 10-24-07 in Atlantic City
...At Room 417, Convention Conference Center,4:30 p.m., immediately following the NJSBA's Fall Workshop "State Legislative Update". See you there!
LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES' CONTACT INFO
Click on More for website links to Senate and Assembly Candidates from the NJ Division of Elections.
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GSCS 'NOV 6th LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS 'ADVOCACY PACKET
To date, Trenton has yet to come through with a viable, stable and sustainable state aid funding formula that would provide support to all school districts in New Jersey. GSCS works hard at the state & local level to see that school funding is stable and sufficient enough to protect quality education programs and provide real relief to property taxpayers. GSCS encourages school district leaders to inform the public, and public officials, of your concerns and impatience with state leaders’ reluctance to address public school funding and its direct link to property tax increases. Now is the time to take a pro-active role and launch grassroots awareness campaigns on these critically important issues. Please make use of this advocacy packet as soon as possible– your help is key to seeing that the prolonged school funding debate moves forward to reality.
This advocacy packet provides action items for schools & community advocates to encourage a real conversation around the need for a new school funding formula. Included are suggested questions for legislative candidates (Election Day November 6th for all 120 seats in the New Jersey Legislature/Assembly and Senate); letters-to-the-editor & legislative candidates; explanation of the issues.
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9-29-07 The New York Times - Patience with Corzine Wears Thin
Political Memo...Published: September 29, 2007 TRENTON, Sept. 28 "...Nor is it likely, according to the conventional wisdom swapped in the State House corridors, that Mr. Corzine will unveil anything too controversial before the November elections, in which all 120 legislative seats are being contested.
As a result, the Legislature’s lame-duck session in November and December could be one of the most important in recent memory. Among the knotty issues still on the table are Mr. Corzine’s plan for the state’s toll roads, a new formula to finance public education and a master plan to overhaul the state’s energy priorities...."
[And]"...Educators had hoped that a new formula for financing public schools would be released earlier this year, but now the timetable is unclear.
“This has been a frustrating, slow-motion process that, at least publicly, has created an unstable atmosphere on the issue and a void of practical, needed debate,” said Lynne Strickland, executive director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools..."
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