Garden State Coalition of Schools . . .
a statewide grassroots advocacy network of parents,
administrators, Board of Education members,
community organizers and friends
Public Support for Public Education
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| GSCS Email-Net
Keeping GSCS Members & Friends Informed
What's the Buzz in Trenton?
December 15, 2009
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Best Wishes for a Healthy, Fun Holiday Season!
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| Help Us With Your Email Address |
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Please send the correct information to us at gscs2000@gmail.com
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| Now More Than Ever - Visit the GSCS Website |
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In these times of rapid change, we can't fit everything in these Email-Nets. Be in the know, stay connected to the GSCS website for up-to-the-minute news and information.
Visit early and often!
www.gscschools.org
Growing stronger every day ...more than 1.1M hits
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| We're Working With the Christie Transition Team |
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GSCS appreciates the opportunities our organization has been given to share information and your concerns in small-group settings with Governor-Elect Chris Christie's Education Transition Team and Red-Tape Review Committee. GSCS has established on-going working relationships with transition representatives and will continue to use every opportunity to bring our membership's concerns before the new and continuing leaders in Trenton . . . so keep your comments and insights coming our way.
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| On the GSCS Radar Screen |
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Alert: An early 'lame duck' January vote is likely on the Food Service Workers Prevailing Wage bill. Please contact your local state representatives, the chairs of the Senate Labor and Assembly Appropriations Committees, the Governor and all Legislative leadership and let them know that this bill will impact local costs, not only to schools, but to parents as well!
To read GSCS' testimony on these bills, follow this link:
www.gscschools.org
Then click in the left column on "Issues and Legislation."
Click on the 2nd bullet: 11-19-09 GSCS HEADS UP: Prevailng Wage bills on lame duck fast track . . .
S-2850, Food Service Workers Prevailing Wage Bill, Alive in Lame Duck
This legislation, opposed by GSCS, has passed in the Assembly via A-4151 and is still likely to come up for a vote before the lame duck session is over. Because of the recession and regulations prohibiting school districts from running their cafeterias at a deficit, the bills' impact will be great. Research shows that private provider costs will increase 30-40% if the proposed legislation becomes law. How this would impact jobs, quality, preparations and deliver of food also is in question. How would the increase of mandated costs be spread?
Also on the GSCS Radar Screen:
1. The likelihood that school elections will be moved to November. There seems to be bi-partisan concensus to effect this change. GSCS has been consistent in its approach to this issue:
· GSCS is for eliminating school budget votes when budgets are at cap or below.
· GSCS is against moving school board member elections to November.
·GSCS is against moving votes to November for the portion of a school budget that exceeds cap, primarily on the basis that the timing of that vote-in the middle of a school fiscal year-is unworkable and contradicts sound budget practices.
Note that the recession and state budget deficit impact may mean that many more school budgets will exceed cap. For example, see COLA implications immediately below.
2. The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for municipal and county budget caps has been released by the Division of Local Government Services.
"The COLA is based on the Implicit Price Deflator for State and Local Governments, calculated by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis. The Price Deflator calculation for CY 2010 reflects, for the first time, a reduction of one percent (-1%). Because the law does not provide authority for reductions, the COLA for CY 2010 is zero percent (0%)."
3. How will the state budget deficit impact school aid and school funding in general for Fiscal Year 2010-2011?
GSCS is 'nose to ground' on this issue.
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| Lame Duck Legislature Continues into January |
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| January Lame Duck Legislative Schedule Posted
The schedule has been posted for the final days of the 213th Legislature, which concludes on January 11, 2010. The reorganization for the 214th Legislature is scheduled for Jan. 12, with the inauguration of the new governor on Jan. 19.
MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2010
SENATE QUORUM 12:00 PM Senate Chambers
10:00 AM: Committees at the call of the Senate President
1:00 PM: Committees at the call of the Senate President
ASSEMBLY QUORUM Assembly Chambers
Committees at the call of the Speaker
THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 2010
SENATE SESSION 2:00 PM Senate Chambers
Voting Session: Board list to be announced
ASSEMBLY SESSION Assembly Chambers
Voting Session: Time and Board list to be announced
MONDAY, JANUARY 11, 2010
SENATE SESSION 2:00 PM Senate Chambers
Voting Session: Board list to be announced
ASSEMBLY SESSION Assembly Chambers
Voting Session: Time and Board list to be announced
TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2010
SENATE SESSION
Organization of the 214th Legislature - Details to be announced
ASSEMBLY SESSION
Organization of the 214th Legislature - Details to be announced
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| The Changing Trenton Education Scene |
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Here are highlights of the last two weeks in Trenton. For more information, look for the link in the upper left corner and visit the GSCS website.
Governor-Elect Christie Shares His Thoughts
on Education
Appearing on 101.5 FM's Ask the Governor segment, Christie shared some insights into what he's thinking about education:
· Changing the way NJ finances education will only shift costs from property taxes to other taxes. Instead, the incoming governor is looking for ways to cut costs, such as auditing all school districts and linking state aid to reductions in middle-management costs at the district level.
· He sees another cost saver in the shift of school elections to November. Already a bill moving the non-partisan municipal elections (A-351) has passed the Assembly and is pending in the Senate.
· Christie will encourage shared services, rather than forcing consolidation of small municipalities.
· Stating that teachers aren't the problem, but rather over-politicized union leadership, Christie said he is willing to work with the NJEA if possible, but will be making changes either way.
· The governor-elect gave ensuring tax relief as his first priority and funding education to the greatest degree the state can as his second.
Governor-Elect Anounces Key Appointments
"Governor-Elect Chris Christie announced the first in a series of key appointments for the Christie-Guadagno Administration. Christie named Rich Bagger as the incoming Chief of Staff, Bill Stepien as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Jeff Chiesa as Chief Counsel to the Governor and Kevin O'Dowd as Deputy Chief Counsel to the Governor..."
(Courtesy Princeton Public Affairs Group)
Teachers Union Faces Tough Times
With New Governor
Statehouse Bureau/Ledger - Record "...Today, after two decades at the top of New Jersey's political establishment, the world has turned upside down for the NJEA . . . Corzine lost the election to Republican Chris Christie, who waged a public battle against the NJEA and other public-sector labor unions during the campaign. Christie says his mandate to bring a new era to Trenton will include a clampdown on the teachers union and an education agenda that may advocate changes the NJEA will not welcome, so the 200,000 member union now finds itself in an unusual position..."
Senate Education Committee
Meeting Puts Federal Stimulus Funds
on the Front Burner
'Corzine education chief to be grilled on lapse'
Record: "... (Commissioner of Education) Davy has been asked to appear before the state Senate's education committee on Monday (Dec. 7) to discuss federal stimulus funds for education...New Jersey is eligible for $200 million to $400 million from the Race to the Top fund designed to spur educational reform. But the state is one of just a few that is not applying in January for the first round of grants. "We should be applying now; it's important," said state Senate Republican leader Tom Kean of Westfield..."
'School choice: Expand NJ's Existing Programs' By Star-Ledger Editorial Board
". . . A program that allows children in failing public schools to transfer to better ones that are willing to take them is drawing support from Gov.-elect Chris Christie, who wants to see it expanded . . . We hope he can make that happen so it can benefit more students now trapped in inferior schools . . . Assemblywoman Mila Jasey (D-Essex) has co-sponsored legislation that seeks to remove some of the legislative barriers so the program can grow somewhat . . . "
'New Jersey Will Apply for Federal Stimulus Money for Education'
Record: "The Corzine administration reversed course Monday and said it would apply in January for the first round of competition for federal stimulus money that could bring more than $200 million to New Jersey's public schools . . . "
'Corzine seeks $200M of federal stimulus money for N.J. schools' - Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk
"...The N.J. Department of Education had said it would not participate in the first round and instead let the Christie administration set its own agenda, the report said..."
NJ Charter School Laws Get 'C' Rating
Star-Ledger: " . . . The Center for Education Reform, which advocates for charter schools and school choice, found New Jerseyu's laws fell right in the middle-17th strongest-among the 40 states and districts that allow charter schools . . . "
NJ DOE Disputes Abbott Preschool
Eligibility Claims
Star-Ledger: ". . . The board now estimates 'preschool universes' by doubling the total number of students attending first grade in public schools to account for the exclusion of private school data that was collected in an 'unsystematic manner.' . . . Davy also said that if districts feel their preschool estimates are not representative of the amount of students they need to serve, they can request an adjustment."
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