Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

 
     6-24-11 Democrat Budget Proposal brings aid to all districts
     4-29-11 BOOMERANG! Near 80 per cent of School Budgets Passed in Wednesday'sSchool Elections
     4-21-11 Supreme Court hears school funding argument
     4-14-11 Governor Releases Legislation to Address Education Reform Package
     4-8-11 Education Issues in the News
     4-7-11 Early news coverage & press releases - Governor's Brooking Inst. presentation on his education reform agenda
     3-25-11 Education Week on School Cutbacks Around The Nation
     2-7-11 Education - and Controversy - in the News
     12-5-10 Sunday News - Education-related Issues
     10-8-10 Education Issue in the News
     9-1-10 Education in the News
     8-27-10 later morning - breaking news: Statehouse Bureau ‘Gov. Chris Christie fires N.J. schools chief Bret Schundler’
     8-27-10 Star Ledger ‘U.S. officials refute Christie on attempt to fix Race to the Top application during presentation’
     8-25-10 Race to the Top articles - the 'day after' news analysis
     8-16-10 Senate Education hears 'for discussion only' comments re expanding charter school authorization process; Commissioner Schundler relays education priorities to the Committee
     8-13-10 East Brunswick Public School seeks stay on Hatikvah Charter School opening this fall (re: Hatikvah not meeting minimum enrollment requirement)
     7-3-10 Governor Christie and Legislative leaders reached agreement today on a 2% property tax cap with 4 major exemptions
     7-1 and 2- 10 Governor Christie convened the Legislature to address property tax reform
     GSCS On the Scene in Trenton: State Budget poised to pass late Monday...Cap Proposals, Opportunity Scholarship Act in Limbo
     6-28-10 State Budget tops the news today
     GSCS On the Scene in Trenton: Cap Proposals, Opportunity Scholarship Act in Limbo
     6-23-10 Trenton News: State Budget on the move...Education Issues
     6-11-10 In the News: State Budget moving ahead on schedule
     6-10-10 Op-Ed in Trenton Times Sunday June 6 2010
     6-8-10 Education issues in the news today - including 'hold' on pension reform, round two
     6-8-10 (posted) Education & Related Issues in the News
     6-4-10 Education News
     4-23-10 Education issues remain headline news
     4-22-10 School Elections - in the News Today
     4-6-10 'Gov. Chris Chrisite extends dealdine for teacher salary concessions'
     4-6-10 'NJ school layoffs, program cuts boost attention to Apri 20 votes
     4-2-10 Press of Atlantic City lists county impact re: school aid reduction
     4-2-10 'On Titanic, NJEA isn't King of the World'
     4-1-10 Courier Post article reports on Burlington and Camden County district budgets
     4-1-10 Education in the News today
     4-1-10 New Initiatives outlined to encourage wage freezes - reaction
     3-30-10 Race to the Top winners helped by local buy-in
     3-29-10 The Record and Asbury Park Press - Editorials
     3-26-10 School Aid, Budget Shortfall - Impt Related Issues = Front Page News
     3-23-10 ' N.J. Gov. Chris Christie signs pension, benefits changes for state employees'
     3-23-10 State Budget Issues in the News
     3-17-10 Budget News - Gov. Chris Christie proposes sacrifices
     3-17-10 Budget News - NJ Schools Stunned By Cuts
     3-14-10 'Christie will propose constitutional amendment to cap tax hikes in N.J. budget'
     3-4-10 'School aid cuts unavoidable during NJ budget crisis'
     3-3-10 'Public Education in N.J.: Acting NJ Comm of Educ Bret Schundler says 'Opportunity'
     2-26-10 'NJ average property taxes grow 3.3 percent to an average of $7,300'
     2-24-10 'Tight funds raise class sizes that districts long sought to cut'
     2-22-10 Christie and unions poised to do batttle over budget cuts'
     2-19-10 'Acting NJ education commissioner hoping other savings can ward off cuts'
     2-22-10 Trenton Active Today
     2-16-10 'Christie Adopts Corzine Cuts, Then Some'
     1-29-10 Schools in the News
     1-20-10 'N.J. files application for federal Race to the Top education money'
     1-20-10 Editorials, Commentary on New Governor in Trenton
     1-15-10 Education News-Race to the Top incentives, NCLB annual results, supermajority vote upheld
     1-14-10 'N.J. Gov.-elect Christie targets teachers' union with Schundler appointment'
     1-14-10 'To lead schools, Christie picks voucher advocate'
     1-13-10 More articles, plus Wikipedia information re New Education Commissioner, Bret Schundler
     1-13-10 More articles + Wikipedia information re New Education Commissioner, Bret Schundler
     1-13-10 Christie Press Conference reports
     1-12-10 Change in Trenton
     1-6-10 Race to the Top Plans on the move, not without conflict
     12-23-09 Press of Atlantic City - 'Corzine forms panel to aid nonpublic schools'
     1-5-10 News articles re: lame duck
     1-4-10 'Last Call for Lame Ducks in Trenton'
     1-5-10 Update on January 4 Lame Duck Session
     12-28-09 Education Week 'Race to Top' Driving Policy Action Across States
     12-27-09 'New Jersey competes for education reform stimulus money' (aka 'Race to the Top' funds)
     12-20-09 Education in the News
     12-12 & 13-09 Education Issues in the News
     11-29-09 Ramifications - News of NJ's fiscal realities
     11-20-09 'Christie lays down his law for state'
     11-13-09 Education Week on: Gov-elect Christie's Education Agenda; Race to the Top Funds Rules
     11-12-09 Governor-elect Christie names his 10 member transition team
     11-11-09 'Oliver ready for Nov.23 leadership vote, wants up or down vote on marriage equality'
     11-11-09 Christie mum on fiscal emergency declaration
     11-9-09 Edcuation in the News
     11-8-09 News of Note
     11-6-09 News of Note
     11-5-09 Day After the Election News
     11-3-09 ELECTION DAY IS TODAY - SHOW UP AND VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATES OF YOUR CHOICE
     11-2-09 NY Times NJ Governors' race update
     11-4-09 Record low turnout elects Chris Chrisite NJ's Governor
     11-3-09 'Chris Christie wins N.J. governor race'
     11-1-09 Education News of Note
     Education Week on Federal Stimulus Funding Issues
     10-26-09 'High school sports spending grows as budgets get tighter inNew Jersey'
     10-22-09 News of Note
     10-20-09 News of Note
     10-19-09 Education Week 'States felling fiscal pain despite the stimulus'
     10-14-09 'Meetings are just the tip of the iceberg'
     10-7 & 9-09 Gubernatorial Campaign news: Candidates on education; Corzine on next year's state budget
     10-5-09 Gannett: Editorial & Recommendations re: Gubernatorial Campaign Issues '09
     10-4-09 NY Times 'As Property Taxes Become a Real Burden'
     10-2-09 News of Note
     10-1-09 Education Week on Acheivement Gap narrowing; Algebra Testing
     9-30-09 'Attack ads give way to issues as campaign enters final phase'
     9-30-09 Results of School Construction bond referenda rolling in
     9-27-09 Education News of Note
     9-23-09 'Tests changing for special ed students'
     9-16-09 Courier News Editorial
     9-9-09 News of Note
     9-13-09 As an issue for N.J.(Gubernatorial election), schools are in'
     9-3 & 4-09 News of Note
     8-20-09 'Nearly all NJ teachers are highly qualified'
     8-10-09 News of Note
     8-7-09 'Bill would strengthen teacher tenure rights'
     8-4-09 Recent NJ Education News of Note
     7-22-09 'State gives extra aid for schools an extraordinary boost'
     7-16-08 Schools Testing measures adopted; Test scoring upgraded - harder to pass
     7-14-09 Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial
     7-1-09 What's the Buzz: News of Note
     4-23-09 The public shows its support for public education in passing nearly 75 per cent of school budgets statewide
     4-17-09 The $609M Federal Stimulus aid to NJ - initial reactions
     4-19 and 20-09 Editorial and School Elections articles
     3-29-09 Record Editorial on Judge Doyne recommendations
     3-10-09 GOVERNOR TO DELIVER STATE BUDGET MESSAGE TODAY - SCHOOL AID FIGURES TO BE RELEASED BY THURSDAY LATEST
     1-11-09 'Corzine State of State speech to put economy front & center'
     12-28-08 NY Times 'Pension Fight Signals What Lies Ahead'
     12-29-08 NJ to new leaders - Fund our schools
     11-19-08 'Too soon to scrap Abbott'
     11-24-08 Editorial asks for preschool initiative slow down
     11-23-08 State lacks financial incentives to sell concept of school mergers
     9-24-08 Editorials re High School Redesign issues
     9-24-08 Commissioner of Education at Assembly Education Committee yesterday
     9-24-08 Supreme Court hearing on constitutionality of School Funding Reform Act
     8-29-08 'Newly hired teachers benefit from Corzine delay'
     8-26-08 What's the Buzz...
     News on the Issues - Stay Informed
     8-15-08 'Superintendents sue education commissioner'
     8-14-07 In the news today
     7-28 &29- 08 Fuel cost crisis impacting school budgets across the nation
     6-13-08 News on Education Committee actions yesterday in Trenton
     6-10-08 NJ lawmakers work on $33B spending plan Tuesday
     6-9-08 GSCS Quick Facts: TRENTON FOCUS THIS WEEK
     6-4-08 In the News
     5-21-08 News Articles & editorial
     4-30-08 'Loophole on town mergers targeted
     4-18 & 4-21-08 RECENT LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS: 3 MAJOR POLICY CHANGES PROMOTED BY ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBERTS
     NEWS EDITORIALS Star Ledger 4-19 & 4-20 Ammo for Abbott Foes & Spending but with Restraint
     Recent news articles of note re: probable 'lame duck ' legislative session issues - to be or not to be- and controversial school construction report
     10-23 Media reports & Trenton responses to date re GSCS Press Conf
     In the news - Corzine on school aid formula & good news for urban schools
     9-13-07Corzine adds school aid to the lame-duck agenda
     Back to School News of Note
     8-10-07 'Standing 'O' greets Corzine as he hosts town hall mtg'
     8-8-07 Editorial 'School [construction] program needs more than a facelift'
     8-2-07 Editorial 'Reliance on property taxes must be fixed'
     8-1-07 'Paterson isn't ready to gain control' & 7-29 'The Numbers still don't add up'
     7-27-07 Retiree health costs 'time bomb'
     7-26-07 'State's tab for retirees' health care is $58B'
     7-25-07 Debate over School Tests
     7-25-07 NY Times '2 NJ school districts regain some local control'
     6-29-07 Lots of news affecting NJ, its schools and communities this week - STATE BUDGET signed - LIST OF LINE ITEM VETOES - US SUPREME CT RULING impacts school desgregation - SPECIAL EDUCATION GROUPS file suit against state
     5-21-07 In Connecticut '2 School Aid Plans Have a Similar Theme'
     5-16-07 Education Week 'Frustration Builds in NJ Funding Debate'
     5-15-07 Grad students tackle school funding issues
     4-18-07 School Budget Vote passed statewide at 78% rate - GSCS take: state aid increases a factored in offsetting property tax increases, thus boosting passing rate by 24.6%, up from last year's passing rate of 53.4%
     4-4-07 News articles, editorial & Op-Ed on bill signings for A1 and A4
     4-4-07 N Y Times, front page 'NJ Pension Fund Endangered by Diverted Billions'
     3-25-07 New York Times on NJ Comparative Spending Guide, more on Gov putting off signing A1, Tax Caps & Rebate bill
     3-16-07 News articles
     3-15-07 State eases at risk aid restrictions & 25% members of NJ Senate retiring (so far)
     3-12-07 This article tells you why you cannot get easy access to legislator votes on-line
     3-8-07 'Education Chief Revamps Department'
     3-1-07 Op Ed piece re 'Super' Superintendent in the CORE Plan
     3-1-07 Emerging Devil showing up in the details
     2-23-07 News Articles re Gov's Budget Proposal
     2-22-07 Gov's Budget Message Link & Related News Articles
     2-22-07 News articles re Governor's Budget Message this morning
     2-21-07 Associated Press 'Codey Affirms More State Aid'
     2-16 to 2-19 News Articles of Note
     2-20-07 Live from the Ledger on-line
     2-21-07 Associated Press - Codey Affrims More School Aid
     2-16 to 2-19 New Articles of Note
     2-15-07 'Parents get boost on special ed rights' Star Ledger
     2-12-07 State School Aid - needed to offset property taxes now
     2-8-07 Editorial - ' Progress, Trenton style'
     2-1-07 Turnpike for sale, Gov - need funding formula, more
     1-23-07 Tax Reform in Trenton?
     1-9-07 Countywide Pilot Program and County 'Super' Superintendent bills held again yesterday, Jan 22 next probable vote date scheduled for these bills
     1-8-07 Articles & Editorial talk about 'missing pieces' of tax reform proposal and note consequences
     1-5-07 Small-town officials protest consolidation
     1-4-07 Gov Corzine & legislative leaders agree on 4% hard cap tied to sliding scale rebates (20% max on down)
     1-3-07 GSCS Member ALERT 'County School bills' fastracked again
     12-19-06 Feedback - articles on school funding heaings yesterday
     12-18-06 Sunday editorials - take of Property Tax session
     12-14-06 Trenton News articles
     11-15-06 The Special Session Jt Committee Reports
     11-19-06 Sunday Press Articles & Commentaries
     11-16-06 Property Tax Proposal news articles
     11-14-06 Direction of Special Session Report Recommendations starting to leak into press articles
     11-13-06 Schools, property taxes fuel debates
     11-11-06 New school funding plan could add $1 billion in aid
     11-10-06 NJ education chief vows urban support
     11-4-06 Senate President & Assembly Speaker 'no new taxes'
     11-1-06 Gannett 'Halved property tax called unrealistic'
     10-31-06 The Record - Property Tax Cut Debated
     10-30-06 NY Times
     10-21-06 Education Data Study Released - how the news is being reported
     10-20-06 Education - study data released
     10-5-06 Conversation on school funding, consolidation continues
     9-25-06 Savings Little -Costs at merged schools similar
     9-20-06 Coverage of the benefits & School Funding Jt Comm hearings 9-19-06
     9-18-06 News Articles re Special Session
     9-15-06 Star Ledger - 3.25B suggested for school construction
     9-7-06 The Record Local Govts Poised to save as co-pays rise
     9-7-06 News re Jt Comm on Consolidation & Shared Services mtg 9-5
     9-6-06 Articles re Jt Comm Hearing yesterday & related school news
     9-4-06 Weekend news articles of note
     8-29-06 School Funding to be reviewed today
     8-29-06 Assoc Press - School Funding to be reviewd today
     8-29-06 Hopewell Valley article re - courtesy busing withdrawal
     8-26-06 'N.J.'s best schools in wealthiest, northern towns'
     8-23-06 Crowd assails changes to state health plan
     8-23-06 Live from the Ledger on-line
     8-20-06 AP 'Property Tax reform bid to shift to overdrive'
     8-22-06 Star Ledger Column & NY Times Editorial
     8-14-06 News Clips
     8-9-06 Special Session Jt Comm on Consolidation of Govt Services meeting 8-8-06
     8-9-06 article re today's Jt Comm on Public Employee Benfits Reform
     8-8-06 NY Times Public Pension Plans Face Billions in Shortage
     7-25-06 Associated Press Prop Tax Q & A
     7-18-06 Live from the Ledger
     7-16-06 (thru 7-21-06) Bergen Record series investigate cost of NJ public services & property tax link
     7-16-06 Bergen Record series investigate cost of NJ public services & property tax link
     7-12-06 Column on State Budget legislator items
     7-12-06 Statehouse starts talking specifics about property tax reform
     7-13-06 Articles - Property tax issues, teacher salaries, voucher suit filing
     6-30-06 State Budget news - as the dissonance must be resolved
     6-29-06 Mirroring the elements, State Budget looking like a 'natural disaster'
     6-25-06 State Budget issues: legislative branches conflict - news articles
     6-21-06 Star Ledger - Washington DC Bureau re graduation rates & quality education
     6-20-06 News articles re State Budget FY07
     6-15-06 Star Ledger, Gannet articles- Abbott advocates demand school reform at educ. dept
     6-14-06 Assembly Minority Budget Leader Joe Malone's Op Ed
     Editorial on benefit of using UEZ surplus for spec educ aid for this year
     6-12-06 News Clips
     Weekend News Clips re Property Tax & School Funding issues
     6-9-06 Star Ledger ' Salary review bill hits roadblock'
     6-7-06 News Articles re Leg Summer Session work on Property Taxes
     6-6-06 Star Ledger re Special Summer Session
     6-5-06 Editorials on school funding & State Budget articles
     6-1-06 Star Ledger Thursday article on GSCS Annl Mtg
     5-30-06 News Articles
     5-21-06 Sunday Courier Post on Schools' hiring
     5-23-06 News Articles
     5-23-06 AP 'Codey to propose school ballott change'
     5-14-06N Y Times 'For school budgets the new word is NO'
     5-17-06 Trenton Times - School Aid, budget dominate forum
     5-16-06 News fromTrenton
     5-10-06 A Lot is going on - Major News fromTrenton
     News articles re even less state revenue & SCI scapegoating
     5-5-06 News articles Gannett and Courier Post
     One example of schools consolidating services
     4-16-06 Courier Post
     4-16-06 Star Ledger editorial & article re Gov v. Abbott from 4-15-06
     4-16-06 Sunday NY Times Metro Section, front page
     40-16-06 Gannett & Asbury Park Press on School Budget election issues
     4-13-06 'Budget cap puts NJ schools on edge'
     4-7-07 The Record
     3-31-06 AP 'Budget idea puts onus on income taxes, businesses'
     3-28-06 NY Times re Texas school finance case
     3-25-06 Press of Atlantic City
     3-29-06 News Articles on State Budget testimony before the Assembly Budget Comm. yesterday in Collingswood
     3-29-06 News Articles on State Budget testimony in Collingswood 3-28-06
     3-10-06 Star Ledger 'Time is ripe for poorer districts to contribute.
     3-22-06 News Article sampling on Governor's Proposed FY07 Budget
     3-19-06 Millville, Vineland may lose Abbott status
     3-19-06 Sunday News Articles on State Budget
     3-15-06 News articles on FY07
     3-15-06 NY Times 'Crisis at School Agency Reflects Missteps'
     3-10-06 News articles GSCS related issues
     3-7-06 More articles on the Gov's Budget Summit and School Board members fo to Trenton
     2-14-06 TrentonTimes Letter to the Editor on school construction
     2-11-06 Trenton Timesn'NJ State Budget has little wiggle room'
     2-9-06 Star Ledger School agency reformers discuss goals, problems
     2-10-06 Star Ledger editorial re void of credible & useful data at Department of Education
     FUNDING HISTORY - May 27 1998 - Education Week article re Abbott V - funding above parity
     1-26-06 New York Times article re public schools fundraising for private support
     1-25-06 Star Ledger 'School District's Woes Point to Rising Tax Resistance'
     1-24-06 Asbury Park Press 'Funding sparks heated debate'
     1-15-06 Sunday Star Ledger front page on Property Taxes
     1-12-06 Star Ledger 'Lawmaker pushes tax relief plan'
     1-12-06StarLedger 'Lawmaker pushes his tax relief plan'
     1-11-06 Star Ledger - Corzine Casts Wide Net for Cabinet
     1-6 thru 1-9-06 articles on Lameduck session and School Construction
     1-5-06 Monmouth county article on S1701 ramifications,examples - hitting hard at home
     1-1-06 Press of Atlantic City
     12-30-05 School Construction and Education Funding news clips
     12-20-05 Star Ledger on NJ Supreme Court decision on stalled school construction
     12-20-05 Star Ledger 'Schools lower the heat and risk a backlash'
     12-20-05 Star Ledger
     12-20-05 The Record 'Where Will the Bills End?' NJ Supreme Court releases its opinion on stalled school construction program.
     12-14-05 Asbury ParkPress Editorial 'Re-assess the ABC's of School Funding' notes the Governor's role is critical to make positive change
     12-16-05 Star Ledger Schools may end courtesy busing, tied to S1701 budget stressors
     12-16-05 News articles of note
     Trenton Times 6-25-05 State Budget FY06 and Democrat Tensions
     Activists Hope to Revive School Funding Issue
     12-15-05 Star Ledger School bond plans get resounding 'no'
     Time Magazine
     12-10-05 Star Ledger Schools might get heating help as bill gains on spending caps
     On Star Ledger
     12-8-05 Asbury Park Press Mom takes up the torch for school funding
     12-5-05 Governor-elect Corzine selects policy advisory groups
     11-28-05 Star Ledger 'It's Lame-duck time in Trenton'
     11-20-05 Sunday Star Ledger 'Corzine's risky promise to taxpayers
     The Record 11-18-05 Corzine's tax fix to mean 'pain'
     11-17-05 Trenton Times 'Education Chief announces testing overhaul'
     11-15-05 N Y Times article
     11-13-05 Star Ledger Sunday front page 'Blueprint for 6 Billion Dollar Boondagle
     11-14-05 The Record Herb Jackson on Whitman experience a lesson for Corzine
     11-11-05 Trenton Times Corzine puts property taxes at the top of his agenda
     11-9-05 The Record - Governor Elect can't claim a mandate
     Assoc. Press NJ 6-10-05 Codey Brokering Deal on Tax Convention
     Gubernatorial Candidates' Education Plans announced September 05
     November 9 The Trenton Times - Corzine Triumphs
     November 7 YOUR VOTE TOMORROW COUNTS ... Some news articles worth reading
     11-4-05 Star Ledger State Board of Education calls for revamping school funding
     10-23-05 Sunda Star Ledger article on how property taxes work
     10-4-05 Trenton Times NJ may replenish school building fund.
     10-16-05 Sunday Star Ledger & Gannet news articles on gubernatorial candidates take on important issues related to public education issues
     10-19-05 Courier Post-Gannett article on Gubernatorial Debate
     Groups Seek Attention from Candidates 10-12-05
     10-6-05 and 10-12-05 Forrester v. Corzine, Corzine v. Forrester articles
     10-4-05 Trenton Times School Construction fund may be replenished
     9-29-05 Star Ledger 'NJ in hole for $53M after vote on school funds promised for construction
     9-26-05 Star Ledger School Construction Making the Grade is Now Up to the Voters
     9-22-05 Some news articles on the press conference - Gannett and Star Ledger
     9-23-05 Star Ledger School Construction on next Tuesday's bond referenda
     9-12-05 Associated Press Rutgers initiates new education institute
     9-9-05 Trenton Times,Corzine Education Agenda
     9-9-05 Asbury Park Press Corzine plans 25M education agenda
     Star Ledger 9-9-05 Soaring gas costs result in towns asking for cap relief
     Star Ledger 8-31-05: Though few, new schools open doors for kids
     8-19-05 Head of School Construction Agency Resigns Abruptly, Compounding Agency Turmoil
     Trenton Times 8-12-05 School funding sought
     Star Ledger Front Page 8-16-02 School districts run for school construction aid
     Herb Jackson Column 7-18-05 Budget 'cuts' more a case of creative math
     Herb Jackson Column 7-18-05 Budget 'cuts' more a case of creative math
     The Record 'get's it' Read Editorial 7-14-05
     Star Ledger 7-13-05 Codey Puts Constitutional Convention on Hole
     The Record7-10-05 Sunday Front Page Must Read
     Star Ledger 7-7-05 Local school officials told state may not provide promised construction funding
     The Record 7-3-05 State Budget Doles Out Money
     The Record 7-4-05 Rebates safe, but tax problem not nearer solution
     The Check it out - Press of Atlantic City 7-6-05 Education Funds lie in Budget Fine Print
     Star Ledger 7-2-05 Late Night Budget Passes
     The Record 7-2-05 State Budget Passes
     Gannet 7-2-05 State Budget and School Aid
     Asbury Park Press 6-28-05 Senate Passes $20M for 5 school districts
     Philadelphia Inquirer 6-30-05 Dueling Budgets Will Miss Deadline
     Asbury Park Press 6-30-05 No Consensus in Trenton on Spending Plan
     Trenton Times 6-30-05 School Construction Review Panel Formed
     Star Ledger 6-30-05 State Budget Finale on Hold
     Star Ledger 6-29-05 Bid to Save Tax Rebates Imperils NJ Budget
     The Record 6-29-05 Tax Plan Quitely Dying
     Trenton Times 6-25-05 State Budget and Democrat Tensions
     Star Ledger 6-17-05 Seniors want tax convention, Senate prefers Special Session
     050618 Press of Atlantic City 'Activists Look to Revisit School Funding Issue
     6-16-05 Philadelphia Inquirer Commission Librera Releases Abbott Designation Report
     Star Ledger 6-4-05 GSCS Annual Meeting Forrester & Schundler
     Assoc. Press NJ 6-10-05 Codey Brokering Deal on Tax Convention
     Star Ledger 6-14-05 Legislators Assail School Building Agency at Hearing
     Star Ledger 6-13-05 Legislators Assail School Construction Corp
     Trenton Times 6-10-05 Rebate Debate on Budget for FY06
     Star Ledger June 3 2005 Advance article, Annual Meeting noted
     Gannet on Annual Meeting 6-4-05 Forrester, Schundler Address School Concerns
     Gannet on Annual Meeting 6-4-05 Candidates Address School Concerns
     Assocated Press, In the Homestrech Forrester and Schundler Talk Education
     Class Sizes Disappoint Glen Ridge Parents
     SCC reforms underway 'Jump Starting the Effort to build New Schools' Star Ledger May26 2005.
     Trenton Times 5-24-05 Codey Plans for Less Pain in Budget
     Preliminary School Election Results from NJ Dept of Education
     Jersey Journal article
     State Health Benefit Plan Star Ledger 4-8-05
     Taxes, ire both on rise
     NJ lawmakers want the state to join education law protest
     Panel Tells of Referenda Woes
     GSCS Parent Leader Molly Emiliani-Livingston & GSCS Director Lynne Strickland present to Pennsylvania Bucks County
     Hopewell valley School Board Approves $63M Budget
     Schools will seek Extra Funding
     Rebate Panic
     Lack of funds amid surplus of concerns
     Enrollment Dip Hurts Special Schools
     Costly School Site Fiasco Spurs Assembly Measure
     Teacher Seeks Family to Fight Abbott Rulings
     Panel OKs Constitutional Convention on Tax Reform
     Jersey Halts New Pacts for School Construction
     Schools Face Enrollment, Aid Dilemma
     Cut is sought in Abbott District Aid
     Local News - Cuts plentiful in NJ budget proposal
     Amid probe, agency to cut school costs
     Acting governor faces tough sledding on deficit
     Parents Give Cody an Earful
     Courier Post Online
     Article Mt Laurel GSCS Summit 2-10-05
     Bill to loosen school budgets altered
     WNBC Interview
     Educators urge parents to fight school spending cap
     Assembly Panel Weighs Plan for a Property Tax Convention
     Tax-reform debate takes sharp turn
     School funding plan gets OK from panel
     Legislature Acts to Revamp School Spending Caps
     Educators to Argue for Repeal of Cap Law
     State must devise tests to comply with No Child Left Behind
3-29-06 News Articles on State Budget testimony before the Assembly Budget Comm. yesterday in Collingswood
Assembly Budget Chairman Louis Greenwald and Committee members were lukewarm to considering additional funding for schools - GSCS noted that special education funding remains flat since FY02 even though an additional 17,000 students have been classified since then - in general, as well as municipalities and even colleges[hit w/a $169M cut in Gov Corzine's proposed budget]. The main struggle that will ensue on this FY07 budget is going to be between the Governor's office and the legislature on raising taxes..... As for schools, the Assembly representatives were posing the SCI report that focused on 71 districts' administrator salary packages and the SCC school construction investigations as a shield against considering local needs of public school children or property tax relief. While both of these issues raise very legitimate concerns that need addressing now, not only at the local level but more effectively at the state level, the issues should not function as a way for Trenton deflect reality.....The context is this: if the FY07 budget does not provide formula aid for *regular operating districts, FY07 will be the six straight year that Trenton chooses not to update basic formula aid to support public education fiscal & student needs in nearly 550 communities[*excludes Abbotts, and others not applicable, such as non-operating districts, county vocationals]....Enrollment has grown over these years; property taxes have risen dramatically since aid has been suppressed over this time frame, and in effect, reflect the indirect "tax" local communities face in having to support mandated programs, including maintaining the constitutionally required "thorough and efficient" education for their students, when the state does not provide its share of support. We ask our state leaders - will you address the cost drivers that are well outpacing budget caps, such as health benefits and special education, by devising new policies that could help control the annual growth of the costs? (see sidebar/'School Funding Facts, etc.' GSCS chart on local levy growth FY02-FY06 in reg. operating districts v. special education and health benefits costs in the same time frame that shows that nearly 2/3 of the levy growth of 2.4B is taken up by those costs alone.)

N.J. tuition outlook bleak

By ALAN GUENTHER
Courier-Post Staff


COLLINGSWOOD

Tuition would soar 30 percent if state colleges handed students the bill for the entire $170 million in cuts the governor is proposing for higher education, Rowan University President Donald Farish said Tuesday.

"It is difficult to overstate the negative consequences of these cuts," Farish told the Assembly Budget Committee during the first public hearing on Gov. Jon S. Corzine's proposed $30.9 billion budget.

Farish said colleges cannot -- "and will not" -- rely solely on tuition to make ends meet. Other ways to cope must be found, but how, he asked.

Faculty layoffs? Elimination of popular classes? A tuition hike in double digits?

While painting a dire picture, Farish also said college administrators recently received their first glimmer of hope since Corzine unveiled his budget last week.

In a private meeting with the state's college presidents Monday night, Corzine promised he would make higher education a top priority for restoring funds -- but only if more revenue can be found, Farish said.

Meeting in the sumptuously redecorated Collingswood Theater, the former Scottish Rite Auditorium, mayors and teachers pleaded for more money for local towns and schools during the daylong budget public hearing.

Property taxes will continue to climb rapidly if state aid is not increased, half a dozen local officials predicted.

Corzine's proposal would increase the state sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent. A final form of the budget must be adopted before July 1.

Late in the afternoon, three South Jersey teenagers came away empty-handed in their effort to save The Governor's School of New Jersey, a summer program serving 600 of the state's best high school students.

"My hard work paid off when I found out I was selected as one of 30 finalists out of 300 theater applicants," Anni Weisband, 17, of Moorestown, told the committee.

But her elation died when, three days before her final audition, she was told there would be no governor's school this year.

"I'm beyond disappointed," Weisband said.

Ted Kreider of Moorestown and Ben Speilberg of Haddon Township, both 17, pleaded with the committee to restore the $1.92 million needed to save the program.

The best the Legislature can do is restore the money for next year, said Elaine Tryjankowski, executive director of the governor's school. This summer will mark the first time the state won't offer the program for its best students since 1984, she said.

Assembly Budget Chairman Louis Greenwald, D-Voorhees, challenged administrators and officials who favored more spending on public education to explain abuses uncovered in a recent report by the state Commission of Investigation.

The SCI report studied 71 school districts. All but three had abused the state pension system, Greenwald said.

School administrators earning more than $200,000 per year padded their pensions, and were given cars to drive and clothes to wear while handing the bill to the public, the SCI report found.

Greenwald also reiterated his reluctance to raise taxes and the need for property-tax relief.

"You would have to be deaf, dumb and blind to not hear the cry of the public, which is that the No. 1 issue in the state of New Jersey is property taxes, and if you're not giving (additional revenues) back to the people, then we're not listening," Greenwald said.

Gannett State Bureau reporter Jonathan Tamari contributed to this story. Reach Alan Guenther at (856) 317-7871 or aguenther@courierpostonline.com
Published: March 29. 2006 3:00AM

Posted on Wed, Mar. 29, 2006



Colleges warn state about cuts
Tuition may rise 30 pct., legislators were told at a budget hearing in Collingswood.

Inquirer Trenton Bureau

Gov. Corzine's proposed cuts in funding could translate into college tuition increases as high as 30 percent, higher-education officials told an Assembly committee in Collingswood yesterday.

Rowan University president Donald Farish said Corzine's $11 million cut to the Glassboro school - more than 20 percent of its operating budget - "is difficult to manage in any rational way."

Farish pledged that Rowan would find places other than just tuition to make up the shortfall, but beseeched lawmakers to reinstate the funding before the state budget is finalized in June.

"Tuition is going to go up. We just don't know the amount yet," Farish said, adding that New Jersey already had the second-highest state college tuition in the nation, after Pennsylvania. Rowan tuition for a state resident costs $8,600 a year. "We're not going to take the easy way out, but some portion of the shortfall will have to be made up with tuition."

The $30.9 billion state budget that Corzine introduced last week includes $169 million in cuts to state college and university funding as well as increases in sales and cigarette taxes. He also plans to cut funding to municipalities and 1,000 nonunion state jobs.

The freshman governor said last week that a financial scandal at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey had been a factor in his cuts. The beleaguered school, based in Newark, has been accused of overbilling Medicaid by at least $4.9 billion, awarding $700 million in no-bid contracts, and wasting money on expensive limo rides.

Farish said he and other university officials believed UMDNJ's situation was "totally unique."

"We have never leased a limousine, but to the extent they have concerns about our level of accountability, we have no secrets," he said.

Corzine met with Farish and 10 state college and university presidents Monday night at the governor's mansion in Princeton. Farish said Corzine had promised to reinstate the higher-education funding if additional revenue became available.

But Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Louis Greenwald (D., Camden) said yesterday that the Legislature would ensure that any new money was divided equally among all constituencies hurt by Corzine's budget proposal.

"I think it is unfair to suggest higher education is weighed more heavily than a child with autism or programs for the blind," Greenwald said.

He said he also did not support Corzine's proposal to increase the sales tax from 6 to 7 percent. His committee, he said, will search for "cuts and efficiencies" to try to make up the additional $1.4 billion the higher sales tax would generate.

Mayors, school board officials, business leaders, and other interest groups had signed up to testify yesterday at the Scottish Rite Auditorium in Collingswood, where Greenwald's committee held its first budget hearing. While most speakers expressed disappointment with Corzine's budget, college and university administrators, professors and students warned of significant consequences.

Sharo Atmeh, a junior at Rutgers University and a member of the university Senate, said he worried about whether he could afford next year's inevitable tuition increase.

"If our cuts were covered solely by tuition increases, the price of a Rutgers education would rise nearly 31 percent. That is a whopping $5,000 estimate," Atmeh said. "My dreams of upward mobility and the dream that I would be the first person in my family to graduate from college would all disappear with drastic cuts to Rutgers' funding."


Contact staff writer Kaitlin Gurney at 609-989-7373 or kgurney@phillynews.com.

 

 

Lawmakers list budget grievances at hearing

Corzine focuses on college aid

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 03/29/06

BY JONATHAN TAMARI
GANNETT STATE BUREAU

COLLINGSWOOD — Gov. Corzine has assured college presidents that restoring aid to higher education is his top priority, giving some hope to schools where tuition increases and program cuts may result from reduced state funding.

But at a hearing in South Jersey on the budget, lawmakers also listed property tax relief and averting Corzine's proposed sales tax increases as other worthy goals Tuesday as they began their budget deliberations. They left open the question of how the final spending plan will look if the state finds additional money through cuts or better-than-expected tax revenue.

"I believe (in) making sure that the offer of quality education for every young person who wants to go to college is as available as possible," Corzine told reporters, calling aid to colleges "the first place where I would go" if the state's financial picture improves.

Assemblyman Louis Greenwald, D-Camden, chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee, noted the importance of higher education but also reiterated his reluctance to raise taxes and the need for property tax relief.

"You would have to be deaf, dumb and blind to not hear the cry of the public, which is that the No. 1 issue in the state of New Jersey is property taxes, and if you're not giving (additional revenue) back to the people, then we're not listening," Greenwald said.

He said any money set aside for property tax rebates now should be "in a vault" and not diverted to other uses so funds are available when long-term property tax solutions are proposed.

Greenwald, however, would not say if increased rebates, averting tax hikes or other initiatives would be his top priority this year if additional resources are found.

Assemblyman Joseph Malone, R-Burlington, the Republican budget officer, said lawmakers have to find a way to both eliminate Corzine's $1.5 billion in tax increases and restore funding to colleges.

"Nothing's impossible if we really want to sit down and do it," Malone said.

Last year, the state reported $1.5 billion in unexpected revenue after the budget was introduced, helping lawmakers fight off some tax increases and budget cuts. Many hope for a similar windfall this year. College presidents in particular are hoping to undo a proposed $169 million cut in state aid to their budgets, but they are one of many groups expected to testify in the fight for more funding.

"I don't know that you ever look at things where, if money is tight, that one group is made completely whole so that the others can continue to suffer," Greenwald said. "I think you try to alleviate the burden across the board if you can."

He said any changes in the budget Corzine proposed will be weighed for their far-reaching costs and benefits.

Rowan University President Donald Farish said cutting higher education is a "disastrous" plan that would cause lasting problems.

"This is the toughest year we've ever had," in terms of budgeting, Farish told reporters after testifying.

But he said he was "cautiously optimistic" that some of the cuts may be avoided after 11 college presidents met with Corzine Monday night, "although it's clear that we will still be looking at a significant deficit."

"Tuition is going to go up, we just don't know the amount," Farish said.

Farish said the college presidents had a "good, cordial, frank conversation" with Corzine and believe he intends to restore some funding, but he doubted they would get all of the cuts back.

Lawmakers, sitting at the first public budget hearing since Corzine introduced his plan March 21, also heard from advocates for schools and municipalities who worried that flat state aid could lead to increased property taxes.

Democrats and Republicans called on school boards and municipalities to help find savings through consolidation and better management and cited the need to control the cost of public workers' pensions and health benefits.

Several lawmakers used recent reports detailing money wasted by the Schools Construction Corp. and inflated school administrator salaries to hammer anyone seeking additional school aid.

"This kind of thing has to end," said Assemblyman Joseph Cryan, D-Union.

Jonathan Tamari:

jtamari@gannett.com

 

 

Budget time, and the giving is iffy

Pleas for increased aid get a cool response from lawmakers trying to avert tax hikes

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

BY DUNSTAN McNICHOL

Star-Ledger Staff

State lawmakers hoping to avoid a proposed sales tax increase gave a bristly reception to lobbyists and local officials who came to them yesterday with requests for almost a half-billion dollars in additional state aid.

It was the opening public hearing on the proposed 2006-2007 state budget, and members of the Assembly Budget Committee were not in a generous mood.

"I'm losing my sympathy for this," Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union) said to officials from the Keansburg School District, who were seeking $60 million for construction of three schools they were promised five years ago.

Cryan and committee chairman Lou Greenwald (D-Camden) questioned why Keansburg needed three separate school buildings when the district's 2,500 students could be accommodated in one larger building, and even suggested the 1.2 square-mile town might be better off merging with neighboring Middletown.

"If the need is there, we have to find a way to meet it," said Greenwald. "But at the same time, there has to be proper planning."

A similar tone characterized Greenwald's exchanges with advocates for other needy school districts seeking an additional $300 million in state school aid, and with the 12 university professors, administrators, students and union officials who objected to proposed higher education cuts of $169 million.

The committee heard more than eight hours of testimony on how Gov. Jon Corzine's $30.9 billion budget plan would affect education and local municipalities. The hearing in Collingswood was the first of a series as the Legislature considers what changes it might make to Corzine's taxing and spending plans.

During a brief break in the hearing, Greenwald told reporters he is still optimistic that income tax returns on April 15 will prove higher than expected, allowing lawmakers to cancel some of Corzine's more contentious proposals. They include increasing the sales tax to 7 percent to raise $1.1 billion, and boosting cigarette taxes to $2.75 per pack to raise $80 million.

Yesterday's hearing brought an outpouring of complaints about Corzine's proposed cuts in higher education aid -- which the governor has said he would like to restore if revenues improve.

Greenwald repeatedly expressed frustration at the general threats by college administrators of hefty tuition increases, mass layoffs and sweeping class cancellations if the cuts go through.

"It reminds me of the school board elections where they say if the budget is defeated they'll cut the band and the teachers," Greenwald said. "I need people to go back and get us hard answers."

Greenwald took issue with Zaharati Morfesis, an adjunct professor and shop steward at Rutgers University in Camden, who called Corzine's proposed budget cuts "an ax cutting at the very roots of our sustenance."

"There is no doubt this is a difficult time," Greenwald replied. "To suggest, however, we are going to rip out the roots of the children of this state ..."

The lawmakers did offer sympathetic ears to requests from some constituents. Lawrence Ragone, president of the Camden Eye Center, was seeking restoration of $300,000 in state funds to support free eye screening for poor and elderly residents.

"It's cut every year, and every year it's the responsibility of the Legislature to put it back in," Greenwald said.

Most others seeking heftier infusions of public funding, however, met a cooler reception.

Greenwald and other committee members repeatedly slapped local school officials for demanding millions of dollars in additional state aid while failing to confront evidence of nepotism, over-generous compensation and retirement packages for top administrators, and other allegations of waste.

"We are very, very unhappy," Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester), told the lobbyist for the New Jersey Association of School Business Administrators.

Greenwald was similarly skeptical about suggestions that the budget should include more funds for needy school districts, including the 31 scheduled to receive billions under the state Supreme Court's Abbott vs. Burke school funding decision.

"I come back to $250 million in the city of Camden, $916 million in the city of Newark -- for that kind of money we ought to be able to teach them whatever interests them," Greenwald said to a Newark school board member who complained about high dropout rates. "I don't understand why year after year the numbers do not improve."

Dunstan McNichol covers state government issues. He may be reached at dmcnichol@starledger.com or (609) 989-0341