Welcome to the new and improved look for GSCS email communications, one that we hope will be easier and faster to read.  With our new look, you'll be able to recognize our messages quickly and get the most up-to-date news from Trenton and around New Jersey.  And we'll be able to customize our mailing lists, so that our members will receive direct messages, in addition to the geeneral messages that the public receives.  By the end of September all GSCS email will have this new consistent look.

As always, we welcome your input.  Please let us know if you find this new format easier to read, as well as your suggestions for changes, by emailing us at gscs2000@gmail.com.

Thanks!
Lynne Strickland
GSCS Executive Director

 

GSCS will remain vigilant to see that local districts have the final say on whether their districts should be regionalized or consolidated. The law currently states that each district's vote will count.

Reports on the status of regionalization/consolidation feasibility studies are not consistent. On the one hand, we have heard that the deadline for the feasibility studies and recommendations for 10-11 selected districts has been delayed until June.  On the other hand, we understand that  feasibility studies have a priority completion date of this December for certain 'Bacon' (mostly rural, economically disadvantaged) districts . . . Stay tuned.

 

Gubernatorial Election Thoughts . . .
Something's Missing From the Conversation

GSCS recognizes there is an obvious void in the election debate arena regarding public education. The candidates need to bring K-12 secondary education-where the majority of New Jersey students are impacted -into the campaign conversation. To date, the candidates'  campaign talk has been mostly limited to areas outside of K-12 programs.  GSCS has been intereviewd by the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Star Ledger regarding the education platforms of the candidates for Governer.

Keeping an Eye on Legislation

A-1489/Burzichelli (calls for ending a district's ability to charge fees for extracurricular activities)
GSCS recently met with Assemblyman John Burzichelli, the sponsor of A-1489.  At that meeting Assemblyman Burzichelli said that A-1489 was not going to have priority in this legislative session, including the lame duck session after this November's election. GSCS appreciates the Assemblyman's willingness to work with GSCS on this and other education funding issues.

A-4140/Oliver (Prohibits an employer from entering into a subcontracting agreement that may affect the employment of any employees in a collective bargaining unit during the term of a collective bargaining agreement covering those employees)

A4142/Cryan (Provides that the terms of a collectively negotiated agreement shall supersede the terms of any individual contract between any public employer and any individual public employee whose position is within the bargaining unit covered by the collective agreement)

GSCS is opposed to these bills and will be meeting with Assembly Education Committee Chairman Joe Cryan to discuss the legislation in October. See the GSCS website homepage (www.gscschools.org, scroll down to June & July 2009)  for detailed information on these bills and 'what you can do'...

FYI, GSCS has joined in a coalition of 10 multi-interest organizations (including county, municipal, higher education and business associations, as well as school groups) that oppose both of these bills.

 

 

 
Please ask those who say they're stopped getting our emails to email us at the above address to add their names to our list once again.

Also, please check that your school and computer are not blocking our emails.

Thanks!