TGIF
The Garden State Coalition of Schools Information for Friday
An e-alert for the Garden State Parent Network Committee
Oct. 10, 2003

Topic 1:    GSCS and GSPNers meet with Gov. McGreevey:  He will issue an executive order for a Mandate Relief Commission !
Topic  2:   GSCS Board Meeting   Please save the date for November meeting:  Nov. 12 at Noon in East Brunswick.   Dec. 10 at 4:30 in Ewing
Topic 3:   Who is coming to AC for Workshop?   Bring a friend to the GSCS session on Oct. 22 at 4:00 at the Convention Center.
Don't forget to go to www.gscschools.org  to be in the know!

Topic 1:    GSCS and GSPNers meet with Gov. McGreevey:  He will issue an executive order for a Mandate Relief Commission !  This is very good news!

On Monday, Oct. 6,  representatives of the Parent Network Committee, as well as Executive Director Lynne Strickland and President Walt Mahler met with Governor McGreevey. We were joined in the nearly 90 minute meeting with the Governor, by his staff members, Special Counsel to the Governor for Education, Lucille Davy, and deputy chief of staff, Mark Matzen. We met in his State House inner office. The Governor participated in an in depth information sharing and exchange with us all. The following topics were discussed and certain actions were determined.

1. Within a  week, the Governor announced to us, he will be signing an executive order establishing a Mandate Relief Commission, patterned on legislation sponsored by Senator John Adler and Senator Shirley T urner. He acknowledged that the executive order is a direct result of GSCS' advocacy. The Commission will be expected to identify unfunded, unnecessary and unwieldy state mandates; to complete its report by the end of January, so that the findings and recommendations can be utilized in planning for the '05 budget. He stressed in the discussion, that he expected GSCS to be represented on the Commission, the theme of relaxing or removing certain mandates based upon achievement successes should be entertained, and mandated reporting/paperwork procedures that are time consuming are just as worthy of consideration as those mandates requiring direct expenditures of local funds. We expressed our gratitude to him for setting this important commission into motion.  

2. He asked for our grassroots advocacy to focus efforts with the congressional delegation in fully funding special education costs as authorized in the I.D.E.A. law. When asked how we could help, he asked that we write letters to all members of the congressional delegation asking that they support the appropriations bill, only if it include the full appropriation for this federal law. He also suggested we get all of our school boards to adopt a similar resolution. He encouraged us to work with Representatives Freylinghuysen, (R-11) who is NJ's senior member on the Appropriations Committee, and Mike Ferguson, (R-7) who has made full funding of I.D.E.A. one of his key legislative efforts for the state. He indicated that the full entitlement funding for extraordinary aid in next year's budget remains uncertain, If more federal funds can be drawn down for special education costs, this would obviously help.  However, he made his requests for this funding, within the context of his own personal work in Washington (as recent as last week), where the $87 billion for Iraq is putting a pall over the funding for education, transportation and homeland security for the states. Those at the table sugg ested that GSCS investigate coordinating advocacy efforts with the Governor's Washington DC office.

3. When asked about his position on property tax reform, he stated clearly that he supports a special legislative session much more than a constitutional convention. However, he warned us, that if any such effort is pushed without structure for actual proposal review, there is a possibility that while income taxes and sales taxes would NOT be increased, property taxes could be capped or even decreased, resulting in a "Proposition 13" era for NJ. We were all in agreement to the undesirability of such an outcome. He encouraged GSCS to "do our homework," and bring forward a proposal to be considered at a special session. He stated he would be happy to work during a special legislative session, as long as the session design was workable and stable.
4. He also reaffirmed his support for smart growth, and imposing fees on builders and developers for education related costs in commu nities. However, after issuing that position and desire for legislation in last year's State of the State, legislation has yet to be sponsored and introduced by a legislator. He did not view the containment of health insurance costs as a viable arena for effecting substantive change, citing the complexity of macroenomics/international economy.

5. We received an informative briefing from the Governor and Ms. Davy on his efforts in conjunction with the CREATE coalition and Business Roundtable, specifically extending his appreciation to Art Ryan and Mary O'Malley of Prudential for their contributions in improving assessment efforts in NJ, teacher training, especially in math and science, and early literacy. appeals. He expressed support for Commissioner Librera and the department's efforts to develop a strong accountability system for those schools that are not achieving, even as high performing schools are acknowledged and relieved of current onerous accountability procedures im posed at the State level. This should take the form of a legislative package recommended by the Department by early next year.

Attendees were: Reginald Luke, Montgomery; Jodi Doud,board member, East Brunswick; Pat Hoynes, board member, Scotch Plains-Fanwood, Elizabeth Ginsburg, board president, Glen Ridge, Geoff Lewen, former board member, Washington Twp. (Mercer), Sharon Taylor, Metuchen, and Fran Neville, Ridgewood; Candace Mueller, board president, Ewing, Walter Mahler and Lynne Strickland.   

Here are some excerpts from reports on the meeting:

Pat Hoynes wrote to the Scotch Plains/Fanwood board: "...The Governor's command of the issues was impressive and in watching the dialogue between him and his education advisor, [Ms. Davy), it was clear that he has a good understanding of our issues and the philosophical inclination to address them in ways GSCS can support.  It was also clear that the GSCS executive director, Lynne Strickland, has an excellent working relationship with the Governor's Office and DOE.  The point of the meeting appeared to be the natural political conclusion to the successful delivery of the Mandate Relief Commission.  This they can do and they wanted to acknowledge GSCS's part in nursing the idea along as well as receive our thanks for doing so."

Betsy Ginsburg reported to her Glen Ridge colleagues: "...Obviously there are still no easy answers, and a long road to travel before we arrive at property tax relief and education funding reform.  However, the GSCS has given us a great opportunity--both in sending some of us to testify before the Senate Republican Task Force on Education Spending and (being invited) to the meeting with the Governor.  Lynne Strickland, executive director of the GSCS, and Candace Mueller, parent network coordinator have made it all possible.  I think that we have all gained momentum."

We have some important homework to do, but the momentum IS there.  And Lynne, Walt and I are grateful to the parents who gave of their time to represent their districts, the school children, and GSCS so well on Monday. 

Topic  2:   GSCS Board Meeting held on Oct. 8.   Please mark your calendars for November meeting:  Nov. 12 at Noon in East Brunswick.   Dec. 10 at 4:30 in Ewing

The board of trustees meeting was well attended by superintendents, board members and parents.  What follows is the agenda, which includes some items of information  as well.   A fuller report will be issued by Lynne, and we will send it your way next week. 

 

GARDEN STATE COALITION OF SCHOOLS
BOARD MEETING AGENDA: October 8, 2003
EAST BRUNSWICK BOARD OF EDUCATION, 9:30 a.m.
Next Board Meeting, Wednesday, November 12, Noon, East Brunswick
I. GSCS Reports
==> Treasurer: Marjorie Heller
Michael Gorski. C.P.A.
==> President-elect Stuart Schnur
==> Executive Director: Lynne Strickland
Stable Funding for Education: investigating various funding methods w/Tim Wade
Full funding of the Extraordinary Aid Entitlement @ 70% for FY 04-05
Surveys  - Special Education costs: update & streamline survey - volunteer.
      NCLB costs - start tracking this year - volunteer.
                  Sharing Services:
      How and how much do GSCS membe rs currently share services: volunteer
NCLB:  Press Conference@NJEA/ GSCS Invited, Parent Network included
Meetings/Hearing-Testimonies/Forums:
"     Governor McGreevey, Oct. 6: President, Exec. Dir. & Parent Network:
           Mandate Relief Commission: Exec.Order/GSCS advocacy acknowledged.
Property Taxes - Special Session; Special Education Funding/IDEA; testing/NJ SK;
            NCLB issues; teacher quality; DOE legislative package.
            See GSPN Report/C. Mueller (handout) to Lynne Strickland/Walter Mahler;
                 also Scotch Plains-Fanwood and Glen Ridge Reports/Handouts.
"     Republican Hearing on School Finance, September 25 -
Walter  Mahler, C andace Mueller, Lynne Strickland
plus GSCS parent-board member- superintendent  representation:
Cherry Hill, Glen Ridge, Metuchen, Mount Laurel, Washington Twp (Mercer).
"     Bergen County School Funding Forum: Ramsey-Ridgewood-Demarest sponsoring at the Ridgewood High School Center on October 1, 7:30 p.m.
"     DOE Southern Regional meeting October 15, Cherry Hill
"     DOE County Superintendent Roundtable October 17, Gloucester
"     DOE County Superintendent Roundtable October 21, Burlington October 21.
General Meetings
"    Atlantic City, Wednesday October 22, 4 p.m. 4th floor, Convention Center: 
           Presentations by GSCS Executive Board:
Who and What is GSCS?
What GSCS has  Done and What does GSCS Plan to Do?"
Encourage all school board members to stop by.
"    February '04 2nd Annual "Public Support for Public Education" South Jersey
==> GSPN Parent Network Report: Candace Mueller

II. GSCS Special Guest
     Mary O'Malley, New Jersey United for Higher School Standards

III. GSCS Special Guest
     Richard Rosenberg, Assistant Commissioner/Finance, Department of Education

IV. Board Member comments and adjournment.