Email Network

GSCS Email-Net Archive - Recent and Selected Posting

GSCS Email-Net 11-16-10

GSCS News 'Email-Net' Archive, beginning 2009

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

3-4-10 GSCS Email-Net: Summit @ Summit Report - A New Day in Trenton?

2-12-10 Gov Chrisite's Message re Current Yr Deficit

2-16-10 Email-net March @ Summit at Summit

1-26-10 GSCS Email-Net Christie Era Begins

1-20-10 GSCS Heads Up FYI.docx

1-6-10 GSCS Email-Net Lame Duck Watch

12-15-09 Email-Net

11-9-09 GSCS Email-Net: Request to Trustee Districts

11-6-09 GSCS Email-Net: Important Post-Election Information

11-5-09 GSCS Email-Net: Election Information - Christie on Education - and Request to Member Districts

11-3-09 GSCS Email-Net: Today is Election Day - Coverage, more

10-21-09 GSCS EMAIL-NET: Commissioner Davy to be at GSCS meeting in Atlantic City

10-15-09 GSCS Email-Net: Compare Corzine-Christie re education

9-25-09 GSCS EMAIL-NETOn GSCS Radar Screen, Intro Cons. Cntct

9-14-09 GSCS EMAILNET Welcome 2009-2010

6-24-09 GSCS EMAILNET Heads Up FYI

6-22 & 24 (update) - 09 GSCS EMAILNET FYI re bills A4140, A1489, A4142

6-19-09 a.m. GSCS 'Quick' FYI - State Budget Vote delayed to Thursday, June 25

6-15-09 GSCS Heads Up FYI

6-12-09 EMAILNET

6-4-09 EMAILNET

5-19-09 Treasurer David Rousseau announces additional round of cuts to Gov's proposed State Budget FY2009-2010

5-14-09 GSCS Heads Up - State Aid payments to be delayed into next Fiscal Year

428-09 EMAILNET Abbott & SFRA; DOE before State Budget Committees

4-17-09 EMAILNET Federal Stimulus Title 1 and IDEA Allocations Announced

4-2-09 EMAILNET & GSCS FYI for April 2009

3-27-09 EMAILNET

3-16-09 EMAILNET

3-6-09 GSCS March FYI - Trenton & GSCS Happenings & more

2-23-09 EMAILNET

2-12-09 EMAILNET GSCS Message for State Budget FY10: STABILITY & FAIRNESS

1-30-09 EMAILNET Fed Stimulus Proposal, School Vote, Stability & Fairness

1-24-09 EMAILNET Federal Stimulus proposal - local district impact listing

1-17-09 GSCS EMAILNET & SCHOOL FUNDING OVERVIEW

1-17-09 GSCS EMAILNET

Education excerpts from House Fed Stimulus package in GSCS 1-15-09 Heads Up

GSCS 1-15-09 'Heads Up' - House Releases its Fed Stimulus Package

January 2009 GSCS FYI

1-5-09 EMAILNET Gov Announces Spending Reductions for FY0809 Today

12-21-08 GSCS EMAILNET - Excerpts

10-31-08 EMAILNET

10-17-08 EMAILNET

9-29-08 GSCS EMAILNET

9-12-08 GSCS EMAILNET

7-2-08 EMAILNET FYI

6-17-08 EMAILNET FYI, State Budget Agreement, School Construction bill moving towards passage

6-10-08 GSCS EMAILNET FYI Trenton focus

5-30-08 EMAILNET FYI - GSCS ANNUAL MTG NEWS BRIEFS

4-16-08 EMAILNETSchool Budget Elections early results

1-18-07 GSCS EMAILNET FYI

1-14-08 EMAILNET Governor Corzine Sign funding legisation into law 1-13-08 at Drumthwacket

1-11-08 EMAILNET Funding legislation passes - Aftermath

1-4-08 EMAILNET GSCS statement on current funding proposal - leaning negative

1-3-08 EMAILNET Aid proposal - update & analysis

12-21-07 EMAILNET - GSCS spots 'Giveback' provision in draft bill - a flip flop?

12-19-07 Proposed Funding formula - update

12-12-07 EMAILNET Funding Plan proposal to be released today, no bill yet

12-7-07 EMAILNET Jt Committees schedule hearing on new school funding plan, Commissioner Davy to present

12-6-07 EMAILNET Funding bill - emerging issues

12-1-07 EMAILNET FYI Governor Corzine present new school funding formula concepts

11-30-07 EMAILNET FYI

11-13-07 GSCS EMAILNET

11-6-07 EMAILNET

10-15-07 GSCS EMAILNET

10-1-07 GSCS EMAILNET

071015 EMAILNET

071001 EMAILNET

9-21-07 EMAILNET

7-31-07 EMAILNET Status of School Funding Formula, more

7-10-07 EMAILNET Includes GSCS ADVOCACY PACKET Need for new school funding formula, more

6-29-07 EMAILNET Lots of news affeccting your schools and communities

6-22-07 EMAILNET State Budget Passes last night

6-14-07 GSCS FYI EMAILNET State Budge FY08 Revisions to State Budget filed today

6-13-07 GSCS EMAILNET

5-18-07 EMAILNET School Funding Formula Needed Now

3-30-07 EMAILNET

3-21-07 EMAILNET

3-6-07 EMAILNET State Budget hearings, State Aid, Grassroots activities

2-22-07 GSCS EMAILNET re Gov's Budget Message

2-20-07 EMAILNET FYI - AMID joins GSCS

2-12-07 EMAILNET SCHOOL AID & PROPERTY TAX HELP NEEDED NOW

2-9-07 GSCS EMAILNET MEMBER FYI on Trenton legislation Action

1-26-07 EMAILNET TRENTON UPDATE: A4 CORE Plan on Assembly Agenda Monday; A1 The 4% Tax Cap bill not yet introduced but still possible for Assembly agenda 1-29 also

1-19-07 EMAILNET

1-2 & 3-07 EMAILNET GSCS Resolution, Fast Track Property Tax bills

12-15-06 EMAILNET Bills Held!

11-14-06GSCS FYI EMAILNET - Spec Session Jt Comm Reports due out 11-15-06

11-11-06 EMAILNET Special Session Legislative Committees report Nov. 14 or 15

11-7-06 EMAILNET Special Education Categorical aid at risk and more

10-21-06 EMAILNET Spec Session, press conference, GSCS board mtg inAtl. City

10-5-06 EMAILNET

9-22-06 EMAILNET

9-20-06 EMAILNET Special Session news & testimonies

9-15-06 EMAILNET Special Session; School Construction Report Released

9-7-06 EMAILNET Special Session & Trenton Update

8-31-06 EMAILNET re Sept 5 Jt Comm on Pub Schl Funding mtg

7-21-06 GSCS QUICKNET

8-24-06 EMAILNET Special Session Update

8-18-06 EMAILNET

8-2-06 EMAILNET Special Session fyi, more

7-28-06 GSCS 'QUICKNET' direct from Trenton

7-28-06 GSCS 'QUICKNET' from Trenton on Special Session

7-27-06 GSCS 'QUICKNET' Property Tax Session info

7-14-06 EMAILNET

7-11-06 EMAILNET FYI

7-7-06 EMAILNET - AGREEMENT ON STATE BUDGET REACHED, impt 'details' still being finalized

6-29-06 GSCS 'QUICKNET FYI' Update on State Budget for FY 2007

6-22-06 EMAILNET on the Homepage today

6-12-06 EMAILNET - Extraordinary Special Education student aid; FY07 Budget 'crunch' is on; news clips

6-6-06 EMAILNET On the Homepage today

6-2-06 EMAILNET

5-16-06 EMAILNET Action in Trenton

5-10-06 EMAILNET

5-5-06 EMAILNET

4-26-06 EMAILNET Member Question 6-8 Rally

4-24-06 EMAILNET

4-17-06 EMAILNET

4-11-06 EMAILNET FYI Hompage...your help requested

3-29-06 EMAILNET State Budget FY07 Hearings Update

3-24-06 EMAILNET FYI Update on Gov Corzine's Budget FY07

3-23-06 EMAILNET Corzine says some Abbotts can raise taxes

3-22-06 EMAILNET Governor Corzine's Budget Message

3-10-06 EMAILNET On the Homepage Today

3-9-06 EMAILNETto South Jersey districts

3-7-06 Articles on Gov's Budget Summit and School Board members off to Trenton

3-7-06 EMAILNET S1701 Call to Action at Gov Corzine Public Hearing

3-3-06 EMAILNET Budget discussions begin in earnest

3-3-06 EMAILNET Budget Discussions begin in earnest

3-1-06 EMAILNET State Budget FY07, Health Benefits

2-1-06 EMAILNET GSCS Advocacy FY07 Budget; On the Homepage Today

1-19-06 EMAILNET Quick Facts, On the Homepage Today

1-5-06 EMAILNET Revised: Quick Facts, State Board Legal Committee school funding decision, legislative update

12-16-05 EMAILNET

12-12-05 EMAILNET Bills move out of Assembly Education Committee

12-3-05 EMAILNET Heads Up!

11-28-05 S1701 EMAILNET Alert

11-15-05 EMAILNET

11-10-05 [REISSUE] EMAILNET Update on S1701

11-8-05 EMAILNET You are invited to December 7 Symposium on School Funding

11-1-05 EMAILNET More information on Gubernatorial Candidates

10-28-05 EMAILNET S1701 resignation, Gubernatorial election information

10-20-14 EMAILNET At the top of the GSCS Home Page Today

10-14-05 EMAILNET Parent question for Gubernatorial Candidates aired on 101.5 debate, SCC funds, Next Board meeting, press briefing notes

9-29-05 EMAILNET School Construction Issues

9-23-05 EMAILNET Follow Up Parents in Trenton Press Conference

8-30-05 EMAILNET Invitation to Parents in Trenton Press Conference

9-9-05 EMAILNET

7-29-05 EMAILNET

7-14-05 EMAILNET School Aid Inequity & S1701 amendments update

7-8-05 EMAILNET GSCS Take on the Assembly Passing of A3680Cryan, an S1701 amendment bill

6-29-05 EMAILNET re State Budget FY06

EMAILNET 6-24-05 GSCS Positions: State Budget FY06 Issues Need Resolving

EMAILNET 6-10-05 SchoolConstruction Heads Up

Read Parent Call to Action Letter

6-17-05 EMAILNET [2] School Construction continued

6-17-05 EMAILNET FY06 Budget & Advocay Update, Quick Facts

EMAILNET 6-10-05 School Construction Funding Heads Up!

EMAILNET 6-8-05 Annual Meeting Advocacy - FY06 info - Quick Facts - more

Star Ledger June 3 2005

Associated Press on Annual Meeting, 6-4-05: In the Homestretch Candidates Talk Education Issues

GSCS 14th Annual Breakfast Meeting 6-3-05 AGENDA

EMAILNET 5-27-05FY06 Legislator Budget Question; A451 State Health Benefits Plan Waiver for Dual Spouse Coverage GSCS Supports ....

5-18-2005

5-6-05 EMAILNET Rumson S1701 Meeting; Legislative News...More

4-21-05 Annual Breakfast Meeting June 3 Sign Up

Emailnet 4-14-05

4-14-05 EMAILNET

4-8-2005

3-29-2005

3-24-2005

3-11-2005

3-1-2005

2-21-2005

2-7-2005

1-27-2005

1-26-2005

1-24-2005

1-14-2005

1-9-2005

1-5-2005

11-30-2004

11-19-2004

11-12-2004

10-29-2004

10-26-2004

10-15-2004

10-14-2004

10-5-2004

9-30-04

9-7-04

8-30-04

8-06-04

7-08-04

6-29-2004

2003-2004 School Year Archive

2002-2003 School Year Archive

3-22-06 EMAILNET Governor Corzine's Budget Message
GSCS' First Blush FYI...

GARDEN STATE COALITION OF SCHOOLS

GSCS EMAILNET 3-22-06

Governor Corzine’s Budget Message…First Blush FYI

www.gscschools.org gscs2000@gmail.com

210 West State St, Trenton, NJ 08608 609 394 2828/fax609 396 7620

GSCS quick facts:

ü Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday, April 5, 4 p.m.

E. Brunswick Board of Education [732 613 6705]. Please RSVP gscs2000@gmail.com.

ü Legislative hearing schedule on proposed State Budget for FY07 just posted on NJ Legislature website. GSCS is scheduled to testify before the Joint Assembly Budget & Appropriations Committee this Tuesday, March28 and before the Senate Budget & Appropriations Comm. April 3.

ü FYI - State school aid figures will be released tomorrow, Thursday, and should be uploaded to the Department of Education website at the same time.

ü Link to Department of Education data reports, including state aid for past several years:http://www.state.nj.us/njded/data/

GSCS initial take on Governor Corzine’s Budget Message yesterday:

GSCS will be focusing much more in the days and weeks ahead on analyzing and commenting on the Fiscal Year 2007 budget proposed by Governor Corzine. The public has a lot to deal with in terms of understanding what is needed to make New Jersey’s finances whole again, balanced against the needs of children, citizens and communities that continue to grow. Often these needs are competing, especially when the state budget’s viability is at risk. And the state’s fiscal instability effects our local school budgets directly, thus school programs, which has resulted in a continued per pupil decline of state support in our regular operating districts. The debate is not over the fact that the state has an enormous built-in deficit problem to set aright, but how to address that deficit and set the priorities is. This debate will continue through the end of June (for this year) when the legislature passes the Appropriations Act for FY07 and the Governor signs the Act, after choosing whether or not to exercise his veto power.

While recognizing the reality of a state budget that requires immediate basic and structural course correction, GSCS remains very concerned that flat formula aid to regular operating district schools – virtually the same formula dollar amount that was funded in school year 2001-2002 – in actuality results in continued aid per pupil reductions that directly link to compounding property tax burden on communities across New Jersey. Enrollments have grown in regular operating districts by approximately 33,000 students in the same time frame, likewise by 17,000 special education students.

Governor includes $19.5M in new money for special education grants:

However, it's worth noting that there is a $19.5M increase included in the proposed budget for funding for special education programs. By including this new money in his proposed budget, the Governor tips his hat to an outstanding need and we appreciate his practical nod. A total of $15M is designated specifically for support to in-district autism programs and $4.5M is available for special education services in direct grants. This increased funding for special education relates to programs and ideas that GSCS has talked about over the years, and again, specifically supported with facts and figures this year. (See p 10 “Budget in Brief”)

“SCHOOL AID” DATA PRESENTATION:

WHAT REALLY REACHES SCHOOL STUDENTS NEEDS CLARIFICATION

FYI – The biggest big spike in “school aid” funding this year is for pension (TPAF= $743M) and social security funding for teachers a total one-year increase of $823.2M; Governor Corzine has made funding the pension liability a top priority and in this year has increased that aid category to bring it up to 70% of the liability coverage required. The reason “school aid” is asterisked here is that since the state agreed in the 1950’s that it would cover these costs in full, pension obligation has not fallen to localities. Because of this near 50 year state-supported practice, local taxpayers have not had to contribute to this funding.

Therefore, when the state takes action to meet its obligation to teachers in this regard, that action is not felt by local taxpayers, nor does that funding impact schools directly in terms of students and programs. However, since the pension dollars are attributed to “school aid” the public at large is likely to perceive that as money that goes directly to their local students and thus wonder why the schools say they are not receiving adequate aid to support their children’s education quality.

The Budget Brief does explain this in narrative detail (see pps.25-27, 70). Nonetheless, when the data charts and overall totals are utilized by the media, the picture trumps the explanation. This is an unfortunate, since local credibility is at risk and community trust can break down. GSCS encourages the state find a better way to clarify & present how this funding flows. Similarly, increases in Abbott aid which appear in the Governor’s Budget Brief appear to be around $139M, but are presented in the total state amount as aid to schools. While that is true, again some kind of clarification (sound bite?) is warranted to ameliorate local community and public at large understanding.