Parents to give Codey earful
Thursday, February 17, 2005

By LAURA FASBACH
STAFF WRITER

Letters have gone home with students. Petitions were passed around at school concerts. Meetings attracted hundreds of residents.

And today, if a small army of concerned parents and educators get their way, acting Governor Codey's telephone will be ringing off the hook.

Throughout the state, opponents of a controversial law passed last summer are stepping up efforts to try to reverse the legislation, which places budget caps on school districts' spending plans in addition to limiting the surpluses districts can keep on hand.

The legislation's aim was to help provide property tax relief. But educators and school board members say the law - known as S-1701, its bill number in the state Senate - puts districts in a financial chokehold.

That's why a group of parents, teachers and school board members from Northern Valley Regional School District are hoping New Jerseyans will pick up the phone and tell Codey (or, at least, his secretary) what's on their minds.

"We all agreed this would be a great way to have our voices heard," said Julie Gleason, whose four children attend Harrington Park School.

Gleason was among other concerned parents and educators who helped create New Jersey Citizens Against Local Legislation S-1701, or NJ Calls. The call-in effort to Codey's office kicks off today as school boards around the state are putting the finishing touches on their proposed spending plans for 2005-06. Under state law, school districts must submit their proposed budgets to the Department of Education by March 8.

"It's not like we have that much time left," said Daniel Fishbein, a Ridgewood father of five who also is superintendent of Glen Ridge schools. "There is a very small window now and the window is closing."

As a parent, Fishbein says he intends to call Codey's office to voice his opposition.

As a superintendent, Fishbein said he and his school board would work to produce a budget within the parameters of the law.

But Fishbein and others say it won't be easy because the law limits annual increases in district spending plans to 2.5 percent.

The limit had been 3 percent. Districts also must cut their surpluses to no more than 3 percent of the budget. The limit had been 6 percent.

School districts argue that the new restrictions will lead to program cuts, teacher layoffs and eventually higher taxes. They also assert that shrinking their surpluses will leave them ill-prepared for unexpected costs.

Paramus Superintendent Janice Dime said her district's budgets typically have increased more than 5 percent annually. With the new caps, Paramus would lose about $1.8 million a year.

"There is no easy way without pain for us to sustain that kind of cut year after year," Dime said. Next year, for example, there is no room in the proposed budget to hire new teachers, Dime said.

Like other superintendents, Dime has encouraged her staff and parents to call Codey and other legislators. Last fall, Paramus hosted a meeting on S-1701 that drew more than 1,000 people.

"We need to continue to make the voices of parents and kids heard in Trenton until this is changed," Dime said.

Assemblywoman Joan Voss, D-Fort Lee, has co-sponsored a bill that supporters say would lift some of the restrictions of S-1701. But Codey has voiced concern that the bill could have more serious ramifications than the current budget caps.

"The concern is that the Assembly bill would just create new spending loopholes," said Sean Darcy, a spokesman for the governor.

Darcy would not comment on the call-in campaign or opposition to S-1701 beyond saying, "We're always willing to discuss changes to ensure money gets into the classroom."

E-mail: fasbach@northjersey.com