School aid, budget dominate forum

HIGHTSTOWN -- The voter-rejected school budget and criticism of how the state doles out school aid were the main topics of a forum at Hightstown High School organized by East Windsor Regional School District Superintendent Ronald Bolandi.

A near capacity crowd gathered in Hightstown High School's auditorium Monday night to express discontent and hear school and political leaders echo their complaints.

In the eyes of one East Windsor resident, Brad Sherwin, "This is a taxpayer's revolt. The only people I know who can run like this (are) the state and Donald Trump."

Bolandi said the state's failure to increase aid and the voters' rejection of the school budget for the third year in a row has kept the district from providing all the money needed to run special education, English as a second language (ESL) classes and programs for gifted and talented students.

In April, township residents voted down a school budget of $52.9 million that would have forced property taxes up another 24 cents per $100 of assessed value in East Windsor and 15 cents in Hightstown.

State Sen. Ellen Karcher, D-Marlboro, whose district includes Hightstown and East Windsor, said, "The burden of property taxes is a tough issue" that has created an increase in the number of homes up for sale in the area.

Bolandi said, "For the last five years, we've lost approximately $10 million in state aid. If we had that $10 million, we probably would not be sitting here tonight."

He was particularly vocal about state aid going to the state's 31 poorest school districts, known as "Abbott districts." Trenton, Pemberton Township and Burlington City are among the 31.

He said the local district's scores in state-administered tests have gone up but the Abbott districts have shown minimal increases in test scores.

Assemblyman Michael Panter, D-Shrewsbury, said, "We can't let those (Abbott districts) kids fall through the cracks, (but) the pendulum has swung too far. The Abbott funding system is unfair to East Windsor, Hightstown and the bulk of suburban New Jersey."

"While you are flat-funded, the Abbott districts are getting an additional $300 million of Jon Corzine's budget," Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck, R-Red Bank, said. "The 31 Abbott districts absorb nearly 60 percent of all state aid."

Kreps Middle School teacher Patricia Winthrop said she received $81 for classroom supplies this year and had to use her own money to get what she needed.

Panter said New Jersey ranks 43rd in the nation in terms of money that reaches the classroom.

Beck said she has introduced numerous bills seeking to alter Abbott school funding and eliminate the 11 schools that no longer qualify as Abbotts. The bills are now in committee.

"Once you're an Abbott, you're always an Abbott," Beck said. "My proposal is that every three years, we go back and revisit those that were determined Abbotts and confirm they are still qualified."

Karcher said some senators are working on a new formula to allow for greater equity in school funding but proposed amendments are stalled.