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
PARENTS IN TRENTON PRESS ADVISORY & INFO & LOGISTICS

PARENTS IN TRENTON PRESS ADVISORY & INFO
Check out the Why's and What's of the GSCS Parents' Press Conference: Sept 21, 11:30 a.m. Committee Room One Statehouse Annex.

9-16-05 Press Advisory…..

 

Contact GSCS Executive Director Lynne Strickland

                                         732 618 5755; 609 394 2828   

 

Wed., Sep't. 21, 11:30, Committee Room 1, Statehouse Annex

 

Parents Come Together to Publicize Consequences of S-1701, ‘Helter-Skelter’ School Funding Standards

 

Press conference to highlight urgent call for realistic solutions on property taxes and education funding reform

 

Invited guests: Jon Corzine, Doug Forrester (confirmed); Legislative leadership

 

 On September 21st, parents from across the state will meet in Trenton for a press conference sponsored by the Garden State Coalition of Schools Parent Network (GSPN).  The event is being held to focus legislators’ attention on the real costs of ignoring the current crisis in education funding.  S-1701 is only the tip of the iceberg that threatens to sink educational quality in New Jersey and increase the already astronomical property taxes.  In the past year alone S-1701 and other misguided legislatives acts have caused:

 

·         Record property tax increases.  These have already occurred because school districts are allowed to keep only 2% surplus “rainy day money.”  With little surplus to fall back on, districts are forced budget conservatively so that they are not caught short when cold winters, unexpected expenses and other fluctuating costs are higher than normal.  

  • Programs are being cut, teacher contracts have become more difficult to negotiate and class sizes are increasing—all because of the limitations and inflexibility of S1701.
  • The CEIFA school aid formula is effectively defunct.  Over the last four years funding to a significant number of regular operating school districts has increased only once and only by 3%.  Increases in many other districts have not even kept pace with the cost of living.  With enrollments and costs rising, this means a negative in per pupil spending in many of the state’s regular operating districts.
  • Low surpluses have made bond rating agencies lower districts’ ratings.  It has already happened in Chatham and will happen in other districts as they put bond referendums to local voters.  Lower bond ratings mean that the cost of borrowing money for needed school expansions will be higher.  This in turn causes higher property taxes!
  • Loss of home rule is beginning: Trenton now starting to dictate class sizes.

 

With many communities paying up to 95% or more of their school budgets through property taxes, Trenton’s ill-conceived education funding “reforms” are breaking the backs of local taxpayers, while threatening the quality of education in every one of the state’s 500+ regular education districts.  Show your support for real education funding and property tax reform by attending the Press Conference on September 21.  Bring other parents and get the word out.  For details go to www.gscschools.org.

 

GSCS—Public Support for Public Education

___________________________

 

LOGISTICS:

 

GARDEN STATE COALITION OF SCHOOLS/GSCS

 

STATEHOUSE LOGISTICS/NOTES for 9- 21 Parent Press Conference

 

 

Cell phone contacts: GSCS -  Lynne Strickland 732 618 5755 ; Cyndy Wulfsberg

                               GSPN – Kim Newsome/Parent Regional Rep. 732 614 1085

 

GATHER IN STATEHOUSE CAFETERIA BY 11 .a.m.

 

PRESS CONFERENCE BEGINS AT 11:30 Committee Rm. #1, Statehouse Annex

 

Parking: Cars/back lot behind statehouse

 

                Buses/State Street in front of Annex on West State Street/state police will direct

                buses if need be.

 

Use 3 entrances to Statehouse if possible, less back log re: security and signing in. You will need picture ID for security checks – this is standard Statehouse operating procedure.

  

              1} Front Door entrance to main Statehouse at WestState Street [metered parking]

              2)  Parking lot the Statehouse, enter from Memorial Drive exit of Rt  129

              3)  Front Door to Annex at  West State Street [metered parking,except for buses]

 

Cafeteria (Café NJ) is located off of long hallway that connects the Statehouse to the Annex; ask the guards for direction to the cafeteria, or review statehouse website for more information..

 

Restrooms are located [1] opposite Committee Room One in the Annex; on the first floor [this is actually up a few steps, just right of the elevators and on right side of the security desk], [2] past the front hallway of Governors’ offices, on the left side opposite the stairwell, [3] at the entrance level from the parking lot that is at the backside of the Statehouse/left side of hallway past security. There are additional rest rooms throughout the buildings.

 

More questions? Please call GSCS at 609 394 2828 and leave message/thank you.