RB Schools Superintendent

Blames Resignation on S-1701

In a letter circulated to members of the Red Bank Borough Board of Education and the school's business administrator and the boards' secretary, Krewer stated that he was retiring because of the greater strain put on him and the school by S-1701, a statewide law that effectively gives the state Department of Education unprecedented control over individual school budgets. Red Bank's public schools are also feeling the strain, Krewer said, because of the annual transfer payment of $1.59M local tax dollars.

that public schools have to make to the Red Bank Charter School... We could accomodate all of those 150 plus children here for about $600K.

Over the last two years, Krewer said, they have had to let approximately 20 staff members go from both the primary and middle schools, including one of the district's two librarians and a computer teacher. They've also had to cut the district's nursery school program which served Red Bank's three-year-olds in a half day program.

"We've had to cut all of those programs to protect class size, a key component to quality learning," Krewer said. "Where we are now is a critical moment. In 2006 and 2007, you're looking at another series of critical reductions, dealing with S1701 ...[and the charter school transfer payment...].We're

clearly in a reduction mode. For a district that [has been] getting great results for kids here thanks to the hard work of the staff, we end up losing those staff and positions, not based upon their performance...

By continuing to struggle through, Krewer said, you're continuing on the path of reduced resources, programs and learning opportunities for kids, and you want to make the greatest difference for children that you possibly can, and the ability to make that happen is significantly reduced through

S-1701 and the transfer payment...It's a very difficult position to be in, especially when you are bringing in great staff, real performers, and needing to reduce. That's very painful and difficult, obviously for the staff but equally for the administration, and these are the conditions that prompted my    p2 decision.

With S-1701… many of the main expense areas are growing faster that that [its cap of 2.5% or CPI, whichever is greater]. For school districts like Red Bank, where you have about 80 percent of the students on the reduced or free lunch program and a very rapidly growing Hispanic student population, currently at about 66 percent, schools need extra resources to meet those needs and the meet the goals required by No Child Left Behind….

"I think that was incredibly unsatisfying for Dr. Krewer," W. David Tarver, a board member said. "To put a draconian cap, like the one imposed by S-1701, on all schools…I think is just dumb...”

*Thanks to NJSBA.org website from which the bulk of this information is excerpted, see ‘www.njsba.org’ for more Q&A.

For more election information, visit www.politicsnj.com  for news articles, polls & questions, commentators remarks, more.

1) S1701…I generally support spending caps at all levels of government, but it is clear that S-1701 has had some unintended, and at times negative, consequences that were not anticipated.  In their haste, Governor McGreevey and the legislature enacted a bill that forces surpluses to be spent down artificially for short term relief that will be met later with possible downgrades in credit ratings.  This means a law was passed in the name of fiscal responsibility that will actually have the perverse effect of increasing the cost to local taxpayers of building or renovating schools every time they need to borrow money.  As Governor I would make it a priority to review the impact of S-1701. I would invite schools and parents to be full participants in this review process.  

Senator Jon Corzine on …

1) S1701….we have to ensure that our cap laws fairly and effectively control costs while allowing us to maintain educational quality. I have already heard from school board members and others about some of the problems created by the current school district cap law. I will work with the School Boards Association and other stakeholders to make the law work better. Also, my health care plan will help to control escalating health-care costs while improving quality and access, and this should help reduce cost pressures for school districts. My opponent has no health-care plan. Further, I am committed to making sure that the state does not impose additional unfunded mandates on local public schools and that we continue to review and repeal laws and regulations that impose additional, unfunded costs.

2) School Funding Formula/State Aid  

2a. Considering that our state has not used its school funding formula for the past five years, would you propose the adoption of a new formula? Please explain the reasons for your response.

2b. How should New Jersey ensure that its school finance system is fair, predictable and adequate?

I believe in the principle that a child’s zip code should not determine the quality of their education. I do think we need to review the funding formula. There have been many economic and demographic changes over the last several years, and the simple fact is that there are many students in non-Abbott districts with needs comparable to students in Abbott districts who just aren’t getting adequate funding. Also, the old policies of tax, borrow, and spend at the state level have served to shortchange school districts throughout the state, and it’s unacceptable when our schoolchildren fall victim to those failed policies. I will replace those failed policies with a strategy of invest, grow, and prosper. This way, we can create thousands of new jobs that will yield hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenues without new taxes, revenues we can use to improve our schools throughout the state.

But no matter what type of school funding formula is used, we must make sure the money gets to the children. Still, spending money is not a measure of success – the only measure that matters is whether our children are learning and getting every opportunity to succeed in life, and as Governor I will remain focused on that goal.

Doug Forrester on…                              p3

2) School Funding Formula/State Aid 

2a. Considering that our state has not used its school funding formula for the past five years, would you propose the adoption of a new formula? Please explain the reasons for your response.

New Jersey needs a coherent education policy – school districts need to be able to trust that the state will be consistent and reliable when it comes to state funding. The complexities of the current formula of school funding need to be thoroughly reviewed for fairness and consistency.

As noted above, 30%-in-3 is a form of state aid to local governments, including schools, by ensuring the state provides at least 30% of the funds that would otherwise be due the school district (and other local government districts) by residential property taxpayers. The aid is reflected as a tax credit on residents' bills. The program would be constitutionally established so the Legislature could not avoid making these contributions to each local government district.

2b. How should New Jersey ensure that its school finance system is fair, predictable, and adequate?

The 30%-in-3 plan will provide a constitutionally guaranteed amount of State contribution to local governments, including schools, for the first time. It is a strong step toward correcting an imbalance where many schools are left with little or no aid.