Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

 
     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
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     1-14-2005
     1-9-2005
     1-5-2005
     11-30-2004
     11-19-2004
     11-12-2004
     10-29-2004
     10-26-2004
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     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
3-24-06 EMAILNET FYI Update on Gov Corzine's Budget FY07
Included: Commissioner Davy's letter to districts on state aid for the 2006-2007 school year and Department of Education narrative explanation of aid categories in the proposed State Budget FY07.

GARDEN STATE COALITION OF SCHOOLS/GSCS

 

EMAILNET ‘FYI’ 3-24-06

 

Update on Governor Corzine’s Budget

 

      www.gscschools.org                           gscs2000@gmail.com

 

 

3-24-06 Schools learn who wins, loses in Corzine budget
Suburban districts have long complained that the state's funding ignored enrollment changes, and last year won some help in then-Gov. Richard Codey's budget. Advocates for those districts said they are pleased Corzine is going further in that direction even though some shrinking districts could take a hit. "Not that the day is over -- flat funding is really taking a toll on districts and only jacking up property taxes -- but it's encouraging that he's at least giving us a symbolic nod and paying attention," said Lynne Strickland, director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, a group of more than 100 suburban districts.
 edit 

Schools learn who wins, loses in Corzine budget

Friday, March 24, 2006

BY JOHN MOONEY

Star-Ledger Staff

Two days after Gov. Jon Corzine warned that state funding for schools would be frozen again next year, aid figures unveiled yesterday contained a few surprises, with some individual districts seeing big drops or increases.

Two in three districts would see nominal changes or none at all for a fifth straight year. But while past funding freezes have been largely across the board, this time some fast-growing districts would get a boost, while schools with declining enrollments would see cuts.

And the needy districts that fall under the state Supreme Court's Abbott vs. Burke court order, which were expecting increases, found out their overall aid will be nearly flat.

On top of that, eight of those districts were told to expect steep cuts under a new Corzine administration strategy to require local taxpayers to bear a larger share of Abbott school costs. Newark would lose more than $8 million, and Jersey City would see a reduction of $6 million.

The proposed aid figures released yesterday by the state Department of Education also include cuts for some suburban districts, including a more than $1 million reduction in Woodbridge and $515,000 in Montclair.

"This is a very difficult budget year, and the governor has said he will not permit a continuation of past practice that allowed New Jersey to spend year after year more money than it takes in," said acting Education Commissioner Lucille Davy.

But a few districts, urban and suburban, won unexpected increases.

Perth Amboy is among those Abbott districts the state wants to raise more through local taxes. But because of its rising enrollment, it would receive an overall aid increase of $2 million, officials said.

In one of the state's wealthier districts, the Chathams schools could get nearly $200,000 more, also due to rising enrollments.

"That was a complete shock," said Superintendent Jim O'Neill. "We never get more aid, only less."

The surprises reflected several changes in how Corzine's first budget funds public schools. Among the most far-reaching were the adjustments for schools that are seeing big increases or decreases in enrollment. An extra $5.6 million will be distributed to fast-growing districts, while those that lost students over the last four years will see cuts totaling $3 million.

Suburban districts have long complained that the state's funding ignored enrollment changes, and last year won some help in then-Gov. Richard Codey's budget. Advocates for those districts said they are pleased Corzine is going further in that direction even though some shrinking districts could take a hit.

"Not that the day is over -- flat funding is really taking a toll on districts and only jacking up property taxes -- but it's encouraging that he's at least giving us a symbolic nod and paying attention," said Lynne Strickland, director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, a group of more than 100 suburban districts.

But the big fight will remain around the Abbott districts. State officials yesterday conceded that the aid for K-12 programs will only go up about $4 million -- not the nearly $96 million claimed in Corzine's budget presentation on Tuesday. That figure included $92 million already earmarked for the districts this year.

Abbott districts have already submitted their 2006-07 budgets for state approval; officials said yesterday they will now have to redo them to match up with the new figures. "Our goal is to work with them to get their budgets within these numbers," said Davy.

That didn't go over well with the districts, eight of which are also taking cuts because administration officials say local taxpayers are not paying their fare share.

Newark will see the biggest hit, with the state proposing to reduce its overall aid by $8.2 million for the coming year and telling the district it should raise local school taxes by the same amount.

Superintendent Marion Bolden said she didn't have a problem with local taxpayers bearing some of the additional costs, conceding that Newark's school taxes have not risen in more than 20 years.

"That's the only fair thing, that's the right thing," she said. "It has become very difficult to make a case for the budget if there is also the ability for us pay our fair share."

But Newark's proposed budget calls for 6 percent spending growth to keep up with rising costs, and Bolden said without any additional help from the state it could be forced to eliminate needed programs. She said she would go to court if necessary to prevent that.

"If there is a cut in something I need to be successful, of course I will go back to court," she said.

It may be a busy court docket. Davy said the state will itself return to the court to defend its flat funding for the Abbotts, and the chief lawyer for the Abbott schoolchildren said the state should count on a fight.

"This budget is going to have a devastating impact on Abbott schools and kids," said David Sciarra, director of the Education Law Center, the Newark center that first brought the Abbott suit.

"This is really a reduction budget for schools statewide," he said. "This is deeply disappointing."

John Mooney covers education. He may be reached at jmooney@starledger.com, or (973) 392-1548.

________________________________________________________

Fiscal Year 2006-2007 State Aid Changes

 

1.      Above Average Enrollment Growth - $5.575m increase to $17.575m

Non Abbott districts with more than 100 resident students that experience at least 2.5 percent growth, based on their October 2005 and projected October 2006 resident enrollment, will receive aid in this category.  A district’s share of the aid is the same as its enrollment’s share of the total increase in enrollment.

 

2.      Education Opportunity Aid

Education Opportunity Aid is funded at the level of the final EOA payments in 2005-06 for most of the Abbott districts.  Districts that received only formula EOA (Garfield, Harrison, Perth Amboy, Union City) in 2005-06 may receive a different amount based on their 2006-07 formula EOA.  The only exception will be eight districts that will be required to raise their general fund tax levy by amounts that will not result in more than a $125 increase in the average household tax levy, nor a total equalized tax levy for the district that is greater than 110 percent of the state average.

 

3.      Abbott Border District Aid – $1.9m increase to $21.9m

The five districts that received this aid in 2005-06 will receive the same amount of aid in 2006-07.  One additional district, Kearny, will receive aid in 2006-07, but calculated at the 2005-06 level.

 

4.      Higher Expectations for Learning and  Proficiency - $5m decrease to $10m

All of the aid in this category will be directed to low income districts with per-pupil equalized property valuations below $750,000, or to county vocational schools with more than 51 percent of their enrollment from an Abbott district.

 

5.      Consolidated Aid - $0.44m decrease to $129.7m

Consolidated Aid awards to districts will decline by a small amount in districts that have declining enrollment either in five consecutive years between 2001 and 2005, or four consecutive years between 2002 and 2005.  In each case, the decrease in aid is the product of the decrease in enrollment and the cost factor for distance learning network aid in 2001-02.

 

6.      Additional Formula Aid - $3.23m decrease to $86.8m

Additional Formula Aid awards will decline for districts that have declining enrollment either in five consecutive years between 2001 and 2005, or four consecutive years between 2002 and 2005.  In addition, districts with overall enrollment decline that also experience a decline in special education enrollment will lose Additional Formula Aid.

 

7.      Choice Aid - $1.66m decrease to $8.31m

Choice Districts will experience a decline in Choice Aid if their October 2005 enrollment is less than the projected 2005 enrollment used in awarding aid in 2005-06.

 

8.      Aid-in-Lieu - $794.00

The Aid-in-Lieu reimbursement amount for nonpublic transportation expenditures will be fixed at the 2005-06 level per pupil amount.  There will be no automatic CPI increase.

TO:                  Chief School Administrator                                                 March 23, 2006

                        School Business Administrator

FROM:            Lucille E. Davy, Acting Commissioner

 

SUBJECT:       2006-07 State Aid

 

Attached are your state school aid notices for the 2006-2007 school year.  As a result of the State’s severe fiscal crisis, Governor Corzine has proposed a state K-12 education budget that provides level funding for most school districts and some modest decreases and increases for some districts.  Despite that fact, total school aid rose by over a billion dollars, with three quarters of that increase ($779 million) going towards funding the teachers’ pension fund (TPAF) and post retirement medical benefits – two categories of aid that were under funded in previous years.  The only other areas with significant increases are FICA payments to districts - $36 million, preschool expansion aid for early childhood education programs - $39 million, and payments for school construction - $113 million.  All of the CEIFA formula aid categories were level funded.  However, in recognition of the growing enrollment in some districts, Above Average Enrollment Growth was increased by $5.6 million.  At the same time, aid to those districts with multiple years of declining enrollment was reduced in two categories – Consolidated Aid and Additional Formula Aid.

I have also attached a more detailed analysis of some of the changes in this year’s budget.  I am aware that districts will have very little time to incorporate this information into their budgets; but for the majority, the aid numbers represent no changes from the current year.  The aid numbers are available for you to download into your budget software.  Department staff in the county offices, and in the Division of Finance, will work with you to answer your questions and assist you in the budget submission process.

The budget process is never an easy one in times of fiscal crises, and it is even harder in a transition year.  It is important for all of us to recognize that difficult choices must be made in order to address the State’s recurring structural budget deficit and to secure New Jersey’s economic future.  We must all be part of the solution to these problems which have been avoided for far too long.  I would like to thank each of you for your patience over the last few months and ask for your continued cooperation and support.  As we move forward, I am confident that we can all continue to build a better future for the 1.5 million children in our schools.

Please direct general questions to your respective county office.  Questions about the data utilized in the state aid calculations should be directed to the Office of School Funding, at

(609)984-4949.LED:YOT:osf/yt/state aid/fy07/memos/fy07stateaid.docAttachments

c:          State Board Members

      Isaac Bryant

      Assistant Commissioners

      County Superintendents

      County School Business Administrators

      Katie Attwood

      LEE Group

      Garden State Coalition