School funding sought

The organization that advocates for students in Trenton and 30 other poor, mostly urban districts has asked the state Supreme Court to force officials to replenish the pot of school construction money.

The state Schools Construction Corp., which has been heavily criticized for allegedly wasting much of the $8.6 billion school-construction fund, announced last month that 200 approved projects will have to wait until the Legislature puts more money in the coffers.

The SCC said the remaining $1.4 billion could pay for only 59 projects.

The Newark-based Education Law Center is demanding that the education commissioner estimate the cost of all projects "in development" and swiftly get the additional funds from the Legislature.

Legislators are reluctant to move quickly to replenish funds after a state inspector general's report found poor fiscal oversight and millions in questionable spending by the SCC.

The law center estimates added costs of $40 million to $60 million for every year of delay in completing the projects.

Law center Executive Director David Sciarra argued that the commissioner is required to get the funding under the Abbott v. Burke rulings.

Spokeswoman Kathryn Forsyth said the Department of Education has not seen the legal filing and cannot comment.

William Librera is resigning as education commissioner next month. His likely temporary replacement is Deputy Commissioner Richard Rosenberg.

The law center said it expects many Abbott districts to join in the legal action.

Trenton school board President Bernard McMullan said he would favor doing so.

"My sense is the board is committed to getting these schools built," he said. "If the legal action promotes that, we'd probably join in."