Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

 
     9-27-09 Education News of Note
     8-22-08 School Construction Guidelines Released
     6-25-08 'State to borrow 3.9B for school construction'
     6-24-08 State Budget passed yesterday, as did the School Construction, Pension Reform, and Affordable Housing bills
     6-23-08 A2873-S1457 School Construction bills up for vote today, along with State Budget FY09
     6-20-08 State Budget stalls, school construction is one obstacle
     6-18-08 School Construction bill is before Senate Budget & Approps Comm tomorrow - GSCS is tracking the issue
     8-8-07 Editorial 'School [construction] program needs more than a facelift'
     8-7-07 'State rebuilds school construction program'
     School Construction: Third Report to Governor by Interagency Working Group
     9-15-06 Star Ledger & AP - 3.25B suggested for school construction
     9-15-06 Star Ledger - 3.25B suggested for school construction
     August 2006 District Resolution for School Construction Aid
     School Construction Symposium July 27, 2006 for Regular Operating Districs [Non Abbotts]
     10-14-05 EMAILNET Parent question for Gubernatorial Candidates aired on 101.5 debate, SCC funds, Next Board meeting, press briefing notes
     9-29-05 EMAILNET School Construction Issues
     7-29-05 EMAILNET
     3-15-06 Report to Gov re school construction Interagency WorkingGroup
     3-15-06 NY Times 'Crisis at School Agency Reflects Missteps'
     3-10-06 New Management at School Construction Corp
     3-8-06 Gannet Press on Buildling Our Children's Future coalition
     3-4-06 Star Ledger SCC Agency chief puts burden on districts
     3-4-06 Gannett - SCC chief says Abbott districts may have to 'ante up'
     List - Regular Operating Districts waiting State Share Payments confirmation for school construction
     GSCS 10-3-05 School Construction Testimony before the Joint Comm. on Public Schools
     Legislators Assail School Building Agency at Hearing
     Dept Ed Directive 7-6-05: School Construction Sec 15 Grant Funding for more than 450 districts questionable
     2-14-06 TrentonTimes Letter to the Editor on school construction
     2-9-06 Star Ledger School agency reformers discuss goals, problems
     1-15-06 The Record 2 Sunday Articles anticipating top issues confronting the Corzine administration
     12-21-05 Inspector General's Report on the School Construction Corporation
     12-20-05 Star Ledger on NJ Supreme Court decision on stalled school construction
     12-20-05 The Record 'Where Will the Bills End?' NJ Supreme Court releases its opinion on stalled school construction program.
     12-15-05 Star Ledger School bond plans get resounding 'no'
     11-13-05 Star Ledger Sunday front page 'Blueprint for 6 Billion Dollar Boondagle
     9-29-05 Star Ledger 'NJ in hole for 53M after vote on school funds promised for construction
     EMAILNET 6-10-05 School Construction Funding Heads Up!
     Tuesday's School Construction Bond Referenda: Some facts
     School Construction aid entitlements Abbott (pdf)
     School Construction aid entitlements 55% and over Districts (pdf)
     School construction aid entitlement districts 40% to 55% (pdf)
     Debt Service v State Share 0 to 40 Districts, before and after Ch. 72 PL2000 law(pdf)
     School Construction Sec 15 Grant Funding in Question - DOE Directive 7-6-05
     school Construction DOE Directive 7-6-05
12-15-05 Star Ledger School bond plans get resounding 'no'
With fiscal outlook grim, just 7 of 19 funding plans win approval...The school building bubble appears to have burst in much of New Jersey. Due to a combination of the state's school funding morass and more local concerns, New Jersey voters -- or at least the few who braved the cold -- backed just seven out of 19 school building proposals on Tuesday, the lowest approval rate since 2001.

School bond plans get resounding 'no'

With fiscal outlook grim, just 7 of 19 funding plans win approval
Thursday, December 15, 2005
BY JOHN MOONEY
Star-Ledger Staff

The school building bubble appears to have burst in much of New Jersey.

Due to a combination of the state's school funding morass and more local concerns, New Jersey voters -- or at least the few who braved the cold -- backed just seven out of 19 school building proposals on Tuesday, the lowest approval rate since 2001.

The referendums ended a rough year for the suburban districts, with fewer than 60 percent of the 89 school building proposals overall winning approval. That's the lowest annual rate since 1999. The average of the five previous years was nearly 75 percent.

Much of the blame was placed on the state's fiscal condition, especially the ongoing troubles at the Schools Construction Corp., the agency under fire for spending down the mammoth $8.6 billion school construction program.

The SCC has said funds for new projects no longer are available. Along with the state's own deficit and escalating property taxes, one school leader called it a "perfect storm" of forces working against districts.

"Without a solution that appears imminent, it's dark days," said Edwina Lee, executive director of the New Jersey School Boards Association. "We're expected to have the public's trust, and the trust is running a little low right now."

The losses Tuesday were across the board, among the affluent and working class alike. Sussex County didn't see a single referendum win approval all year, including those at High Point Regional, Vernon and Sussex-Wantage on Tuesday.

As the tallies arrived, the feeling at the Sussex County Board of Elections on Tuesday night was that residents fed up with rising taxes were taking it out on the one place they get to vote directly on spending -- the schools.

"I have never seen such consistency (in opposition)," said Sussex County Board of Elections Commissioner Nick Lally, a former member of the Green Township school board.

Several of the rejections were for funds to complete work that had started and had been approved. Kinnelon was getting to its high school after it had won approval of $21 million in elementary and middle school projects. Franklin needed another $7 million to finish work at its high school.

Belleville had the highest-priced project of the day, a $55.8 million proposal for renovations and additions to several schools and the replacement of the 102-year-old School No. 4.

But like in many communities, it was up against a tide of discontent, including from older residents already under the strain of property taxes.

"We did our share of paying for the schools," said resident Edith DeFeo, who voted against the Belleville measure. "I'm paying for everybody else's children, and I am on a fixed income. We can't afford to pay for everyone."

Following is a roundup of Tuesday's votes by county:

  • BERGEN:

    Englewood Cliffs: Approved renovations to two schools: $4,529,911

  • BURLINGTON:

    Chesterfield Township: Rejected one new school and renovations to another: $19,558,778

    Hainesport Township: Rejected a school addition and other repairs and renovations: $23,916,033

  • CUMBERLAND:

    Downe Township: Rejected a school addition: $1,234,589

  • ESSEX:

    Belleville: Rejected a new school, high school additions and renovations and ventilation repairs at six other schools: $55,776,244

    Livingston: Approved high school additions and renovations: $51,521,069

    Millburn Township: Rejected additions and renovations for high and middle schools: $40,271,000

  • GLOUCESTER:

    Swedesboro-Woolwich: Approved a new elementary school: $31,875,000

  • MIDDLESEX:

    North Brunswick Township: Approved the completion of a high school: $7,391,802

  • MONMOUTH:

    Avon: Approved an elementary school addition and renovations: $7,200,721

    Freehold Borough: Rejected new and renovated classrooms: $7,797,911

    Neptune City: Approved renovations and additions to two elementary schools: $10,122,543 (the total of two questions)

  • MORRIS:

    East Hanover Township: Rejected an elementary school addition and renovations: $2,000,000

    Kinnelon: Rejected a high school addition and renovations and a reconstructed high school athletic field: $14,013,067 (the total of three questions)

  • SOMERSET:

    Franklin Township: Rejected a high school completion, including stadium: $7,911,000

  • SUSSEX:

    High Point Regional: Rejected high school additions and renovations, including work to the auditorium and wood shop: $10,239,858 (the total of two questions)

    Sussex-Wantage: Rejected renovations and additions to elementary and middle schools: $20,000,000 (the total of two questions)

    Vernon Township: Rejected renovations to three schools: $13,267,900

  • UNION:

    Berkeley Heights: Approved renovations to six schools: $24,614,147; rejected new field turf and tennis courts at the high school: $679,879.

    John Mooney covers education and may be reached at jmooney@starledger.com, or (973) 392-1548. Staff writers Kasi Addison, Kristen Alloway, Sara Clarke and Jim Lockwood contributed to this report.

  •