Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

 
     GSCS FYI
     1-24-11 GSCSS Testimony before Assembly Education Committee: Charter School Reform
     1-24-11 GSCS Testimony on Charter School Reform before Assembly Eduction Committee today
     12-8-10 Education & Related Issues in the News - Tenure Reform, Sup't Salary Caps Reactions, Property Valuations Inflated
     8-18-10 Property Tax Cap v. Prior Negotiated Agreements a Big Problem for Schools and Communities
     7-18-10 Troublesome sign of the times? Read article on the growing trend for education foundations - the pressure to provide what the state no longer supports for education...California's Proposition 13 cited
     3-4-10 GSCS Email-Net: Summit @ Summit Report - A New Day in Trenton?
     3-3-10 'Public Education in N.J.: Acting NJ Comm of Educ Bret Schundler says 'Opportunity'
     3-4-10 'NJ education chief Bret Schundler tells suburban schools to expect more cuts in aid'
     MARK YOUR CALENDARS! GSCS GENERAL MEMBERSHIP-STATEWIDE MEETING 'THE SUMMIT AT SUMMIT', TUESDAY MARCH 2, 7:30 p.m., Details to follow
     GSCS at TRI-DISTRICT MEETING IN MONMOUTH COUNTY January 27
     GSCS to speak at Tri-District 'Open' meeting in Monmouth on January 27
     7-16-08 Schools Testing measures adopted; Test scoring upgraded - harder to pass
     CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR SCHOOLS? YOU ARE INVITED-GSCS General Membership Open Meeting Leonia Feb 25 7 pm
     8-27-08 SAT analysis reported by College Boards
     11-6-07 GSCS Parent Advocates help clarify election issues...the Millburn Example
     GSCS 'NOV 6th LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS 'ADVOCACY PACKET
     Nov 2006 Special Aid loss to districts if aid were based on current ability-to-pay formula
     5-16-07 Education Week 'Frustration Builds in NJ Funding Debate'
     SCHOOL ELECTIONS - A PUBLIC'S CHOICE....for ITS PUBLIC VOICE
     4-3-07 Governor Corzine signs A1 and A4 today at the War Memorial
     2-20-07 GSCS member Fair Haven holds school funding forum tonight
     2-15-07 'Parents get boost on special ed rights' Star Ledger
     2-12-07 State School Aid - needed to offset property taxes now
     2-9-07 GSCS EMAILNET MEMBER FYI on Trenton legislation Action
     2-7-07 School funding, school audits - need for new formula underscored
     2-2-07 Grassroots letter to editor & communications message to Trenton re S19 'Super' County Supt and S20 Tax Caps bills
     2-1-07 GSCS Advocacy on bills A1-S20 and A4-S19
     1-31-07 GSCS FYI
     GSCS members submit their well-reasoned thoughts to local newspapers
     Grassroots in Action, recent forums re school aid, property tax squeeze on communities, consolidation issues
     1-9-07 Countywide Pilot Program and County 'Super' Superintendent bills held again yesterday, Jan 22 next probable vote date scheduled for these bills
     1-3-07 GSCS Member ALERT 'County School bills' fastracked again
     1-2-07 GSCS New Year's Resolution
     12-15-06 District 21 letter to GSCS subsequent to S7 & S10 being held
     12-15-06 EMAILNET Bills Held!
     12-13-06 GSCS critique re A4-Roberts - Executive County Supt sections
     12-10-06 Parent Letter to Trenton re CORE Plan
     12-8 & 12-9 News clips on Trenton machinations...
     12-6-07 Sample Parent Advocacy Letter to Trenton
     11-17-06 Letter to members - cites proposal pros & cons, thanks GSCS volunteers
     1-17-06 Asbury Park Press "Viewpoint" comments by parents Kim Newsome & Marianne Kligman
     9-21-05 Comments from "Parents in Trenton" Press Conference
     11-17-06 PARENT ADVOCACY INFO PACKET
     11-17-06 News Clips - Trenton Proposals
     11-16-06 Property Tax Proposal news articles
     11-15-06 The Special Session Jt Committee Reports
     11-15-06 Spec Session Proposals - What GSCS is hearing & what's being said
     11-11-06 EMAILNET Special Session Legislative Committees report Nov. 14 or 15
     11-2-06 GSCS Parent Press Conference Coverage
     11-1-06 Press Conference packet
     GSCS PARENTS' Press Conference at the Statehouse set for November 1, 11:00 a.m.
     10-31-06 PRESS ADVISORY
     DIRECTIONS to Statehouse
     SPECIAL SESSION ADVOCACY TIPS
     DIRECTIONS
     Parent & Member Information Packet on Special Session
     October 2006 Quality Education At Risk
     GSCS Key Message Points re Special Session & School Funding
     GSCS Press Conf at theStatehouse set for November 1, 11:00 a.m.
     Parents: For information on the Special Session on Property Tax Reform
     6-22-06 GSCS Parent Coordinator Letter to the Editor
     3-9-06 Governor speaks to S1701 at town meeting
     EMAILNET 3-9-06 to South Jersey districts
     COFFEE a coalition of families for excellent education
     1-29-06 Asbury Park Press Sunday Front Page Right
     Posted 1-17-06 December 2005 article from the NewsTranscript of Monmouth County
     12-16-05 EMAILNET
     1-12-06 Asbury Park Press letter to the editor
     12-12-05 EMAILNET Bills move out of Assembly Education Committee
     Summit Parent Nora Radest on Statehouse Steps Delivering letters re S1701
     12-2-05 Hopewell Valley letter to Senate Education Committee Chair Shirley Turner re: school budget amendment bills & S1701
     Madison parents and Morris County Outreach Efforts on S1701 Amendment legislation 11-28-05
     Parent Network FYI re EMAILNET 11-28-05 on S1701
     11-15-05 EMAILNET
     S1701 EMAILNET Alert 11-28-05
     Parent Letter to Senate Education Committee Chair on S1701 and request to move amendment legislation
     Parent letter to legislators on S1701 and 'stalled status of amendment bills S2329 and S2278'
     10-14-05 EMAILNET Parent question for Gubernatorial Candidates aired on 101.5 debate, SCC funds, Next Board meeting, press briefing notes
     People are asking: How does the GSCS Parent Network 'work'?
     MANY HAVE ASKED; How does the GSCS Parent Network 'work'?: Grassroots, yet coordinated, with the help of GSCS - See this 9-30-05 Candace Mueller, past GSCS Parent Network Coordinator, letter reaches out to Ewing district parents
     9-21-05 Comments from
     new file
     See 9-21-05 Press Conference Program
     THANK YOU - OVER 100 PARENTS SHOWED UP TODAY IN TRENTON at the Parents in Trenton Press Conference
     PARENTS IN TRENTON PRESS ADVISORY & INFO & LOGISTICS
     PARENTS IN TRENTON PRESS ADVISORY & INFO
     FYI Parents in Trenton Press Conference 9-21-05
     PARENTS IN TRENTON PRESS CONFERENCE INVITATION
     NJ State Public Information: How to Locate
     A Parent Call to Action To Amend S1701 & Pursue Quality Public Education for All Children
     Parent Network Sign Up Cover Letter
     Parent Network FYI 1-27-05
     2004 Archives
12-12-05 EMAILNET Bills move out of Assembly Education Committee
and, On the Home Page Today

GARDEN STATE COALITION OF SCHOOLS/EMAILNET 12-12-05

www.gscschools.org                                  gscs2000@gmail.com

 

GSCS quick fact:

 

ü       CANCELLED -  Board of Trustees meeting Wednesday, Dec. 14, 4 p.m. Next Board meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 1/11/06 at East Brunswick, 4 p.m. We will continue the Board’s invitation to the Star Ledger reporters to join us then.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PASSED UNANIMOUSLY by ASSEMBLY EDUCATION COMM. 12/8/05

          (See related articles below and at www.gscschools.org )

·         A2669/Watson Coleman & Chivukula [companion S1553 /Adler] Eliminates various mandates imposed on public school districts.

·         A COMBINED BILL OF A4577 AND A4599: The combined bill addresses the caps for heating costs [defined as “natural gas, oil, gasoline, and diesel fuel]; the combined bill dropped the proposed increase in allowable surplus however.

 

GSCS supported all the above bills at the hearing as did the entire education community; in addition we thank GSCS members Dr. James O’Neill, Chatham, and Dr. David Abbot, Marlboro, for their time and thoughtful testimonies they presented at the hearing in support of the cap waiver bills. We also thank Richard Snyder, Ramsey, for his testimony calling for the passage of A2669.

 

The next steps: GSCS urges the Senate to move on these bills quickly to underscore its recognition of the need for relief.

____________________________________________________________

 

ON THE HOME PAGE TODAY…..

On 'Star Ledger Live" at NJ.COM, 12-8-05
Assembly panel to hear from educators today Rising fuel and heating costs are expected to be subject of a state Assembly hearing this afternoon, as school officials argue for bills that would ease the state's spending restrictions in the wake of the high energy costs.

The Assembly's education committee is considering bills that could exempt some utility costs from the controversial spending caps passed two years ago under former Gov. Jim McGreevey. School districts have been critical of the rules, saying they place unrealistic limits on their budgets and will surely force cuts in programs and staffing.

So far, the legislature has resisted easing the rules, but school lobbyists hope the pressures of escalating utility costs will provide schools the first relief from the restrictions. Districts have reported as much as $300,000 in additional and unexpected costs due to rising fuel and heating prices.

"The unpredictable rising utility cost issue is a good example of what can happen where the entire budgeted is legislated," said Lynne Strickland, a lobbyist for suburban districts.

12-10-05 Star Ledger Schools might get heating help as bill gains on spending caps
Faced with an unexpected increase in energy costs, New Jersey school districts could get a break from the state's controversial spending limits to help them pay their utility bills.

12-8-05 Asbury Park Press “Mom takes up the torch for school funding”
Lynne Strickland, executive director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, which opposes the new law, called Newsome a great organizer and spokeswoman for the cause. "Kim is a committed and motivated advocate, who has been of real value to the coalition and has really joined in our effort," Strickland says.”