Glen Ridge Public Schools

Board of Education

Attention: Important Election Information

School Board/Budget Election, Tuesday, April 21, 2009

            When voters go to the polls on Tuesday, April 21, 2009, they will see a ballot containing the names of the school board candidates as well as the district budget question.  The following state-mandated language appears at the end of the budget question:

 “The school district has proposed programs and services in addition to the core curriculum content standards adopted by the state Board of Education.  Information on this budget and the programs and services it provides is available from your local school district.” 

            This language may be confusing to some voters.  The State Core Curriculum Standards are minimum educational requirements for all the state’s school districts.  Most of New Jersey’s high performing districts, including Glen Ridge, have adopted graduation requirements that exceed those mandated by the state, and because of that our schools offer programs and services that go beyond the Core Curriculum Content standards.  We believe that our current requirements meet the expectations of the community and prepare our students for higher education and future employment in the highly competitive global workplace of the 21^st century.  It is important to remember that we maintain our excellent educational program at a per pupil cost below the state average and well below those of comparable districts.  High property taxes are directly related to low levels of state aid, not high educational standards.

            It is equally important to note that the state is in the process of revising its Core Curriculum Content standards and minimum graduation requirements to make them more rigorous.  What the state deems “additional” today may well be required next year.

            If you have any questions, please send them to budget@glenridge.org or call the Board Office at (973) 743-0729.  Information on this year’s budget is available at http://www.glenridge.org.