Njspotlight.com ‘Newark and Glen Ridge: Different Routes, Same Road’

Star Ledger ‘N.J. ranks high in Kids Count survey for children's health, education’
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7-23 & 24-10 In the News: Salary caps
The Record, 7-24-10, ‘NJ governor speeds up salary cap for school district chiefs’ (GSCS quoted)

Njspotlight.com ‘Cap on Superintendent Salaries Could Be in Place Soon’ Schundler tells county officials to start imposing new limits immediately

GSCS Take: GSCS's prime mission is for high quality public education for New Jersey's students. The abruptness of these policy changes, lack of public input and public analyses of their consequences, however, is a great worry to our members, our parents.
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7-22-10 'Summer school falls victim to budget cuts in many suburban towns'
Press of Atlantic City 'Summer school falls victim to budget cuts in many suburban towns, but federal funds keep Atlantic City schools open'

...“This absolutely is a problem,” said Lynne Strickland, director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools. “With the budget cuts, districts just don’t have much flexibility anymore in how they spend their money. Programs are being curtailed and it all happened very fast. We really need to be careful not to let these children fall through the cracks...”
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7-21-10 List of bills in Governor's 'Toolkit'
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7-21-10 In the News: Abbott v Burke; QSAC monitoring & district scores; Explanation of how the budget deficit for FY12 is projected
njspotlight.com (2) articles -'School Monitoring System Issues Grades -QSAC’s three-year review results in hard numbers for 576 districts (Find your disstrict's scores) across the state'"...But overall, the state’s schools did pretty well by the QSAC’s count, with nearly three-quarters of all districts deemed “high performing” for attaining at least 80 percent in all five areas, the equivalent of a B or better.Whether these criteria make for a good school system is a matter of judgment. But if nothing else, it looks like most of them are at least doing what they’re told."

'Another Administration, Another Abbott v. Burke Battle' The Education Law Center takes its epic legal battle to the Christie camp, arguing that school budget cuts are unconstitutional...New Jersey’s Supreme Court has yet to say when or even if it will hear the motion, but the next round of the epic Abbott v. Burke school equity case is already being fought on paper in legal briefs filed with the court..."

Daily Quickie, 07.21.10 - Gannett "...It’ll cost municipalities and counties in the health plan about 12% more and schools about 6% more; those costs are outside of the property tax cap.

How the $10.5B projected deficit is tallied...It’s the annual academic exercise about how deep a hole the state is facing, presuming it fully funds all of its obligations as written in current law. The state never does fully fund those obligations. It’s been years since it has made a full pension payment. Property tax rebates haven’t been fully funded in almost a decade. The school aid formula is perennially underfunded.
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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
Press of Atlantic City ‘Charitable foundations fill in budget gaps for New Jersey schools’ "...Founded to provide scholarships, small teacher project grants, and “extras” not included in the budget, public school foundations are becoming increasingly vital to maintaining educational services. As the recession persists, and state funds for schools remain tight, foundations are growing more like their college counterparts in making significant financial contributions to their schools...

“We are starting to see this statewide because of the extreme budget cuts,” said Marcia Fleres Smith, director of the New Jersey Education Foundation Partnership, which has about 70 members and is growing. “ ...But each foundation (board) is asking just how much can they do, or should do.”

...The Stafford Township Education Foundation in southern Ocean County is one of New Jersey’s most ambitious education foundations. The group manages the district’s Performing Arts Center, preschool, after-school and summer programs, operating with a budget approaching $1.5 million a year, a small amount when compared with the district’s $36 million budget, but huge compared with most foundations.

...In a process that is very similar to New Jersey’s current fiscal crisis and proposed budget caps, Collogan cited California’s Proposition 13 law passed in 1978 as jump-starting the foundation trend there because it limited what could be raised in taxes. Lynne Strickland, executive director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, said for suburban districts that receive limited state aid it is good to have an alternative source of funds from a group organized and supported by parents and the community. But she worries that funds that begin as an enhancement to the school could become an annual expectation, putting tremendous pressure on fundraising. “Given the choice of no funding, or no programs, this is an alternative,” she said. “But if the board comes to rely on it as steady revenue, then questions should be raised.” She said fairness can also be an issue, since not all districts will be able to raise substantial sums of money..."
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7-16-10 GSCS Information & Comments - S29 Property Tax Cap Law and Proposal to Reduce Superintendent salaries ....
The most major policy decision to impact public education school finance in recent history was struck with the Governor's signature Tuesday on the 2% property tax cap bill. Two days later, the Governor and Commissioner of Education Bret Schundler announced a new cap system on current school superintendent and other high level administrators (Non-tenured Asst. Supt's. and Business Administrators, e.g.)salaries, that could reduce their current salaries of about 70% of today's superintendents and the plan could be in place by December 20th of this year. Legislation is not required to effect this restructure; public hearings do have to be held by the Department of Education. GSCS's prime mission is for high quality public education for New Jersey's students. The abruptness of these policy changes, lack of public input and public analyses of their consequences, however, is a great worry to our members, our parents. An ever-diminishing pool of applicant's for the position of superintendent in New Jersey is predictable and leadership at the local level requires experienced administrators more than ever, especially given deep aid cutbacks on all districts,major layoffs & program cancellations coupled with the onset of hard cap 2% on property taxes staring this fiscal years. And,suburban districts are the hardest hit. To transition during these severe fiscal times and be able to maintain quality education is our member districts' most important and necessary goal; to lose knowledgeable leadership at this time cannot help but destablize our schools when stability is more needed than ever. GSCS is concerend that this proposal is preciptous and that the potential negative consequences for quality education are probable and all too real. Click here to find crib sheet information on S29, the new property tax cap law, and the superintendent cap proposal.
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Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee Agenda, Monday 7-19-10
The agenda is has bills that impact education, click here to read
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7-15 & 16 -10 'Caps - PLURAL!' in the news
Njspotlight.com 7-15-10 ‘Questions Come in Bunches on First Day of Cap’ - Reporting from concerns expressed at the GSCS Board of Trusgess Meeting this Wednesay: "Convert to charter? Send students to Utah? Write to the Governor? School leaders across NJ contemplate new educational environment"

7-16-10 Phila Inquirer ‘Christie targets salaries of school superintendents’

7-16-10 Njspotlight.com ‘Another Cap from Christie, This Time for School Superintendents’

7-16-10 Star Ledger ‘Gov. Christie reveals plans to limit N.J. superintendents' salaries, base pay on merit pay’

7-16-10 Asbury Park Press/Gannett ‘Christie seeks cap on school leaders' salaries’
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7-13-10 In the News - ' No Budget Vote at or under cap, with Cap 2.0? also - Privatizing Preschool Task Force Recommendation
Njspotlight.com July 12,13 2010 articles – ‘Will Cap 2.0 Make School Budget Votes Obsolete?‘ ‘Privatize Preschool Education, Administration Argues’
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7-12-10 Assembly passes S29 - the 2% cap bill - 73 to 4, with 3 not voting
On the floor Assemblman John McKeon spoke of the need to address special education costs, and items that were not placed outside the cap such as contractual agreements in current effect. However, at this point, no legislation has yet been introduced to deal with these issues. This legislation will now go to the Governor for his signature which will make it law. Governor Chrisite is expected to sign S29 tomorrow.
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GSCS - High costs of Special Education must be addressed asap, & appropriately
Nj.com ‘N.J. Assembly passes bill lowering property tax cap to 2 percent’ Monday, July 12, 2010, 1:01 PM Updated: Monday, July 12, 2010, 1:04 PM

"TRENTON — The state Assembly today passed a compromise bill that halves the state’s property tax cap from 4 percent to 2 percent.

7-11-10 Education Issues in the News
Star Ledger Sunday editorial ‘Tax cap makes cutting special education costs an urgent task’

Njspotlight.com - ‘Legislators Consider Cap Exemption for Special Ed Costs’ and, ‘Test Says Three-Quarters of New Jersey School Districts Are Top Performers’

Star Ledger ‘Fragmented N.J. Democrats struggle to find leadership, unity with elections approaching’

‘Test Says Three-Quarters of New Jersey School Districts Are Top Performers’
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7-9-10 In the News today
Politickernj.com ‘Assembly to vote Monday on 2.0%

The Record ‘N.J. Assembly to take up tax cap compromise Monday’

Njspotlight.com ‘Legislators Consider Cap Exemption for Special Ed Costs’

Star Ledger ‘Two N.J. senators must be physically separated during heated school funding debate’

The Record ‘N.J. Assembly to take up tax cap compromise Monday’
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7-8-10 Senate passes S29, with Governor's Conditional Veto incorporated, late this morning with a 36-3 vote
The conditional veto is not published on line yet, but when it is, GSCS will upload it asap. The differences in the conditional veto that modify S29 as currently printed are: 1)reduce the property tax cap to 2% from 2.9%, and 2)exemptions are health benefits, pension cost increases, spikes in enrollment growth, debt service and unanticipated emergencies (e.g., natural disaster). For this bill to become law, the Assembly has to pass an identical bill, including the conditional veto stipulations. It has been reported that the Assembly will post the bill for a vote early next week, perhaps as soon as this Monday. Click on More below to see bill's history to date.
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7-8-10 Tax Caps, Education in the News
Philadelphia Inquirer ‘Assembly hears pleas against property-tax cap’ "...Budget Committee heard testimony from representatives of towns, schools [ NJ Council of County Vo-Techs, GSCS, NJSBA,NJ Principals & Supervisos, NJEA) and public employees who repeatedly questioned the effectiveness of the 2 percent cap agreement reached Saturday by Gov. Christie and legislative leaders...School representatives and lawmakers also expressed concern over how districts would be impacted if the rising cost of educating special-needs students was eliminated as criteria for a tax-cap exemption..."

Wall Street Journal ‘A Modest Proposal in Glen Ridge’ "When the nine Glen Ridge, N.J., school board members hold their annual retreat later this month, they plan to discuss a radical notion: Should the district convert itself into charter schools? "It is unusual, but our budget process this year was very difficult," said Elisabeth Ginsburg, the board president, and constituents asked the board to find ways "to become better educationally and more economically sustainable." Such an extreme possibility reflects exasperation among some New Jersey school districts that have been battered by a loss of state aid as Gov. Chris Christie worked to close a state budget gap. Glen Ridge lost all of its $1.2 million in aid for next year, about 5% of its overall budget..."The frustration is at a fever pitch," said Lynne Strickland, executive director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools..."

Gannett/Asbury Park Press ‘New Jersey mayors against property-tax cap voice concerns’ "...Some lawmakers and education groups also are pushing for an exemption for special education costs. If children with significant challenges must be enrolled in special schools, the costs can run more then $100,000 a year for one child..."

The Record ‘Stile: Tax cap lets Christie boast help's on the way’ "...The new property tax cap is dependent on Christie’s 33 thorny, less glamorous "tool kit" bills that are expected to make it easier for town and school officials to manage costs under the new mandate. The bills will also tame the power of public employee unions...Democratic and Republican legislative have vowed to hunker down on those bills over the summer and have expressed confidence of enacting some of those reforms..."
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7-7-10 Good Information: How the 2% cap would work
FAQ: How Gov. Christie's Property Tax Reform Would Work Westfield Patch by John Celock - ‘guide to the proposals pending before the legislature.’ "The historic deal reached this weekend between Gov. Chris Christie and lawmakers over a new 2 percent property tax cap includes several exemptions. And lawmakers will be in session over much of the summer to consider a package of other legislation that could profoundly affect how local governments manage and pay their employees. We've prepared this guide to help you understand the cap, and the proposed legislation. At the bottom, we summarize each of the 33 bills in Christie's proposed "toolkit" for municipal and county governments. The package includes legislation that would change arbitration and pension laws for local governments. Local and school officials have noted that they consider the toolkit necessary to help address the property tax cap..."
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7-7-10 Legislative Schedule today and tomorrow.
Trenton is moving fast to the finish line on the property tax caps legislation agreement reached on Saturday between the Govenor and the Senate President, Steve Sweeney. How the Assembly will play out its role remains to be seen but predictions are that the Assembly Speaker, Sheila Oliver, will eventually concur with the proposal. Today the Assembly Budget Committee meets at noon to continue discussion on property tax caps; tomorrow the Senate meets for a voting session - the only bill posted is the municipal (includes school districts) tax cap bill, S29/Sweeney.

7-6-10 'NJ school districts avoid cuts in special education in budget crisis'
Star-Ledger "...In as dismal a budget year as anyone can remember, with rising costs and steep cuts in state aid, school districts across New Jersey have looked for savings wherever they can find them...But one area that cannot be cut, one line item not up for discussion, is special education, a required offering. At a time of austerity, school officials say, the growing demands of special education are forcing them to slice into general education programs that serve many more students..."
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7-6-10 'Cap 2.0 Would Put Even Tighter Lid on Property Tax Hikes'
njspotlight.com 'Statehouse surprise could prove a tough hit for battered school budget "We’ve been talking about this for a long time, but it’s still kind of shocking and concerning that it happened with this kind of lightening speed without any real public input to speak of," said Lynne Strickland, the long-time lobbyist for suburban districts...."That’s always going to be a concern when making a major policy move like this, that there’s a lot of information out there that hasn’t had a chance to get a hearing," she said..."
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GSCS Initial Concerns Testimony re Property Tax Cap proposals, July 2, 2010
Garden State Coalition of Schools July 2, 2010 submission to the Assembly Budget Committee Comments: New Jersey’s Current Discussion and Agenda for Property Tax Reform

Excerpts from 'GSCS initial concerns'

...Capping property taxes will decidedly impact budget growth, but are the downside effects – without state policy changes in fixed costs – what New Jersey really wants for its public schools?

Costs beyond local control must be reduced and can only be addressed by state policy. Examples of these costs are health care, energy, insurances; and enrollment growth. Enrollment growth is a fact of life and per pupil expenses must not be disregarded in proportion to enrollment growth – certain parameters for exemption can be determined that allow for enrollment increases in a cap structure.

State aid must not only be held steady, but must also increase as costs do annually and as policy, such as special education mandates, require.

Without policy in place that recognizes and deals with basic cost drivers, quality education will undoubtedly be leveled down..."
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7-4 and 5- 10 More on Property Tax Cap
Statehouse Bureau 'Gov. Christie, Senate leaders announce 2 percent property tax cap compromise'

Politickernj.com ‘Deal reached between senate and governor’ and ‘Sources: Cap Deal Done. Oliver not yet on board’

Nj.com ‘Tension between Gov. Christie, N.J. Dems marks path to budget passage, property tax deal’
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7-3-10 Governor Christie and Legislative leaders reached agreement today on a 2% property tax cap with 4 major exemptions
From Star Ledger breaking news 7-3-10 p.m.:
TRENTON — The governor and legislative leaders have struck a deal on property tax reform that includes a 2 percent cap on annual increases with four exceptions, three sources with knowledge of the negotiations said.

"...The four exceptions are rising costs of pensions and health care, school enrollment increases and debt payments. Towns would also be granted leeway in the event of an emergency, such as a natural disaster, two sources said..."
STAY TUNED...
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7-1 and 2- 10 Governor Christie convened the Legislature to address property tax reform
On July 1, the Governor delivered an address to a Joint Session of the legislature that began with compromise on his 2.5% property tax cap proposal: he would drop the mandated constitutional amendment. However, he would hold tight on limited exceptions; only a popular vote could override the cap.

Also, the Governor noted that he could support exemptions for capital expenditures and debt service as well as a temporary exemptions for collective bargaining agreements that currently are in place; when the current contract expires than the cap exemption would expire. These are the only exemptions in his current proposal.

Legislature leadership responded, setting up meetings for Friday, July 2: 1) Assembly Budget hearing at 10 a.m. on the subject, and 2) Senate Budget & Appropriations meeting at 8 a.m. to determine schedule and process for property tax reform summer of 2010.

Click on More below to see GSCS Initial Comments submitted to Assembly Budget Committee for todya's Jul2 hearing; and articles on this unique Special Session.

politickernj.com ‘Christie offers compromise; supports 2.5% statutory cap’

Star Ledger ‘N.J. legislative session kicks off property tax cap showdown’
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6-30-10 In the News
Star Ledger ‘Gov. Chris Christie calls special legislative session on N.J. property tax overhaul’

Philadelphia Inquirer ‘Christie signs first budget as N.J. governor’

njspotlight.com ‘Troubled Opportunity Scholarship Act Still Hanging Fire In Trenton’ and ‘One District's Attempt to Assess the 'Cap 2.5' Consequences'

"Marlboro schools played precisely by the rules this year, proposing a budget that would increase the local property tax levy by 4 percent, the current limit under the law.Still, the voters didn’t go for it in the April election, and the municipal council cut another $680,000. On top of a $3.9 million cut in state aid, that amounted to 16 teaching positions lost.But had Gov. Chris Christie’s proposed constitutional 2.5 percent cap been in place, they likely wouldn’t have been done just yet. In that case, Marlboro would have needed to find as much as another $250,000 to take out of its budget.“You keep your fingers in the dikes, but there are only so many fingers,” said David Abbott, superintendent of Marlboro schools. As New Jersey moves quickly this week from debates over the state budget to those over tax caps, stories like Marlboro’s are sure to come to the fore....." (David Abbott is the 2010-2011 GSCS President)
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6-29-10 p.m. 'Gov Christie signs $29.4B NJ budget into law'
Star Ledger/SOUTH RIVER — "Gov. Chris Christie signed his first state budget into law this afternoon, saying the "pain" it imposes through sweeping cuts will pay off in the long run for New Jersey's finances...He said he did not line-item veto any spending in the budget that passed the Democrat-controlled Legislature early this morning. Under a compromise, the majority party provided just enough votes for the Republican-sponsored budget to squeak by. At a news conference after signing the bill, Christie immediately pivoted from the $29.4 billion budget to a special legislative session he has called for Thursday morning. He wants lawmakers to consider his property tax reform agenda, though he cannot order them to take up specific bills..."
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6-29-10 Breaking News - It's Official, Governor calls for Special Session to commence July 1
"GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE CALLS SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE TO ADDRESS CAP 2.5 REFORM AGENDA ...Acting under his authority in Article V, Section 1, Paragraph 12 and Article IV, Section 1, Paragraph 4 of the New Jersey Constitution, Governor Christie notified the leadership of the Senate and Assembly tonight in a letter that a Special Joint Session of the Legislature should be convened this Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. In addition to considering the proposed the cap and constitutional amendment for placement on the ballot for the November General Election, Governor Christie has also ordered the special session to address the thirty-three legislative proposals to reduce costs at the municipal, school and higher education levels."
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6-29-10 GSCS - The question remains: Whither property Tax Reform
Competing agendas: as of yesterday afternoon, the Assembly sent out a press release announcing that a series hearings would be held over the summer to be led by 12 Assembly Democrats (11 committee chairs + 1 'free agent'). The hearings are to focus on property tax reform and look at the Governor's 2.5% cap proposal, and certainly the 'just-passed-bill last night', Senate President Sweeney's 2.9% tax cap proposal.

However, the news from very early this morning is that the Governor is calling for a special session on his proposal; the reported schedule for the session is to begin towards the end of this week and run at least through the July 4th holiday weekend.
The pressure is on and it rivals, and likely will exceed - at least existentially - the oppressive heat wave that has settled over New Jersey this week. As has become a GSCS mantra, we advise you to STAY TUNED...

6-29-10 State Budget passes in the early a.m. today...
The Record, Star Ledger ‘Gov. Chris Christie is expected to sign N.J. budget into law after legislature passes plan’ Statehouse Bureau

The Record ‘N.J. bill allowing students to attend schools in other districts advances’

Star Ledger ‘N.J. Assembly ends early morning marathon session with cheers, vuvuzela’

Press of Atlantic City - 1) ‘Gov. Christie campaigns again, this time for New Jersey's budget’ and, 2) ‘New Jersey Senate sends summer school fees and school choice expansion bills to Governor's Office’ published 6-29-10
Politickernj.com - go to this website for the inside line on budget machinations last night, and hints at what's in store re the Republican Governor and the Democratic legislature's toe to toe stance on property tax reform...

Quick Facts: The Opportunity Scholarship Act S1872 did not come up for a vote, but look for the bill to re-up in the fall.... A2300 that addresses issues with funding support for costs of related to special education services for private school students that do not reside in New Jersey but who attend private schools in the state, passed yesterday and will go to the Governor's desk for signing.
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GSCS On the Scene in Trenton: State Budget poised to pass late Monday 6-28...Cap Proposals, Opportunity Scholarship Act in Limbo
GSCS 'On the scene in Trenton' - On Wednesday the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee passed the State Budget bill (S3000) and the Assembly Budget Committee passed its counterpart A3000 on Thursday.... S3000/A3000 are scheduled now to be voted on for final passage this Monday.....at the end of the week, the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee also passed S29, Senate President Sweeney's 2.9% cap bill..... On Friday, the Assembly passed A3065 McKeon-Barnes which is the identical companion bill to S29. FYI S29/A3065, now poised for a final session vote this Monday, 'Reduces school district, county, and municipal property tax levy cap from 4% to 2.9% and permits unused school district, county, and municipal increases to be banked for three succeeding years' (Identical bill A3065 McKeon-Barnes).)...

The Democrat's cap bill S29/A3305 is somewhat more responsive to concerns of schools than the Governor's 2.5% cap proposal in that it does allows for Commissioner cap waivers, however all waivers must be based solely on a district's "failure to meet core curriculum content standards [T & E];another difference is that this bill "eliminates the ability of a ...school district to submit a public question to the voters to exceed the allowable tax levy"; "in the case of a school district it would allow cap banking of any portion of the permitted 2.9% increase plus applicable adjustments not used by the school district in a budget year'; S29/A3065 also does not require a constitutional amendment, which should provide more flexibility to adjust to potential issues that may occur in the future; a notable difference from the Governor's proposal is that S29 focuses only on local spending, while the Governor proposals a corresponding 2.5% cap on state spending as well as local spending..... Some folks in the Trenton halls believe that the Governor will immediatley veto it S29/A3065 it if does pass.....GSCS has concerns about S29/A3065, in particular that it does not allow for a voter override, nor has its precipitous timing allowed for viable debate and analysis.....

Legislative leadership has talked of holding "hearings in July but with no specific mention of what bills could be heard then, including the Governor's cap proposal but we are hearing that is likely.....

FYI, as of Thursday night, the Opportunity Scholarship bill (S1872)- while the subject of heated, informal pro and con debate int the Statehouse all day Thursday - was not posted for a hearing, or a vote, in either house...

It remains to be seen what, if anything will come of S1872 this summer. For S29 Statement click here on
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6-28-10 State Budget tops the news today
Asbury Park Press ‘$28B proposed budget signals "new normal" for N.J.’

Star Ledger ‘N.J. lawmakers are expected to vote on Gov. Christie's budget, property tax cap plans’

The Record ‘N.J. pays the price for past budgets’
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6-27-10 In the News - State Budget, Impacts on Education, Political Machinations
Star Ledger editorial ‘Tax cap politics: Democrats rush a flawed plan’

Star Ledger Column ‘Gov. Chris Christie KOs Democrats in New Jersey budget bout’

Asbury Park Press ‘$28B proposed budget signals "new normal" for N.J.’

Star Ledger ‘Computer programs replace foreign language teachers in N.J. classrooms after budget cuts’

The Record ‘Local schools impose "pay-to-play" fees on student athletes’

Philadelphia Inquirer ‘NJ and Pa. officials react to loss expected federal aid”
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6-25-10 Appropriations Act bills for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 available on NJ Legislature website - here are the links
Click on More below to get to the bill and language change summaries.

TEXT OF BUDGET BILLS: S3000 A3000 SUMMARY OF APPROPRIATIONS ACT; SUMMARY OF LANGUAGE CHANGES IN APPROPRIATIONS ACT
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6-25-10 State Budget, Caps bill, Vouchers in the News
Statehouse Bureau ‘N.J. lawmakers continue to shore up budget support, quickly pass alternative property tax cap’

Associated Press ‘Property tax cap, women's health bills advance’

Trenton Times editorial ‘Think hard about 'hard cap’

Njspotlight.com ‘School Vouchers Go and Stop in Trenton’
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6-24-10 State Budget, Interdistrict Public School Choice, Graduation Reflections
Trenton is moving ahead today on its State Budget committee meetings, and also has posted Senate President Sweeney's bill proposing the 2.9% legislated cap in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today. Speculation is that if this bill passes through the legislature the Governor will veto it and continue to move his 2.5% cap/consitutional amendment proposal. It is also being suggested that the Opportunity Scholarship act will be heard in committee tomorrow. As of now, tt still looks like the State Budget FY 2010-2011 will be voted on this Monday. Stay tuned... The Record ‘Christie budget clears Senate committee’

Star Ledger ‘N.J. legislators scramble to ensure budget deal support’

njspotlight.com ‘Gov. Christie Gets the Budget He Wanted’

njspotlight.com ‘Coming to a District Near You: That Other Choice Program’ [Interdistrict Public School Choice Program]

The Record Op-ed ‘Josefsberg: And now you walk on — away from this moment — into new settings and next chapters.’
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6-23-10 Trenton News: State Budget on the move...Education Issues
Politickernj.com ‘Senate commitee to take up budget discussion Wednesday’

The Record ‘N.J. Senate to hold hearing on budget today’

Star Ledger ‘Gov. Christie to review proposed changes to N.J. school-choice bill’

Asbury Park Press ‘Senator: School choice bill should let lawmakers opt out’

njspotlight.com ‘From Senator's Old Neighborhood, Close-up View of School Voucher Bill’

Editorial ‘Stick to the lesson plan: Tie federal school bailout to reform’
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6-22-10 The Appropriations Act for the State Budget Fiscal Year 2010-2011
The Summary of the Appropriations Act and a Summary of Language Changes to the Act has been posted on the New Jersey Legilsative website. Click here on
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6-22-10 More Education Related Issues in the News from Trenton
Associated Press - ‘Legislative leaders say agreement reached on $29.3 billion state budget after tens of millions are restored to programs’

Statehouse Bureau ‘N.J. Assembly fails to override Christie veto of millionaires tax’
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6-22-10 Budget , Cap Proposals & Education News - njspotlight.com
Christie and Democrats Reach Budget Accord; Tax Caps Next The budget battle almost over, Gov. Christie and Democratic legislators Square Off Over Property Tax Cap: 2.5 vs. 2.9

'Education Commissioner Redraws the Org Chart, Puts Top Staff'
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6-22-10 Legislative Calendar through June 28
Click on More to see the Legislative Calendar - what Trenton has scheduled for itself for this week and next. The Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 was introduced by Assembly Republican Budget Officer, Joe Malone, later yesterday afternoon and is to be heard in committees, perhaps starting on Wednesday. The legislature's current goal is to decide on final details of the State Budget and to vote on the Appropriation Act FY'10-'11 on Monday June 28. GSCS is also hearing that the Opportunity Scholarship Act S1872 (amended)may be voted on Thursday or Monday...Stay tuned...
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6-20-10 Dueling Property Tax Cap Plans Now on Center Stage in Trenton
‘Sweeney wants Legislature to determine property tax cap, while Christie pushes to let voters decide’ Published: Sunday, June 20, 2010, 7:00 AM Statehouse Bureau

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie’s proposal for a constitutional amendment to cap property tax increases at 2.5 percent a year was dealt a severe blow Saturday when the Legislature’s top Democrat announced a competing plan that could be pushed through both houses this month. Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said he wants to limit annual increases to 2.9 percent -- down from the current 4 percent -- and do it through law, not a constitutional amendment. Sweeney said his version would also provide exceptions for local governments’ pension, health care and energy costs, and possibly other variables..."
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On the GSCS RADAR SCREEN S2021 (June '10) sponsored by Senator Tom Kean
GSCS endorses SENATE BILL, No. 2021 - "STATEMENT: Under the current school district monitoring system, the New Jersey Quality Single Accountability Continuum, (NJ QSAC), every school district must submit a report every three years on its progress in complying with all of the quality performance indicators. This bill would provide a waiver for certain high-performing districts from the requirements of NJ QSAC..."
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CHANGE OF FORMAT FYI - CURRENT NEWS WILL BE AT THE TOP OF THE HOMEPAGE...SCROLL DOWN TO FIND RECENT EDUCATION ISSUES IN THE NEWS

Gov. Christie's 'Toolkit' Proposals - 33 Point Summary
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On the GSCS Radar Screen: Recently proposed (early June '10) legislation S2043 brings back Last Best Offer (LBO) for school boards in negotiations
On the GSCS Radar Screen:
The following bill was recently proposed (first week in June 2010)for introduction:

• S2043 Kyrillos (R-13)

To help restore a level playing field in school-teacher contract negotiations, GSCS has advocated for the return of the Last Best Offer (LBO) option to local school boards for a number of years. The need for the LBO was noted up front in GSCS submissions to the Lt. Governor's Mandate Relief 'Red Tape' group, as well as to the Governor's Education Transition Team. As is our norm, the legislation will require in-depth analysis before further commentary by GSCS.

RACE TO THE TOP (RTTT) 'NJ STYLE' 6-2-10: It is what it is ...but what exactly is it? Race to the Top application is caught in a crossfire of reports - more information and clarity is needed
GSCS take: the dust needs to settle before all the details emerge on what really has gone on. Folks need to know what the details are in order to make an informed judgement as to the pluses and minuses of the application, as well as to the stability of our education system overall.... Attached are various reports on the recent developments between the Department of Education (DOE), the NJEA and the Governor on what may be included and what may not now be included in New Jersey's application to the federal government.
FYI, the RTTT grant application is posted now on the DOE website. For link to DOE application and various articles (njspotlight.com ‘Standing of Schundler an Issue After Christie Rejects NJEA Accord’, Press of Atlantic City ‘Christie rejects NJEA compromises on grant application, includes provisions for teacher merit pay, evaluations based on student performance',Star Ledger, ‘N.J. teachers union joins Christie administration in 'Race to the Top' application’, The Record, ‘N.J. Gov. Christie revises bid for education grant; throws out compromise’) on the issues, click here on
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Key Changes to the New Jersey Race to the Top Plan (2)
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GSCS 'QUICK' THOUGHT - Will the Administration's reform legislation being introduced just this month- May - have a fair chance for productive debate and analysis
This much-anticipated legislation stands to effect major change and we are anxious to see it soon, with the hope that it will be given a positive opportunity for objective review and input.

ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS CITED FOR ROUND 2 - RACE TO THE TOP GRANT
Click on more here to see breakdown of reforms noted - KEY REFORMS FOR CONTINUAL SYSTEM LEARNING AND IMPROVEMENT

SOME IMPORTANT REFORMS FOR IMPROVED SYSTEM PERFORMANCE

posted on njspotlight.com
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Office on Legislative Services Analysis of Department of Education - State Budget for FY'11
Click on More here to get hyperlink to this study done by the independent, non-partisan Office of Legislative Services (OLS) Education section. Impact information on the scale of potential overall wage freeze on local districts, e.g., may be found on pp.23-24; 'Implications of State Aid Reductions on the Property Tax Levy Cap' in this analysis begin on p. 25.
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GSCS 'HOW-TO' GET TRENTON'S ATTENTION ON STATE BUDGET SCHOOL ISSUES FY '11' - Effective and Well-Reasoned Communication with State Leaders is Critical
The best way to tell Trenton how you and your district are impacted is to ' show up' - when events are scheduled are the issue, be there. Make phone calls, send emails. Always have a few specific - and credible - points to make. Your presence at events is a visual aid and will be noticed.

Read GSCS testimony below & attached here (see underlined re:Special Education Categorical Aid loss and "Important Numbers" section where statewide aid loss cited); refer to GSCS Tables on Formula Aid below to find how your district and your county aid loss compares statewide and report that in your communications as well. Let GSCS hear from you about impacts on your district.

Again, make phone calls (emails are okay of course too, but yet phone calls must be recorded)to Trenton folks - not only your local legislators but also Chairs of the Assembly and Senate Budget & Appropriations Committees; Legislative leadership, including Senate President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Oliver; the Administration - Governor Christie (609 292 6000) and the Commissioner of Education, Bret Schundler.

Stay up-to-date and informed since issues will continue to change and be modified as the Appropriations Act process progresses - check the GSCS website often - the website is updated several times a week. Contact information may be found at the New Jersey Legislature homepage website. For more information & testimony, click here on
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REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT GSCS INFORMATION ON THE SIDEBAR LINKS, LEFT COLUMN ON THIS HOMEPAGE
FIND OUT ALL ABOUT STATE BUDGET & MANDATE RELIEF HAPPENINGS,GSCS TESTIMONIES,FACTS AND FIGURES AND MORE - SEE SIDEBAR LEFT AND JUST CLICK ON THE LINKS THERE

GSCS Testimony before the Assembly Budget Committee on State Budget FY'11 on 4-19-10
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GSCS Mandate Relief suggestions to Red Tape Review Group, Gov's. Education Transition Team, and to Legislators - first submitted by invitation December 2009
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Lt. Gov. Guadagno's Red Tape Review Group initial Report released 4-19-10
The report is lenghty and GSCS has not yet had time to review in depth...for starters, however, see some of the public education recommendations at Appendices F and G.
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6-18-10 GSCS Bullets: What's going on in Trenton?
The Appropriations Act has not been introduced yet…it is anticipated now to be introduced on Monday, June 21 and is probable to be heard and released from committees next Thursday the 24th, with the final vote for the State Budget Fiscal year 2010-2011 to be taken the following Monday the 28th.

Speaker Oliver scheduled an Assembly vote on the Millionaire’s Tax for this Monday, the 21st – it is not expected to pass.

The Governor’s 2.5% cap proposal has not moved into committees yet and it is not likely that there will be enough legislative process time for the related, proposed constitutional amendment to be voted on this coming November.

The Opportunity Scholarship Act, S1872, has encountered obstacles, slowing down its movement through the legislature in this June session.

6-18-10 Education & Related Issues in the News
Associated Press ‘2 plans for N.J. property tax relief; no consensus’

njspotlight.com ‘Defeated School Budgets Spared the Axe, After All’

The Record, Star Ledger ‘N.J. officials cut $140M in additional funds from school budgets’
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6-17-10 More Education in the News
‘NJ Board of Education Adopts Common Core Standards’ njspotlight.com

‘Low-performing N.J. schools with reform plans get $45M in federal grants’ Star Ledger

‘Online school enrollment grows as districts cut summer school’ Press of Atlantic City

‘45.3 million in School Improvement Grants Targeted to Improve Schools and Opportunities for Thousands of Urban Children’ NJ Dept of Education
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6-17-10 Cap 2.5%: In the News
‘How a cap fares elsewhere’ The Record ‘NJ Gov. Chris Christie visits Perth Amboy to talk up 2.5 percent tax cap’ My Central Jersey
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6-17-10 Education-related Issues in the News
‘Poor attendance has been plaguing the beleaguered Newark schools—but the teachers are the ones missing class…’ The Wall Street Journal

‘Homecoming Day For a Reformer’ Forbes Magazine
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6-16-10 Statehouse news
‘Showdown over millionaire's tax set as Dems try to override Gov Chris Christie's veto’ Statehouse Bureau
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6-15-10 afternoon - More Education & Related Issues in the News
‘Gov. Christie says property tax cap could force N.J. town, school district mergers’ Statehouse Bureau Record/Ledger 6-15-10 p.m.

‘N.J. Assembly schedules vote to override Gov. Christie's 'millionaires tax' veto’ Statehouse Bureau Staff, 6-15-10 p.m.
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6-15-10 Education Issues in the News
‘N.J. appeals court upholds Gov. Christie's order forcing school surplus spending’ Star Ledger

‘N.J. Assembly approves bill to let school districts charge students for summer school’ Press of Atlantic City
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6-11-10 In the News: State Budget moving ahead on schedule
'Parties quietly resolve budget differences' Phildadelphia Inquirer Trenton Bureau

TRENTON - "A budget season that began with bold declarations of ideology and promises of high drama appears headed toward a relatively quiet resolution, with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle agreeing there simply isn't much money to fight over..."
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6-10-10 Op-Ed in Trenton Times Sunday June 6 2010
'What ought to be next on governor's to-do list'

by Richard F. Keevey - Keevey is the director of the Policy Research Institute for the Region at Princeton University. He was state budget director and comptroller under two New Jersey governors (under both Democratic and Republican administrations; he also served in Washington D.C. under the Clinton Administration).

"Several weeks after the governor's election, I suggested in several venues that, given the state's finances, the governor would have no choice but to make significant reductions.

I suggested that transit subsidies would be reduced; school and municipal aid would be significantly reduced; and, although it poses a moral dilemma, Medicaid and other social services programs would be reduced. Unfortunately -- but inevitably -- most of these reductions are in the budget, and I am certain they will remain standing...Personally, I might have made some choices different from those the governor made, but, basically, he had few options -- otherwise, the state would be headed for massive disaster."
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6-10-10 Education and Related Issues in the News
The Record -‘NJ teachers appear to be agreeing to smaller raises’ The Record

Courier Post - ‘State should aid NJN's transition’
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6-9-10 Education Issues in the News
‘Abbott Is Back in Court and Beset By Questions’ njspotlight.com

‘Group asks NJ justices to restore school aid’ Star Ledger

‘Advocacy group asks New Jersey Supreme Court to block school aid cuts’ The Record

‘With Deadline Looming, Speaker Talks Budget’ Millenimu Radio/Associated Press
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6-8-10 Education issues in the news today - including 'hold' on pension reform, round two
‘Gov. Chris Christie backs off plans to push N.J. teachers to retire early’ Statehouse Bureau- The Record & Ledger

‘State, school districts can learn lessons from roll-out of new alternate high school test’ StarLedger Editorial

‘N.J. Gov. Chris Christie's rant reveals a hard-right agenda’ Column-Star Ledger
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6-4-10 Education News
‘N.J. education commissioner Schundler: 'I made a mistake'

‘Schundler says he will continue to support Gov. Christie's education plan’

‘Schundler violated Christie's No. 1 rule’

‘In 'Race to the Top,' a false start by Education Comissioner Bret Schundler’
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6-8-10 (posted) Education & Related Issues in the News
‘Parties hash out N.J. budget deal’Statehouse Bureau - The Record

‘State shouldn't dictate how districts spend any teacher contract savings’ Star Ledger Editorial

‘Two strikes on the batter, Bret Schundler’The Auditor-Star Ledger

‘In Depth: Can NJN weather cutoff of state aid?’ Gannett State Bureau
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6-3-10 RTTT controversy remains top news - articles and editorials, column
‘Christie overrules Schundler on education grant’

‘Gov. Christie says plan Schundler reached with NJEA caved to teachers union’

‘Key points agreed on by NJEA are changed in new 'Race to the Top' application’

‘Christie overrules Schundler on education grant’

Editorial - ‘In 'Race to the Top,' a false start by Education Commissioner Bret Schundler’

Editorial - ‘Asbury Park Press Editorial ‘No style points for governor’

Column - ‘Gov. Chris Christie's put-down of Schundler further erodes autonomy of education commissioner’
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6-3-10 Education News
‘Proposed N.J. bill requires savings from wage freezes to be used to prevent teacher layoffs’...............‘Christie pushes to limit raises’............... ‘N.J. school districts provide resources for thousands of teachers facing layoffs’
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5-27-10 GSCS 19th Annual Meeting featured on NJN News last night
copy-paste this link below to your browser (or click on link under More here)to get to last night's NJN News Report, go to 11:51 on the clock for the segment on GSCS meeting.
http://njn.net/television/webcast/njnnews/wednesday.html
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5-27-10 Breaking News: NJEA endorses the Department of Education's Race to the Top application
'NJEA signs on to Race to the Top...Encourages local affiliates to follow suit'“...We hope this signals the beginning of an ongoing cooperative relationship with the Department,” Keshishian said. “Our public schools are among the best in the nation. We want to make sure we keep moving in the right direction to maintain our competitive edge and to live up to the promise of a great public school for every child.”
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5-27-10 Education News - GSCS Annual Meeting & Race to the Top
‘N.J. education chief gets mixed reviews for reform plans, 'Race to the Top' grant’ The Star-Ledger "Education Commissioner Bret Schundler [spoke] to Garden State Coalition of Schools (GSCS) about education reform...Speaking before the Garden State Coalition of Schools’ annual meeting, Schundler pushed New Jersey’s application for Race to the Top...So far, 492 local education agencies, including school districts and charter schools, have backed the state Race to the Top plan. Schundler’s audience was politely skeptical of the bid, although several districts said they had signed on to support Race to the Top. Many of the Coalition’s members -- about 100 suburban districts — are still reeling from state budget cuts that left many with little or no state aid."

‘Christie and NJEA: Three Topics on the Table’ Tenure, merit pay, and seniority are the three main issues under negotiation in last-minute Race to the Top talks... njspotlight.com
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5-24-10 njspotlight.com - in-depth reports focus on Race to the Top & Schundler's Jersey City Charter School
‘Yea or Nay: NJ Seeks Friends for 'Race to the Top' Bid’ ..."Christie wins Legislature's general support, but adds compromise and cash in quest for other backing..."

2 'The Charter School Bret Schundler Built'... "Jersey City's Golden Door Charter School was one of the first. It's faced administrative issues, financial shortfalls and some plateauing scores; it's also matured into a safe, supportive haven from a grittier city and its schools..."
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5-24-10 Education & Related Issues in the News
Politickernj.com –‘Thousands rally in Trenton against Christie cuts’ TRENTON - A band of teachers, firefighters, nurses, cops, workers, union card holders, urban guerillas, and assorted progressives rallied at the Statehouse this afternoon, demanding that Gov. Chris Christie restore the so-called millionaires' tax on those making above $400,000 to pay for social programs and strengthen the state's safety net in a static economy.

‘More than 30,000 protesters rally against budget cuts in Trenton’ By Statehouse Bureau Staff/The Record & Star Ledger "Thousands gather in Trenton for anti-Christie rally"

'Stile: Democratic leaders are no-shows at unions' Christie bashing’ The Record - "The 35,000 people swarming West State Street for Saturday’s Public Worker-palooza rally represented a core Democratic constituency — teachers, social workers and janitors.The only thing missing was Democratic leaders..."
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5-21-10 Education & Related Issues in the News
‘N.J.’s Christie Nixes Tax Boost on $1 Million Earners’ May 20, 2010, 7:35 pm Bloomberg/Businessweek

‘NJ Gov. Chris Christie swiftly vetos millionaires tax increase, property tax rebate bills’
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5-20-10 Education & Related News
‘N.J. judge refuses to block bill changing benefits, pensions for public workers’

‘N.J. towns make school budget cuts in wake of election defeats’
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5-18-10 S1287 & A2573 Legislation slated for a vote in the Senate and Assembly Thursday, May 20
It is probable these identical bills will be passed on May 20 and signed into law soon: S1287 ( Van Drew, Sarlo, Kean), and identical bill A2573 (O’Scanlon, Polistina), making position of treasurer of school moneys optional.
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5-18-10 Education News
Philadelphia Inquirer - The Mass. model: Is property-tax cap a good fit for N.J.?

‘What if NJ Gov. Chris Christie's proposed tax cap had been around for 10 years?’ The Statehouse Bureau
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5-16-10 Education Issues in the News
‘N.J. teacher salaries debate continues amid Gov. Christie's school aid cuts’ By Statehouse Bureau Staff

‘Last chance for NJEA to save New Jersey teachers' jobs’ By Star-Ledger Editorial Board

Press of Atlantic City ‘Battle over budgets creates image problem for New Jersey teachers union’
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5-14-10 Education Issues in the News Today
'N.J. panel OKs private-school aid for low-income students' Philadelphia Inquirer

"In an unusual, and at times raucous, outdoor hearing attended by hundreds of school-choice advocates, a New Jersey Senate committee unanimously approved a bill Thursday that would create scholarships for some low-income children to attend private or out-of-district public schools.The Opportunity Scholarships, designed to aid students in failing schools, would be funded by contributions from companies in exchange for dollar-for-dollar tax credits..."

'Teachers across state get pink slips as schools' deadline looms' THE RECORD

School voucher bill sponsors push back against NJEA tactics By Star-Ledger Editorial Board
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5-13-10 Education News Today
Press of Atlantic City ‘New Jersey bill would provide scholarships to allow students in poor-performing schools to switch to another public or private learning institution’

‘N.J. education chief says pension proposals could prompt fewer than 13,000 teachers to retire early’ Statehouse Bureau (The Record, Star Ledger)
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5-14-10 Bill to permit Exec County Supt's to negotiate district employee contracts introduced
"Senator Joe Kyrillos and Assemblywoman Amy Handlin (R-Monmouth) introduced legislation today (5-13-10) allowing local and regional school districts to designate the County Superintendent of Education as the employer representative in negotiations with school district employee unions..."
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5-12-10 njspotlight.com focuses on NJ's plans for and reactions to education reform
njspotlight.com - "Second-Round Race to the Top Gets Off to Sluggish Start...NJ Education Commissioner Bret Schundler goes to educators for their support of his Race to the Top plan. Whether he'll get it remains a question"

"NTU Sticks to Own Path on Education Reform Positions of Newark Teachers Union, such as support for merit pay, often put it at odds with NJEA"
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5-11-10 'Christie salary cap doesn't apply to cops or firefighters'
GANNETT STATE BUREAU/Asubry Park Press TRENTON — "Gov. Chris Christie's property tax reform package caps increases in teachers' pay at 2.5 percent and applies the same limit to arbitrators' awards for county and municipal employees, though it doesn't put that cap on raises negotiated by police officers, firefighters and other local employees..."
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'Schools sweat NJ layoff, levy deadlines'
Phildaelphia Inquirer, Sunday May 9 - 'Job notices are due before tax funding may be known. Pension uncertainty only adds to districts' worries.' "With two critical New Jersey deadlines looming, school districts across the region and around the state find themselves in a roiling sea of uncertainty.

Saturday is the deadline for districts to formally inform staff members who may be laid off..."
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5-11-10 Tax caps v. Millionaire's Tax: Statehouse Divided
GSCS Take: Too Much, Too Soon, So Little Time...

‘NJ Democrats, Gov. Chris Christie each have good ideas, but can they work together?’ By Star-Ledger Editorial Board "...The cap on property taxes is its core. Like a similar cap in Massachusetts, this one could be waived if local voters approve."

‘N.J. Democrats, Gov. Christie propose dueling tax plans’ By Statehouse Bureau Staff Record, Star Ledger
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5-10-10 News that impacts Public Education
‘N.J. Democrats proposes tax hike on those making more than $1M’ Record, Star Ledger/By Statehouse Bureau
‘Education commissioner Schundler dismisses U.S. test
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5-10-10 Governor Christie announces reform proposals
Governor Christie presents Comprehensive Legislative Package...the Governor presented to the Legislature a 33-bill package of reforms. The bill package, representing the legislative component of the Christie Reform Agenda, will put a hard cap on property tax increases and state spending at 2.5 percent. The centerpiece of this legislative package is "Cap 2.5," a constitutional amendment creating a 2.5% cap on the increase in the property tax levy by municipal, school and county taxes and a 2.5% cap on spending for State government operations. Under Governor Christie's proposal, the property tax levy cap allows for adjustments in the event a municipality adds new ratables, and provides a single exclusion from the cap: debt service payments. Current law provides for a 4% cap with at least 13 broad exclusions that render the cap virtually meaningless.
Click here for additional information and list of proposals
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5-9-10 'Gov Christie to propose permanent caps on salary raises for public workers'
Star Ledger-TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie will propose on Monday a permanent 2.5 percent limit on annual raises for public workers, including police, firefighters and teachers, and will allow towns to discard civil service rules governing employee hiring and firing..."We’re going to work with him. We’re going to provide him a tool kit, as he says, for these communities," Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) said last week. "It’s not necessarily going to be exactly what he says." Sweeney said he favors civil service reform and arbitration reform, but believes the constitutional 2.5 percent property tax cap goes too far..."
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5-8 & 9-10 Education Reform Proposals Announced
GSCS Take - GSCS was invitied to a small group meeting on Thursday where Commissioner Schundler spoke about the reform concepts he would be announcing this past Friday...there are principles for which GSCS has advocated, but the 'how to' effect the new policies and the details for implementing are not yet defined, thus analysis remains to be done.
‘New Jersey education reforms unveiled’ Star-Ledger "With $400 million in federal funding up for grabs, Gov. Chris Christie's administration unveiled a sweeping plan Friday to overhaul the state's education system and pay teachers based on how their students perform in the classroom..."

‘Bonuses, longer wait for tenure among changes in education commissioner's overhaul’ The Record

Other highlights of the plan include: • Giving county education executives a greater role in pushing districts to share services to reduce costs. • Developing a centralized, state-of-the-art Web system to track student achievement data to see which teachers and methods are most successful, and giving schools the online resources to replicate them. • Having teacher preparation courses put more emphasis on content courses, such as science, rather than theory. • Creating a state pool of funds for bonuses to reward the most effective teachers and programs, especially those accelerating the growth of struggling students. Schundler said the size of the pool and the maximum individual bonuses have yet to be determined. • Closing failing schools, which could be reopened by alternate providers. • Giving teachers the chance to pilot alternatives to traditional and charter schools through the creation of board-approved, teacher-led academies. • Establishing a comprehensive testing system that includes end-of-year, periodic and day-to-day assessments aligned with courses. • Adopting national standards now being designed for English and math."
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5-6-10 Breaking News - 'NJ education chief plans 'merit pay' evaluations fo teachers'
GSCS has been invited to and will be at a meeting to be led by the Commissioner today where he will present his reform proposals, including merit pay, particularly as they relate to the second round application for Race to the Top funds.

Star Ledger - PRINCETON -- "Promising to make New Jersey’s public education system "the best in America," state Education Commissioner Bret Schundler yesterday said he plans to introduce a package of reforms next week that will include merit pay for teachers.

"Student achievement will be part of the evaluation process for teachers," Schundler said after giving the keynote address at a in Princeton on urban schools..."
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5-5-10 Supreme court nomination upends Trenton
‘Standoff between Senate, Gov. Christie may leave N.J. Supreme Court in limbo’ By Statehouse Bureau Staff "Gov. Christie's decision to oust Supreme Court Justice John Wallace and Sweeney's refusal to consider his nomination of Anne Patterson for the seat may leave the state's highest court in limbo for nearly two years..."

Asbury Park Press ‘Christie moves to reshape state Supreme Court...Governor names Republican Patterson to bench to replace Democrat Wallace' GANNETT STATE BUREAU

TRENTON — "...first time a New Jersey governor is not renominating an incumbent justice for lifetime tenure..."
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5-4-10 'N.J. Gov. Chris Christie pushes for education changes with speech in Washington'
May 4, Statehouse Bureau - WASHINGTON — A lightning rod at home for his deep cuts to school funding, Gov. Chris Christie came to the nation’s capital tonight to push for education reforms — and announced he will support a scholarship program allowing students to opt out of 200 "chronically failing" New Jersey schools..."
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5-3-10 Newsflash! Governor Christie makes NJ Supreme Court appointment
Governor Christie announced his decision not to reappoint Justice John E. Wallace, Jr. to the New Jersey Supreme Court and further announced his nomination of Anne Murray Patterson as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, citing his pledge to restore balance to the State’s highest court. The appointment will mark the first time in history where women will hold a 4-3 majority in the New Jersey Supreme Court. Anne Murray Patterson, a lifelong New Jerseyan, is a partner with the law firm, Riker Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti, LLP, and has been a member of the New Jersey bar for 27 years. Patterson’s nomination will now move to the Legislature, as the State Constitution requires advice and consent of the Senate of all Supreme Court nominations. Associate Justice John E. Wallace’s term expires on May 20, 2010.....Click here for Anne Patterson's biography
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5-3-10 NY Times 'Despite Push, Success at Charter Schools is Mixed
"...Many of those...had worried that the Obama administration would reflect the general hostility of teachers’ unions toward charters...But all doubts were dispelled when the image of Arne Duncan, the new education secretary, filled a large video screen from Washington. He pledged to combine “your ideas with our dollars” from the federal government. “What you have created,” he said, “is a real movement.” …

A More Typical Case - “In Ohio, the Cleveland Arts and Social Sciences Academy is not the kind of charter school that celebrities visit..."

The Ideology- “Since the first one opened in Minnesota in 1992, charter schools have captivated school reformers, originally on the political right but increasingly from the center-left..."

Some Have Doubts - “Critics of charter schools, often teachers’ unions and their political allies..."
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4-30-10 Governor Christie's first 100 days; school choice - in the news
‘Friends, critics reflect on Christie's first 100 days’ Philadelphia Inquirer

'N.J. school choice advocates rally efforts amid school budget debates' By The Associated Press "...About 40 people rallied outside the Statehouse, a far smaller number than the thousands of high school students from across the state who walked out of class two days earlier to protest education funding cuts.Organizers advocated for pending legislation..."
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4-29-10 Education News
‘N.J. teachers union files suit challenging health benefit contributions’ Statehouse Bureau

‘Parents urge Bernards officials to carefully cut school budget’ Star Ledger

‘Christie claims mandate for school budget reforms’ The Record - "...The administration said it is preparing measures for consideration by the Legislature next month. They will include a constitutional amendment to cap property tax increases at 2.5 percent annually, a rollback of pension benefits for teachers and other public employees, and a return of the “last, best offer” option for school boards to impose settlements on unions.Christie would also waive certain state mandates for local schools. The administration is reviewing suggestions to relax class size limits in poor districts, loosen requirements for special education services, allow schools to share nurses, and eliminate the mandate for 2.5 hours per week of physical education in elementary school..."
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4-28-10 'NJ students wage mass walkouts in response to Gov Chris Christie's school cuts'
Star Ledger "For thousands of New Jersey high school students who staged mass walkouts from their classrooms today to protest proposed cuts by Gov. Chris Christie, one question remains: Will their efforts make a difference?..."

'Class action: students protest education cuts' Courier Post

‘Students walkout, despite warnings from governor’s office, union leaders’ The Record
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4-26-10 COMMISSIONER SCHUNDLER BEFORE ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE TODAY, 10 am
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4-26-10 Stay Informed on Trenton's Take on the Issues - More Education News
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4-23-10 Education issues remain headline news
‘School Budget Woes’ by Michael P. Riccards, Executive Director, The Hall Institute

'Christie says voters against school budgets are for him' Associated Press

'N.J. towns, schools are urged to consult unions on failed budget reviews' Star Ledger
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4-22-10 School Elections - in the News
Philadelphia Inquire 'High turnout in many N.J. school races'

polictickernj.com 'Claiming victory in school budgets defeat, Christie urges governing bodies to seek wage freezes from teachers'

northjersey.com 'Christie claims mandate for school budget reforms'

politickernj.com 'Sweeney says Christie scapegoated teachers - and won'
Drewniak says Senate President should take some responsibility for mess

Editorials: The Record: Budget lessons …Asbury Park Press…The Record – Stile… The Star Ledger
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4-21-10 DOE posts election results
Click on More here to read Commissioner's statement, plus get to links that breakdown election results by district, county, voter turnout, levy comparisons...
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4-21-10 'Gov Christie says school budget election results are proof NJ voters want change'
"...We must arm the school boards. We must arm the municipal governments with the tools they need," he said. "We need to give (voters) the opportunity to control their own property taxes..."
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4-21-10 News on School Election Results
'N.J. voters reject school budgets in heated elections' -Star-Ledger

"New Jersey voters took a stand on school spending and property taxes Tuesday, rejecting 260 of 479 school budgets across 19 counties, according to unofficial results in statewide school elections..."

The Record 'Bergen passes majority of school budgets, while Passaic voters reject most'

"Voters approved school budgets in 55 of 74 Bergen County towns Tuesday, ignoring Governor Christie’s call to reject spending plans in districts where teachers refused to take a wage freeze...Bergen voters appeared to buck the state trend."

Philadelphia Inquirer- 'Most school budgets fail in S. Jersey'
"Rejections far outnumbered approvals in yesterday's voting on school budgets in Camden, Burlington and Gloucester Counties, according to available results. Voting yes were Haddonfield and Gloucester Township in Camden County; Bass River, Easthampton, Morristown, Riverton and Woodland in Burlington County; and Deptford, Glassboro, Greenwich Township, Logan, Paulsboro, Washington Township and Woodbury Heights in Gloucester County..."
Asbury Park Press 'NJ voters in 'no' mood for school tax hikes...30% of budgets pass in Monmouth, 39% in Ocean'
My Central New Jersey 'Passions, turnout high as school spending plans rejected in Central Jersey'

EAST BRUNSWICK — "If school districts in Central Jersey were to receive a collective report card yesterday, after asking voters to approve their budgets, the grade would have been a C-minus..."
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4-21-10 2010 School Elections Voter Turnout by County
This [incomplete at this time] list is from various county submissions and is still 'unofficial'. We will provide more informaton as it comes in...Noteworthy - voter turnout in Hunterdon County = 33.01, and in Morris County = 52.99
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4-21-10 Assoc. Press 'NJ voters reject majority of school budgets'
"TRENTON, N.J. - Gov. Chris Christie, urging local school districts to check spending and teachers to accept pay freezes, won a major victory as voters in most New Jersey towns rejected school budgets. According to unofficial results, voters turned down 260 of 479 budgets in 19 counties Tuesday night. Budgets were on the ballots in 537 districts across the state's 21 counties." The defeats mean municipal governments who rarely deal with education issues will have to wrestle with the school budgets. The last time voters defeated a majority of school budgets was in 1976 , the year before the state started collecting income taxes to subsidize schools. In the last few years, around three-fourths of the budgets proposals have been approved by voters in elections known for low turnout.

4-20-10 'N.J. voters reject school budgets in heated elections '
Star-Ledger. 4-20-10, evening report;

"...New Jersey voters around the state have rejected 138 of 256 school budgets scattered across 10 counties, according to early and unofficial results in statewide school elections..."
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4-20-10 p.m. Election Results - beginning to come in
Clck on More here to see 'go to' website for election results
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4-20-10 Today is School Budget & School Board Member Election Day
'N.J. voters make choices about school spending' Star-Ledger

Phildaelphia Inquirer/So Jersey News 'Districts eagerly await voters' decisions'

'Schools face financial squeeze in Cherry Hill' Phila Inquirer

Asbury Park Press, 4-19-10 'Mapping a new path for state schools' Interview - Education Commissioner Bret Schundler offers different models for success...

Asbury Park Press ‘Think Before Casting Ballot’ ...“But bear in mind that a defeated budget will likely amount to little more than a protest vote...”

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4-18-10 Sunday Op-eds on school budget vote: Jim O'Neill & Gov Christie
'New Jersey voters should look at more than teacher salaries before deciding on school budgets'

- By Jim O’Neill/Star-Ledger guest columnist

"There is a social compact that obliges every generation to help the next. A quality education is a critical component of that compact. If ever there was a year that responsible adults should vote yes on the school budget, it is 2010. Further cuts cannot be sustained and fairness dictates that students should not be adversely impacted because adults cannot resolve their differences..."

'Gov. Chris Christie: Vote against school budgets that don't include shared sacrifice'
- By Chris Christie/Star-Ledger guest columnist

"...When fewer resources available, local school districts and education associations are being asked to share in the sacrifice. New Jersey is facing a reality that can no longer be ignored..."
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4-18-10 It's About Values - Quality Schools...Your Homes...Your Towns: Sunday front page story and editorial
'School budgets go to voters Tuesday amid controversy; North Brunswick, Roselle Park, Montclair exemplify clash'

"North Brunswick will scale back its full-day kindergarten to half-day to deal with the state funding cuts. Slash the sports teams and clubs? Maybe eliminate full-day kindergarten? What about lopping off some librarians and teachers? Or perhaps it’s time to raise property taxes?..."

'Compromise is needed on New Jersey budget: Gov. Chris Christie should meet Democrats half-way on income tax surcharge' - Star-Ledger Editorial
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Assembly Budget Committee hearing on Education and more 4-19-10
GSCS will be testifying re State Budget in the morning session - MONDAY, APRIL 19, 2010 Assembly Budget Committee (Budget Hearings Only) Hearing 9:30 AM Committee Room 11, 4th Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ Chair: Asm. Greenwald, Louis D. The Assembly Budget Committee will hold a Public Hearing on the Fiscal Year 2011 State Budget. TOPICS: Education, Higher Education and Local Government Issues Please note time change to 9:30

4-16-10 Editorial endorses voter's choice on school budgets
'New Jersey voters should judge each school budget on its own merits' By Star-Ledger Editorial Board/.April 16, 2010

"...We hope that voters are more careful, and that they weigh the trade-offs in each district. In Ridgewood, for example, the school board tried to win agreement for wage and benefit concessions, and the teachers voted narrowly against it. The proposed budget now includes 60 layoffs and a 4 percent hike in local property taxes. If voters reject the budget, the district will likely have to increase layoffs and further cut programs. “The governor’s rhetoric really hasn’t helped,” says Superintendent Dan Fishbein (Past President -GSCS). “And even if our teachers took a freeze and gave 1.5 percent of salary to medical benefits, it wouldn’t make up for the loss of state aid.” Local voters need to weigh the trade-offs carefully. Some districts are overstaffed and can afford layoffs. Some can’t without cutting into muscle and bone. Some waste money, and some are careful. The point is it’s local, and the governor’s approach ignores that..."
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4-15-10 Education Week - Education Secretary recommends federal funds to 'preserve' education jobs
"U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today urged Congress to pass new aid to preserve education jobs. He testified before the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that deals with education spending on the same day the panel’s chairman introduced a bill that would provide $23 billion for that purpose..."
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4-15-10 Breaking News this today on school construction bonds
N.J. will sell up to $2B in bonds for school construction Statehouse Bureau - April 15, 2010, 10:57AM

"...The deal includes $459 million that was due this year and $205 million due next year..."

4-15-10 In the News Today
'Fact checker: NJ Gov. Chris Christie vs. the teachers' union' Record-STATE HOUSE BUREAU

'N.J. Gov. Chris Christie supports rush to retirement by state workers facing benefit changes' Star-Ledger

'Democrats attack Christie's spending plan for schools' 4-14-10 Philadelphia Inquirer
'NJ teachers union squares off with Trenton over reforms, finances' Asury Park Press
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PARENTS ARE CALLING TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS FOR THE SCHOOL AID PICTURE - GSCS WILL KEEP YOU UP-TO-DATE
Let GSCS help you connect the dots - Contact us at gscs2000@gmail.com

School Funding Formula Aid Loss under Christie Budget Proposal for Fiscal Year '11
See below/scroll down homepage just below 3-28-10 posting: Find Formula Aid Loss PDF's attached to 'GSCS Testimony presented to Senate Budget Committee on State Budget FY'11 on 3-23-10'

4-14-10 School Budget Vote - response - State Budget issues
'Schundler counters Christie's advice to voters on rejecting N.J. school budgets' April 13, 2010 UPDATED:4-14-10, 10:51 AM STATE HOUSE BUREAU

"..Like the commissioner, the governor understands completely that there is a process involved with school budget proposals, and he respects the will of the voters no matter what they decide,” Drewniak said...Meanwhile, the governor’s call to reject budgets has caused an uproar in local districts, where defeated spending plans mean even more cuts. The Garden State Coalition of Schools Tuesday issued a statement calling it a “slap in the face.”

Richard Koenigsberg, a school trustee in Franklin Lakes, said the governor is aiming at the wrong target. “School budgets are what the public approves of,” Koenigsberg said in an e-mail. “Each year the vast majority of school budgets are passed by the voters that will pay the tax. The voters do not vote on the state budget nor their municipal budgets. … Governor Christie is aiming at the wrong pocket...”

Christie has painted the wage freeze as an alternative to program cuts and layoffs, but a policy paper written by the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services said schools will still face a shortfall..." .

'Bret Schundler: Q&A with the New Jersey Commissioner of education'

'Fewer N.J. school districts offer ballot questions'
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4-13-10 Commissioner Schundler before Senate Budget Committee - early reports....progress on budget election issue
Links to NJN news reports:NJN.net -links to news shows from yesterday 4-12, today 4-13 (GSCS interviewed) & its main news page
Monday - http://www.njn.net/television/webcast/njnnews/monday.html
Tues. - http://www.njn.net/television/webcast/njnnews/tuesday.html

Main News page http://www.njn.net/news/

North Jersey.com Christie calls for teachers' union to forgo member dues Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - NORTHJERSEY.COM

Governor Christie this morning called on the state teachers' union to forgo dues from its members and join in his fight to cut state spending...On Monday, Christie called on voters to reject school budgets in districts where teachers have not agreed to his proposal for salary freezes. That includes nearly all of Bergen and Passaic counties.The proposal created an uproar among local school administrators and trustees. The Garden State Coalition of Schools Tuesday issued a statement calling it a “slap in the face...”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS • APRIL 13, 2010 TRENTON — New Jersey Education chief Bret Schundler says voters should not reject local school budgets just because teachers haven't agreed to a wage freeze.

Schundler's comments at a Senate Budget Committee hearing Tuesday contradict Gov. Chris ChristieN.J. education chief says voters should not reject school budgets that lack wage freezes..."

'NJ education chief says voters should not rejects budgets that lack wage freezes' Statehouse Bureau (Record, Star Ledger) April 13, 2010, 2:10PM TRENTON -- Voters ready to follow Gov. Chris Christie's advice to reject any school budgets that do not include a wage freeze for teachers might want to hold off until they hear what his education commissioner has to say.

At a Senate budget hearing today, Department of Education Commissioner Bret Schundler said he would not recommend voters reject those budgets when they go to the polls on April 20..."
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4-13-10 Testimony submitted to Senate Budget Committee, Morris County Superintendent
by Jim O'Neill, School District of the Chathams
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4-12-10 'Gov. urges voters to reject school districts' budgets without wage freezes for teachers'
4-12-10 p.m. nj.com, 2:07 pm Monday 4-12: "Local school budgets are up for a vote next Tuesday, April 20. If a budget is not approved, it goes to the local governing body for further cuts... "If school budgets are rejected and they come to this commissioner of education for relief, they're not going to find much relief," Christie said..."

GSCS FYI - See body of letter here that GSCS members are circulating/have written to their legislators re: Governor Christie's statement today asking folks to fail their school budgets in districts where teachers have not agreed to a wage freeze:

"...The [article attached/click on More below] details statements made today by Governor Christie urging voters to reject school budgets in districts where employees have not agreed to salary freezes. This suggestion is tantamount to encouraging voters to punish the majority of the state's children for something over which neither they, nor their parents have any control. Given the tools available to local school Boards, we have little control either. Despite the strenuous efforts of most Boards in New Jersey, the majority of union locals have not agreed to wage freezes. As you know, they cannot be imposed unilaterally.

I find it incredible that a Governor who has already deprived every New Jersey school district of 5% of its school budget has now encouraged voters to reject the budgets that incorporate those enormous cuts.

I know each of you are supporters of the state's schoolchildren and of public education. At this time, when public education is threatened in our state as never before, I encourage you to speak up against this latest attack. High quality public education is the hallmark of a civilized society. Please advocate now for our children before it is too late."

GSCS comments:'The GSCS board is very concerned and opposed to the Governor using the local budget elections as a way to strike at the NJEA.

If, as has repeatedly been stated, the battle is between the Governor and the NJEA, then why would Gov. Christie visit that issue so harshly, negatively and directly on local schools and students?

Candidly, our members - who have been trying so hard to get the local associations to negotiate concessions - feel todays' statement, so close to April 20 school budget elections, to be a slap in the face. And, one that will likley have a lasting impact on how people perceive their relationship to Trenton.

With the cuts of $260M in school aid and $90M in surplus reduction to our 100 GSCS member suburban districts alone, we all recognize that quality education is at serious risk. Folks are legitimately worried about public education programs in New Jersey. Now, they should and will be even more, if that is possible.

We ask for clarification on this already-published statement of today (nj.com), and if it is true and contextual, we ask the Governor to reconsider his position.' (Article accuracy verified by Governor's office late afternoon 4-12-10)
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4-13-10 Dept. of Education & Commissioner Schundler go before Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee today.
The Committee hearing is scheduled fo 10 a.m. in Committee Room 4 of the State House Annex; it can be viewed/listened on line - go to the New Jersey Legislature homepage.

4-13-10 'Teachers union chief refuses Gov. Christie's request to fire memo writer
Statehouse Bureau TRENTON - "...The standoff between Christie and Barbara Keshishian, head of the 200,000-member New Jersey Education Association, came hours after the governor urged voters to reject local school budgets in districts where teachers have not agreed to a one-year wage freeze — the majority of districts statewide. "I just don’t see how citizens should want to support a budget where their teachers have not wanted to be part of the shared sacrifice," said Christie, whose proposed $820 million cut in school aid has districts planning layoffs and program cuts..."
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4-11-10 What's the Buzz? Recent News
Gannet Newspapers New Jersey, Sunday April 11, 2010 - Gov. Chris Christie pushes powerful NJEA teachers union into corner

Christie: union leader's email 'beyond the pale' Politicker NJ

Property taxes would rise with Christie budget cuts Wednesday, The Record

Philadelphia Inquirer - Sharp debate on N.J. budget As legislative review opens, Democrats assailed the "tax-laden" plan, the GOP praised spending cuts.

Newark schools: Finding ways to do more with less

The Record - Teachers take off the gloves
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4-6-10 'Gov. Chris Christie extends deadline for teacher salary concessions'
Statehouse Bureau "...Christie said 115 of the state's approximately 600 districts have implemented some form of wage freeze for teachers, administrators, staff or some combination of those employees. Last week, when he announced the proposal, the governor initially gave districts until Monday -- when they submitted school budgets to the state -- to accomplish a freeze.

Today, he said districts and their local employee unions that agree to freeze salaries between now and when the state budget must be passed on June 30 would still get money back. School budgets go to local voters for approval on April 20..."
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4-6-10 'NJ school layoffs, program cuts boost attention to Apri 20 votes
Star-Ledger - With New Jersey school districts planning layoffs and sweeping cuts to services, school budget elections are the talk of most towns as the April 20 vote nears...Gov. Chris Christie believes the cuts are necessary to help clean up the state’s historic budget mess. He’s called on districts to engage in "a fight worth having" by re-negotiating teacher contracts, which call for raises of more than 4 percent. But even if districts and teachers agree to pay freezes or other givebacks, the cuts will be painful. Some sports teams and other extracurricular activities are on the chopping block. Class sizes will most likely increase.

And it could get even worse. If voters reject property tax hikes..."
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4-2-10 'On Titanic, NJEA isn't King of the World'
Friday, April 2, 2010 - RECORD EDITORIAL COLUMNIST "...The NJEA either can hold firm while it watches hundreds of its members lose jobs or it can blink and save many union jobs while gaining credibility with taxpayers. The answer is so easy to see. But the same might have been said on April 14, 1912, about a large chunk of ice."
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4-2-10 Press of Atlantic City lists county impact re: school aid reduction
Click on more here for the Press' full list and descriptions
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Administration's presentation on education school aid in its 'Budget in Brief' published with Governor Christie's Budget Message
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4-1-10 Courier Post article reports on Burlington and Camden County district budgets
'Schools take 'drastic steps' after state aid reduced' School budgets will be voted on April 20. Read about issues in Moorestown, HaddonTownship, Collingswood, Cherry Hill, Camden, Washington Township
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4-1-10 Education in the News today
Get the flavor of what's going on in school districts - the pressures and constraints they face with nearly $1B reducation in state aid; the concerns for leveling down quality education and increasing property taxes riding in the balance - as they prepare school budgets for the April 20th vote. Scan MORE EDUCATION HEADLINES IN THE NEWS TODAY - Click on More below and see 30 more headlines gleaned from today's papers
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4-1-10 New Initiatives outlined to encourage wage freezes - reaction
'State offers teachers a break on benefits contributions if they accept pay freeze' Press of Atlantic City
"...For any contract negotiated before May 22, employees will not have to pay 1.5 percent medical...For any current contract for which a one-year extension with no salary increases for 2010-11 has been granted, employees will not have to pay 1.5 percent medical...For any new contract negotiated after May 22, employees will have to pay 1.5 percent medical..."

'N.J. teachers who revise contracts get break on benefits fee, state memo says' Star Ledger continuous news desk

"...New Jersey public school teachers who accept revised contracts by May 22 don't have to contribute 1.5 percent of their pay for health benefits for the 2010-11 school year, giving school staff an incentive to take a wage freeze or smaller raises..."

'N.J. teachers union is skeptical of Gov. Christie's letters on wage freeze' By Statehouse Bureau Staff

"...Twice in the past eight days, Christie has written to Barbara Keshishian, president of the New Jersey Education Association, to encourage her to endorse his proposal that teachers accept one-year wage freezes. But Steve Baker, a spokesman for the NJEA, was skeptical. He said the organization was rebuffed when it invited the governor to meet with its leaders shortly after Christie was elected in November..."If it was a genuine attempt to reach out to the NJEA, he would have made an attempt to reach out and have a discussion, not just send out a letter he released to the press," Baker said...

We are waiting for a sign, a smoke signal, any indication at all, that the NJEA, as an organization, will break with its iron-fisted refusal to move beyond its self-interest to that of the public interest," Drewniak(Governor's spokesman) said. "The atmosphere will change when that happens."
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3-31-10 What's Going on in Local Districts?
In Florence, union votes for wage freeze Burlington County Times

Gov. Chris Christie gets chilly reception at Montclair High School visit

Talks with Edison teachers stall

Chatham schools budget cuts positions, adds extracurricular fees

After losing $2.5 million in state aid, Cranford BOE approves proposed budget that eliminates 48 jobs, middle school sports

Asbury Pk Press school budget calls for 90 layoffs, other cuts
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3-30-10 Race to the Top winners helped by local buy-in
Education Week - 'Local Buy-In Helps Two States Win Race to Top' "...Still, peer reviewers knocked points off for that low participation. In fact, if Georgia had gotten the full points for district participation, it would have been enough to push it ahead of Tennessee." Vol. 29, Issue 28
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3-30-10 'Gov offers more state aid to NJ schools that freeze teacher pay' and 'Christie's approval rating drops 9 points after budget proposal'
The Star-Ledger - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he plans to offer more state aid to school districts whose teachers agree to a wage freeze for the 2011 fiscal year New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said he will offer more state aid to school districts whose teachers agree to a wage freeze for the 2011 fiscal year..."
TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie predicted he would lose some of his luster with voters after he laid out his plans for severe budget cuts. According to a poll out today, he was right.

Statehouse Bureau - The governor’s approval rating has dropped 9 points, to 43 percent, since his prediction earlier this month, said a Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind survey of 802 registered New Jersey voters..."
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3-30-10 Feds Grant $66.7M to provide 'turnaround support to NJ's lowest performing schools'
NJDOE News - Commissioner Bret Schundler today welcomed the U.S. Department of Education’s recent announcement that New Jersey will receive approximately $66.7 million to assist in turn-around efforts for the state’s persistently lowest performing schools..." For more information see NJ Department of Education website.
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3-30-10 Race to the Top winners announced
'Race to the Top' education funds go to Delaware, Tennessee' By The Associated Press 3-29-10 "The U.S. Department of Education picked Delaware and Tennessee for the first round of its "Race to the Top" competition, giving part of an unprecedented $4.35 billion to the states, a person with knowledge of the choice said today..."

New Jersey lost out on Race to the Top money over lack of clarity, according to report - The Record 3-30-10
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3-29-10 The Record and Asbury Park Press - Editorials
The Record editorial: 'School budget 101' Monday, March 29, 2010 - IT'S DECISION time "...The local board of education is just one leg of a three-legged stool. Employees and parents can help bring budgets into balance.....We support the call by Governor Christie to ask unions to agree to a wage freeze. Many school administrators have already agreed to do so — including in Montvale. Teachers and other staff members should do the same. Virtually every school district is trying to reopen contracts. A survey of 23 districts found that wage freezes would save them $59 million next year, according to the state School Boards Association.....It's not the whole answer. But it's a big part. The NJEA and other state representatives should return to the bargaining table. And Christie may need to re-examine his vow not to renew the so-called "millionaire's" income tax for one year..."

Christie to teachers: "Step up to the plate" AN ASBURY PARK PRESS EDITORIAL • March 28, 2010

"...One by one, school districts have been announcing plans to cut jobs, programs, busing and more. If the teachers union pushes for districts to agree to Christie's plan, a lot of those cuts could be halted.

The fight to reign in school spending desperately needed someone to step into the ring on behalf of the taxpayers. Christie did. Hopefully, both sides can shake hands and come out working together — for the children's sake."
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3-28-10 Education News of Note
Asbury Park Press, Issues section - Gov. Chris Christie says he's ready for a fight with unions to cut costs Gov. Chris Christie sat down with the editors of the Asbury Park Press and Gannett New Jersey last week… He continued his criticism of the state's teachers union and vowed to continue to make changes to public sector pensions, benefits and salary structure

Philadelphia Inquirer - 'Budget fight looms over tax on rich'…Critics assail Christie's plan not to renew surcharge on incomes of $400,000 or more.

'N.J. releases annual guide on school spending' The New Jersey Department of Education released its annual Comparative Spending Guide Friday in advance of the many public budget hearings to be held next week in school districts statewide.
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GSCS Testimony presented to Senate Budget Committee on State Budget FY'11 on 3-23-10
In addition to overall numbers on Formula Aid Impact on GSCS Districts and Special Education, GSCS testimony includes attachments:'District Vignettes' and Tables - see above- on Aid Loss by County and Statewide/see postings directly above.
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GSCS - Formula Aid Loss of 50% or more, by County
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GSCS - Formula Aid Loss under 50%, by County
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GSCS - Formula Aid Loss and Percent Loss by District - Statewide
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3-26-10 School Aid, Budget Shortfall - Impt Related Issues are Front Page News
Philadelphia Inquirer - Democrat ic legislators say budget must reinstate tax hike –
Inquirer Trenton Bureau - New Jersey's Democratic-controlled Legislature will not approve a state budget unless it reinstates an income tax increase on the wealthy, Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester) and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D., Essex) said yesterday.

N.J. lawmakers say towns should set sales, income taxes to ease high property taxes By Statehouse Bureau Staff

The Record - State's deep cuts to schools hit home "..."I think the governor is assuming that tax outrage trumps all other forms of outrage and, politically, it's been successful so far," said Bernard Josefsberg, schools chief in Leonia, where a dozen custodians may be let go to help close the $1.3 million shortfall in state aid. "He's forcing, in one fell swoop, revolutionary change, and not the kind of change we deserve."

Freeze N.J. teacher pay: Jobs they save may be their own By Star-Ledger Editorial Board/The Star-Led...
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3-25-10 STATE BUDGET FY11 PROCESS - IMPORTANT TRENTON DATES - April through May 2010
Now that the Appropriations Act process is underway, a series of hearings are being held for the public, for state departments, and for revenue forecast updates as well. Attached are dates and descriptions of hearings that scheduled for the next two months. The legislature normally breaks from regular sessions and committee hearing during this standard 'Budget Break' in the Spring. However, a session or quorum date may be scheduled if the legislature chooses. The legislative business picks up at a fast pace usually at the end of May and goes through June. This time is usually focused on policies that will impact the Governor's proposed budget, in the end the goal is to develop a final Appropriation Act by the end of June.
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FAQ's on Pension Reform bills signed into law March 22, 2010
READ FAQ's from Senate President Steven Sweeney on Pension Reform Law...
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3-25-10 NEW PENSION REFORM LAW - INFORMATION
Governor Christie signed his first public laws, enacting pension reform previously passed by the Senate, immediately after passage by the General Assembly Monday...To read the League of Municipalities information memo on how the bills work, click on
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3-24-10 PolitickerNJ 'Stung in the burbs'
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3-24-10 'NJ school boards detail program cuts,layoffs due to reduced aid'
Star Ledger - "New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's announcements for sweeping budget cuts have left school boards scrambling close big budget gaps.

Christie Tuesday called for teachers and school employees statewide to accept a yearlong wage freeze to prevent layoffs, as well as cuts to student programs and higher property taxes. The following is a snapshot of what some districts are contemplating..."
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3-23-10 Daily Record Op-Ed, by Jim O'Neill
Many Morris County residents, board members and school officials are bewildered by the Draconian cuts that have been placed on school aid for 2010/11. What exactly have school districts done; we have done what the law required us to do; constructed budgets, had them approved by the state's agent (county superintendent of schools) and had them approved by the voters.

We did not determine any of the following; that 90 percent or more of the cost of running local schools come solely from property taxes; that unlike other states there are no state funds dedicated for education, but rather those revenues all go into the same general pot to be spent as the Legislature determines; did not pass 78 laws that require schools to provide services to special education children above and beyond the federal requirements and we did not enact legislation that requires us to pay prevailing wages on every school project even though this increases the cost by at least 30 percent..."
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3-23-10 ' N.J. Gov. Chris Christie signs pension, benefits changes for state employees'
TRENTON -- After a day of haggling over details, Gov. Chris Christie tonight signed into law broad changes to pensions and benefits offered to public workers. The changes, which will largely affect future workers and won’t have much of an immediate impact on the state’s $46 billion pension hole, faced stiff opposition from labor unions every step of the way since being announced in January...
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3-23-10 State Budget Issues in the News
'State aid reductions force N.J. school boards to cut staffs, including teachers' By The Associated Press
Asbury Park Press - 'Gov. Christie to school employees: Skip raises'
'Christie: Teachers should give back scheduled raises' STATE HOUSE BUREAU
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3-23-10 Just passed 7:15 pm. Monday Night by Assembly
S2 Pension Reform (substitution) on ‘emergency’ so vote could be immediate. Note: Since this bill was amended it is not identical to the Senate version that passed earlier. Both houses must pass the identical bill prior to it going to the Governor's desk for signature into law. 62 Y 5 N 9 A PASSED ASSEMBLY

S3 Health Bens/1.5 minimum as contracts expire – all public employees 66 Y 3 N 3 A PASSED BOTH HOUSES

S4 Changes Unused Sick Leave etc 73 Y 2 N 1 A PASSED BOTH HOUSES
Star Ledger reports - TRENTON -- The state Assembly signed a disputed pension bill with an amendment that would remove the chance for workers to opt-out of the state's pension system and switch to a 401(k)-style plan.

After much haggling throughout the day, the bill passed 62-5, with nine members abstaining and four not voting. Two other bills also passed swiftly after that.

The bill is headed to the Senate for another vote.

Gov. Chris Christie said he would sign the bills tonight right after final passage

3-21-10 Reform bills up for a vote in the Assembly on Monday, March 22
Attached are bill statements from the 3 bills that have already passed in the Senate (36-0)...If S3 and S4 pass the Assembly they will go to the Governor's desk for his signature. These are bills that the Governor has said are a 'good start'. GSCS expects that more reform bills will move along soon.

S2 - The bill makes a number of changes to the State-administered retirement systems concerning eligibility, the retirement allowance formula, the definition of compensation, the positions eligible for service credit, the non-forfeitable right to a pension, the enrollment waiver, the prosecutor’s part of the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), special retirement under the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS) and employer contributions to the pension systems.

S3 - The bill makes various changes to the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) and the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) concerning eligibility, cost sharing, choice of a plan, the application of benefit changes, the waiver of coverage and multiple coverage under such plans.

S4 - The bill makes various changes concerning payments to public employees for unused sick leave, carrying forward of vacation leave by public employees, sick leave for injury while in State service, and accidental and ordinary disability retirement for members of the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) and the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF).
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GSCS FYI - GSCS will be testifying onTuesday in Bergen County on the State Budget
We appreciate members input as to how state aid reductions are impacting your budgets. Keep the information coming so we can keep Trenton up to date by reporting the overall impact to GSCS school district statewide membership. It is important that GSCS and local districts keep legislators and the executive ranch as informed as possible. At this point, state legislative hearings begin as the process for finalizing the Appropriations Act for FY11 moves ahead. The Governor's budget proposal begins that process; this year the debate will be critical.
Reform legislation is needs to go hand in hand with this budget so that schools and quality education are not brought down to a lower common denominator. GSCS will be making recommendations to Trenton to help soften the negative impacts that are being heard throughout New Jersey for schools. Help us help you - please send your district budget information to gscs2000@gmail.com.

3-21-10 Sunday News from Around the State - School Communities, School Budgets and State Budget Issues
Star Ledger - 'tates increasingly take aim at teachers' tenure as legal fees mount to fire some'
The Record - 'Christie budget: Plenty of pain to go around'

Asbury Park Press, Sunday 3-21-10 'Will taxes soar under Governor’s plan?'...And,‘Real World Impact of Christie Cuts Felt at Schools’

'Tough medicine: Gov. Chris Christie's proposed cap on public worker costs is a must' By Star-Ledger Editorial Board

Editorial - Asbury Park Press Sunday 3-21-10 The proposed budget cuts are deep. But as Christie said, it is now up to the Legislature, municipalities, school boards and public unions to help soften the impact.
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3-19-10 Editorial - Star Ledger Editorial Board
Gov. Chris Christie's budget: Deep cuts to N.J. schools are unavoidable without income tax surtax on the wealthy By Star-Ledger Editorial Board/The Star-Led...

'Gov. Chris Christie's budget: Deep cuts to N.J. schools are unavoidable without income tax surtax on the wealthy'

"...In the face of rising costs and signed labor contracts, he asks the state’s schools to abruptly reduce spending by 5 percent in one year.

That’s going to cause havoc. It will force substantial layoffs of teachers and other personnel, who make up roughly 80 percent of the costs in most districts. It will translate into larger class sizes and stingier offerings. It will inevitably damage student performance..."
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3-19-10 NJ Assembly panel approves five bills on state employee pension, health care changes
FYI - Bills are posted to be voted upon by the Assembly this Monday; the Senate has already passed three of the bills. If those three bills pass the Assembly they will go to the Governor's desk for his signature.

Click on More below for the article; scroll to the end of the article to get access to video of Governor Christie on schools, teachers from a Star Ledger editorial board meeting this week.

Ledger/TRENTON — "To hoots and hisses from public employee union leaders who packed a committee room, an Assembly panel approved five bills Thursday that would make broad changes to public workers’ pension and health care benefits. Three of the five bills have already passed the Senate..."
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3-19-10 In the News @ nj.com
Statehouse Bureau Staff/The Record & Star Ledger The New Jersey School Boards Association today called on lawmakers and Gov. Chris Christie to suspend this year’s school budget elections so districts can grapple with unprecedented cuts in aid announced this week. The proposal, however, is opposed by Christie and is not likely to gain steam in the Legislature...

The Star-Ledger - The Governor plans to cut public school aid, but says to expect "more charter schools" next year..

By The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk TRENTON — This week, the state released state aid figures that have many school districts looking at cuts of 40-, 50- or even 100 percent. The cuts were included in Gov. Chris Christie's proposed state budget that would spend $820 million less on public schools next year. Each of the state’s nearly 600 districts saw reductions of aid equal..."
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3-18-10 GSCS - As state aid figures were released yesterday, analysis begins
GSCS initial take: The impact on GSCS member districts is deep; suburban districts have been hit particularly hard. With budgets due for submission to the County Superintendents this Monday, there has been virtually no realistic notice to plan well with adequate time for forethought for stability for Fiscal Year 11. We will report GSCS figures as soon as possible. GSCS will be testifying before the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee this coming Tuesday at Bergen Community College. Data and impacts will be reported front and center in our testimony. Statewide reporting on school aid cuts is intensive, reflecting different perspective and - most of all- the import of this issue for New Jersey communities.

'N.J. school district officials say Gov. Chris Christie budget cuts will force program, staff cuts' By Star-Ledger
.....Philadelphia Inquirer 'N.J. aid to schools to be drastically cut' "...No one disputes that districts will struggle to quickly craft budgets for voters to consider on April 20."The impact of the cuts will be felt community-wide, predicted Lynne Strickland, executive director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools..."

TRENTON -- Gov. Chris Christie sent suburban and urban school districts reeling today with the release of district-by-district state aid figures that cut 40-, 50- or even 100 percent of their state aid allotments for the coming year..."

Front page Star Ledger 3-18-10 1) 'N.J. Gov. Christie's school budget cuts reflect waning support of public education, unions' and 2)'N.J. school district officials say Gov. Chris Christie budget cuts will force program, staff cuts'

"It will certainly touch teaching positions, office staffing, administrative positions. Teaching positions are 80 percent of budgets, generally speaking," said Lynne Strickland, executive director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, which represents 100 suburban districts..."

The Record 'State aid cuts sharp for Bergen, Passaic districts'

"School district officials who had braced themselves for big state aid cuts lamented Wednesday that the actual cuts are deeper than they had feared..."

Ledger editorial ‘Restore N.J. tax on the rich; Enact local property tax cap’ By Star-Ledger Editorial Board/The Star-Led... March 17,
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3-17-10 p.m. State Aid for FY2011 on Department of Education website
Click on More below to get links to:
2010-11 State Aid Summaries

Commissioner's Memo

State Aid Bullets

Total State Aid 80 kb PDF, 26 kb Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet

State Aid Allocable To Districts, 2011 - County Totals: 10 kb PDF, 28 kb Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet

State Aid Allocable To All School Districts , 2011 67 kb PDF, 110 kb Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet

State Aid Retroactively Allocable To Districts and Debt Service, 2011 47 kb PDF, 70 kb Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet
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GSCS re the proposed budget - State aid figures need analysis but clearly extremely difficult; Tools more helpful when available before cuts

3-17-10 State Aid figures to be released this afternoon
Help us help you!
Contact GSCS at: gscs2000@gmail.com to tell us of the impact on your school budget.

3-17-10 Budget News - Gov. Chris Christie proposes sacrifices
Gov. Chris Christie today challenged lawmakers to help him transform New Jersey government in a hard-times budget speech today that portrayed a state on the brink of fiscal ruin.
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3-17-10 Budget News - NJ Schools Stunned By Cuts
When Gov. Christie told school districts yesterday afternoon they should expect aid cuts up to 5 percent of their overall budgets, Jim Devereaux, the Cherry Hill district's assistant superintendent of business, couldn't believe what he was hearing.
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3-16-10 Link to Budget in Brief publication
Go to Page 70-71 to find information on the governor's proposal for state aid to education.
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3-16-10 Governor delivers Budget Message - hard news for schools
'Breakdown of Gov. Chris Christie's New Jersey budget plan' The Star-Ledger - New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (center) makes his first budget address to a joint session of the New Jersey Legislature.

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie's administration publicly unveiled details of his budget proposal today. Here's a breakdown of how they want to spend $29.3 billion in taxpayer money, described by Chief of Staff Richard Bagger and Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff. STATE AID TO SCHOOLS This is the single largest chunk of the state’s budget. Christie wants to cut almost $820 million from this area. No school district would lose more than 5 percent of its budget under Christie’s plan. Districts that receive less than 5 percent of its annual budget from state aid could be cut out entirely..."
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3-15-10mid-day: 'Gov. Christie plans to cut NJ school aid by $800M'
By Statehouse Bureau Staff March 15, 2010, 12:50PM The Star-Ledger TRENTON —Gov. Chris Christie's budget includes an across-the-board cut in state aid to school districts that will equal up to 5 percent of their budgets for the current fiscal year, a move the administration expects to be challenged in court, according to three state officials familiar with the plan.

By basing the aid calculation on districts' budgets, the overall reduction of about $820 million is at odds with New Jersey's school funding formula, which dictates that more money go to districts with the neediest children, officials said. That formula, which survived a Supreme Court challenge last spring, replaced the longstanding "Abbott" system that sent the bulk of the aid to 31 poor urban districts. .."
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3-15-10 'Sources: NJ gov's budget suspends tax rebates'
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS • Asbury Park Press

TRENTON — New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is preparing to introduce a budget that suspends property tax rebates, cuts more than $1 billion in aid to schools and towns and skips a $3 billion contribution to the state pension system, legislative leaders said Sunday.

The budget must be approved by the Democrat-controlled Legislature and signed by the Republican governor by July 1, the start of the new fiscal year. This is Christie's first budget.

The budget proposes an $819 million cut in aid to school districts and a $445 million cut in aid to towns.
Christie is expected to call for a 2.5 percent spending cap for schools and towns, but that constitutional amendment would have to be approved by voters and wouldn't likely take effect until 2012. If approved, spending above the cap would require voter approval..."
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3-15-10 'N.J. taxpayers owe pension fund $45.8 billion' The Record
The RECORD "New Jersey taxpayers face a decades-long continuation of six-figure annual pension payouts and other costly retirement benefits promised to public employees. The reason: State law guarantees that pensions for existing workers can't be altered. Even a package of pending legislation — hailed as the remedy for a system that's short $45.8 billion — would apply only to new employees and not to the current workforce of some 450,000..."
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3-14-10 'Christie will propose constitutional amendment to cap tax hikes in N.J. budget'
GSCS Quick Fact:The 2.5% cap proposal will, according to this article, require a constitutional amendment to pass prior to implementation. Given timelines for the statewide public vote needed to implement a constitutional amendment as well as legislative process requirements, it is unlikely that this could be implemented until 2012 at the earliest.

TRENTON/STAR LEDGER -- "Gov. Chris Christie will propose a constitutional amendment limiting annual property tax increases to 2.5 percent when he introduces a budget Tuesday that will seek fundamental changes in spending at every level of government, according to administration officials with knowledge of the plan...

"Christie will also propose converting the state’s property tax rebate checks into direct credits on homeowners’ tax bills..."

"The governor’s $29.3 billion budget will shave $2.9 billion off state spending from last year, about a 9 percent drop. The cuts include reductions in aid to municipalities and school districts...

"Unlike the current 4 percent limit, the new "hard" 2.5 percent cap on municipal, school and county property tax levies would be all-encompassing, without exceptions for such essentials as rising health insurance or debt payments. The tax could be raised higher only if local voters grant their approval in referendums. .."
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3-11-10 Public Hearings on State Budget for FY11 posted on NJ Legislature website
Attached is the Senate and Assembly schedule for public hearings on the State Budget proposed for Fiscal Year ’11.

For full hearing schedule and sign up information, go to: http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/
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3-11-10 'GOP vows tools to cut expenses, tighter caps'
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER 3-11-10 "...On one hand, Christie and other top administration officials are promising to give mayors and school boards the "tools" to control labor costs and rein in expenses that contribute to New Jerseyans' $7,300-a-year average property tax bill. On the other, Christie and at least one Republican lawmaker have argued for clamping down with a tighter cap on property tax increases...
"There will be tools provided to municipalities and school boards to deal with this." A health-care proposal working its way through the Legislature would require local workers to pay 1.5 percent of their salaries toward their premiums... Christie and his top aides have signaled that they also intend to give school boards more muscle in labor negotiations.

"If schools have more power at the bargaining table, they might be able to get settlements that are more realistic," said Lynne Strickland, executive director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, which recently hosted a forum with Christie's acting education commissioner, Bret Schundler. One step recommended in Christie's transition report on education is restoring the "last best offer" provision..."
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3-9-10 'NJ leaders face tough choices on budget'
Philadelphia Inquirer Trenton Bureau- "The list of controversial choices is likely to get longer March 16, when Christie presents his first full budget, which must close an $11 billion gap between projected spending needs and tax collections...

"The [budget message]presentation represents an opportunity, and also a hazard, for the Republican governor and the Democratic Legislature...

"The strategy is to tell the truth about what is practical and sustainable and possible given the reality of life and that there needs to be a repositioning to make New Jersey competitive again," Kyrillos said..."
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3-6 and 7-10 Editorials: Race to the Top, a loss...Sick Leave
Race to the top funding: N.J. teachers union stood in the way - By Star-Ledger Editorial Board "...Steve Wollmer, NJEA spokesman, said the union is "very comfortable" with its opposition to Race to the Top, and thinks the Obama administration’s vision for education is "very, very misinformed.

One thing is very, very clear: the union’s inflexibility doesn’t place students first. At a time of financial crisis, leaving money on the table makes no sense at all."

Sick days have become golden parachutes for N.J. public workers By Star-Ledger Editorial Board

"...Thanks to decades of irresponsible (and costly) negotiations by many municipalities, sick days have become golden parachutes instead of use-them-or-lose-them insurance policies against illness, as they are in the private sector. That must change. Immediately..."
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3-7-10 Column-'NJ Democrats scramble as Gov. Christie draws the budget battle lines'
The Star-Ledger "In nine days, Gov. Chris Christie will present a budget that attempts to reverse everything from the Corzine years...

"Working families will be thrown off health care programs. Bus and train fares will go up by 25 percent. School aid will likely be slashed, a blow that will land hardest on lower-income districts that depend on Trenton most. Even unemployment checks will get the squeeze. And all that won’t get him even halfway to a balanced budget...

"Democrats are watching all this and scrambling for a strategy. Should they make a fuss over Christie’s plan to cut taxes for the rich, a move that will dig the deficit deeper by about $1 billion? Should they draw the line on health care? School aid? Or should they step aside and let this charging bull have his moment?...

"For now, they are divided and rudderless...

"So with nine days to go, here’s where we stand: Christie has Republicans in lockstep support, he’s intimidated the special interests, and he’s left the Democrats divided. Not bad for a rookie governor about to face his first big test."
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3-5-10 HomeTowne Video taping - interviews of GSCS Summit at Summit
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3-5-10 GSCS Summit@Summit with Bret Schundler to be lead topic on Hall Institute's weekly 2:30 pm podcast today
3-5-10 Hi Lynne, I do a weekly podcast on Friday afternoons with Michael Shapiro of the Alternative Press, discussing recent state and local events. Today Mike and I plan to discuss Bret Schundler’s appearance at your GSCS 3-2-10 meeting in Summit. If you or any of your members would like to listen live, the podcast starts at 2:30 p.m. and is available at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/hall_institute .
You also can call in join our discussion at (347) 215-7656.

Sorry for the late notice, but we don’t decide on topics until the day before the show. If you can’t listen live today, after the podcasts are done, they are archived on our BlogTalk Radio site at the web address above -Thanks, Richard Lee, Communications Director, Hall Institute of Public Policy N.J.

http://richleeonmedia.blogspot.com/ (blog)

www.hallnj.org

3-4-10 'NJ education chief Bret Schundler tells suburban schools to expect more cuts in aid'
Star Ledger - "In a Summit middle school auditorium Tuesday night, Schundler, who was nominated by Gov. Chris Christie to serve as the education commissioner and is awaiting confirmation by the state legislature, addressed funding concerns from parents and board members from Union, Morris, Bergen and Essex [and more] county districts. Most attendees were members of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, a group of about 100 predominantly suburban school districts...

Schundler said that, if confirmed, he hopes to reward self-sufficient districts with budget flexibility. He said he also hopes to relax rules that bar cost-savings measures such as giving employees incentives to leave the district in lieu of layoffs or requiring swift negotiations between schools and employee bargaining groups..."
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3-4-10 NJ not a finalist state in Race to the Top; NJEA loses pension funding appeal
'N.J. is out of running in first round of federal 'Race to the Top' education funding' The Star-Ledger "...Acting Education Commissioner Bret Schundler said today that New Jersey's application was probably denied because union leaders in more than 350 of the state's school districts refused to endorse the application...

'N.J. appeals court rules state may skip teachers' pension fund payments'...Statehouse Bureau TRENTON -- In a ruling against the state's largest teachers union, a three-member appellate court panel this morning said New Jersey is not constitutionally required to pay the millions it owes every year into the fund for teachers' pensions..."
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3-4-10 GSCS Email-Net: Summit @ Summit Report - A New Day in Trenton?
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3-4-10 'School aid cuts unavoidable during NJ budget crisis'
“Christie worked so hard to avoid reductions in state aid to New Jersey’s public schools" By Bret Schundler,Star-Ledger Guest Columnist

"...But it is the governor’s hope that total state aid to school districts will not have to be decreased drastically — that we will be able to find enough savings in other areas of the budget to be able to maintain it at a consistent level.

If we can at least get close to our goal, and if legislators and educators will support us as we work to provide school districts new ways to stretch their available resources to the fullest, our children will be the winners..."
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3-3-10 'Public Education in N.J.: Acting NJ Comm of Educ Bret Schundler says 'Opportunity'
3-3-10 Alternative Press/Indepentdent Press - 'Garden State Coalition of Schools Asks What’s Ahead for Education'

SUMMIT, NJ – Educators, legislators and concerned parents from near and far came to the Lawton C. Johnson Summit Middle School on Tuesday night to participate in a forum organized by the Garden State Coalition of Schools entitled, "What’s Ahead for Public Education in New Jersey." Acting New Jersey Commission of Education Bret Schundler was the event’s special guest and during prepared remarks as well as in response to questions and answers from audience members, he provided a peak inside the Christie Administration’s plans for education in the Garden State, including how the Administration will deal with the State’s fiscal crisis.

Lynne Strickland, Executive Director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, said that the New Jersey state budget is in real trouble and local school budgets are in a lot of trouble, as well. "We better hold our hands together or we’re going to sink," she said...She stated that there is good news and bad news about education and the State’s budget: the budget for schools is the biggest part of the state budget. She recommended that there are three keys to ensuring quality education in New Jersey: stability (quality of education), ability (to remain stable educationally) and flexibility (how budget cuts are applied to ensure the quality of education is not sacrificed).

Jim O’Neil, President of the Coalition and Superintendent of the School District of the Chathams, said that Governor Christie inherited a "fiscal mess" and there are no simple answers to complex issues. He stated that the Coalition recognizes that the problems that education is facing are serious and that the Coalition wants to be part of the solution..." Click on more below to read comments from Commissioner Schundler, and Legislators Senator Tom Kean, Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, and Assemblywomen Nancy Munoz and Mila Jasey.
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3-1-10 'NJ Senate panel approves Bret Schundler as edcation chief'
Star Ledger/TRENTON — The Senate Judiciary Committee today approved acting Education commissioner Bret Schundler’s nomination — but not before handing him a rebuff. Following a second day of grilling about his views on everything from the teaching of evolution to school funding, the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 11-0 in favor of Schundler’s nomination to the Senate, but noted it was doing so without recommendation..."
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2-28-10 Star Ledger editorial series and The Record: in-depth series & article on ambience & timing - The economy, public sentiment, Gov Christie & union issues
'It's time: Freeze N.J. public workers' pay, change bargaining rules' By Star-Ledger Editorial Board, A series: Going broke-- 'The high cost of public workers' Tomorrow: 'How to fix the broken negotiating rules that are rigged in favor of the unions'

'The NJEA vs. Governor Christie: Two powerhouses doing battle' Sunday, February 28, 2010 The Record

The New Jersey Education Association is a powerhouse of a union — with a massive membership and a multimillion-dollar wallet that it has used to press its causes, from smaller class sizes to larger pension payouts.

It is long accustomed to getting its way.

But now, the man the union worked so hard to keep out of the governor's office is in charge in Trenton..."
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2-26-10 'NJ average property taxes grow 3.3 percent to an average of $7,300'
Statehouse Bureau - "...The 3.3 percent average increase was the smallest in a decade, and marked the second straight year with a rate below a 4 percent cap instituted through a special legislative session in 2006-07..."
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2-26-10 Independent Press - nj.com on the GSCS Education Summit@Summit
'N.J. Commissioner of Education Bret Schundler will speak at the Garden State Coalition meeting in Summit on March 2'

"Shundler, the former Mayor of Jersey City, was appointed by Governor Chris Christie as New Jersey Commissioner of Education.

"We are looking forward to having Mr. Schundler speak to our membership and to interested community members about what lies ahead for education in New Jersey,” said Lynne Strickland, executive director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools..."
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2-25-10 Gov. Christie's Red Tape Review Comm., chaired by Lt. Gov. Guadagno, to hold public hearings In March
Meeting of Red Tape Review, Set to Discuss Administrative Rulemaking
Trenton, NJ – Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno will host the first of three public meetings of the bipartisan Red Tape Review. They will hear from invited speakers and members of the public on the following topic: “Reforming the Administrative Rulemaking Process in New Jersey.”
The Group will take testimony on ways in which the “Administrative Procedure Act” can be revised in order to make the administrative rulemaking process more understandable, fair and transparent.
Members of the public wishing to testify before the group are asked to bring copies of their remarks and submissions for group members.
Hearing Schedule: South Jersey - March 2, Rowan Univ., 3 pm; Central Jersey -March 9, Brookdale Community College, 4 pm; North Jersey - March 23 - Montclair State Univ., 3pm.
Click here for details
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2-25-10 In the News
Statehouse Bureau 'N.J. Gov. Christie to mayors: Brace for state aid cuts' "...Christie, who last week said school districts should prepare for up to 15 percent cuts, did not say Wednesday how much less aid municipalities should expect when he delivers the budget address March 16. The Republican governor also gave no specifics on his plans for arbitration — an out-of-court process when a third party decides the terms of a contract to resolve an impasse — but said changes would "level the playing field" for towns and school boards...

Philadelphia Inquirer'Jumping over a cliff with Christie' "In a speech to about 150 mayors in the statehouse Wednesday, Gov. Christie said that the state's dire budget situation reminded him of the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid..."
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2-24-10 Pension Reform bills to be introduced in Assembly this Thursday
(a.m.) The buzz is that the Assembly Speaker, Sheila Oliver, plans to take some time 'vetting' the bills and will hold a public hearing on them as well. On Monday, the Senate Pension bills passed 36-0 (4 'no votes').

UPDATE 2-24-10 AFTERNOON: Associated Press "N.J. Assembly to take up pension, benefit reforms promoted by Gov. Chris Christie" February 24, 2010, 3:17PM

"...Bills mirroring reforms that the Senate approved on Monday are expected to be introduced Thursday.

Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver said they have bipartisan support and more than the 41 votes needed to pass."
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2-24-10 'Tight funds raise class sizes that districts long sought to cut'
Press of Atlantic City - "..It is a tight fit. The room holds 28 desks and chairs... The average kindergarten through eighth-grade class size statewide was 18 to 20 students in 2008-2009 according to the state school report card. The small size reflects a decade of efforts, spurred by the No Child Left Behind law, to reduce class size and improve student achievement.

But public demand to control property taxes and fears that state school aid may be cut by as much as 15 percent next year have school officials concerned that staff may have to be cut to balance the budget..."
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2-22-10 Trenton Active Today
GSCS: As part of the confirmation process, Acting Commissioner Schundler was interviewed by the Judiciary Committee this morning. Chairman Scutari announced, after approximately 2 hours of questioning, that the committee needed more time and that the hearing would be reconvened this coming Monday, March 1.

Acting Treasurer Eristoff spent over 2 hours before the Assembly Budget Committee in a Q & A session dealing with the Governor's current year decifit plan for state aid cuts and state spending reductions. Among other things, the Treasurer told the committee that the FY10 deficit plan is in place already, and that the administration is now focused on FY11 and the Governor's March 16 Budget Message. Assembly Budget Chairman Lou Greenwald cotinues to press for clarity on what actions, including the surplus reduction proposal, specifically may require legislative action.

Fast Track: Pension reform legislation passed the Senate 36-0 earlier in the afternoon today. The Assembly is introducing that legislation today, setting the stage to vote on it shortly.

Click on more below to see articles: "N.J. Senate panel delays vote on Bret Schundler's nomination for education chief until Monday" ... "N.J. Senate committee grills acting education commissioner" ... "N.J. acting treasurer, Assembly committee spar over Gov. Chris Christie's budget cuts" ... "N.J. Senate approves sweeping pension changes for public employees" ... "N.J. Senate approves ban on 'diploma mills' for school administrators, teachers to boost salaries"
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2-22-10 Christie and unions poised to do batttle over budget cuts'
Star-Ledger "It could be a long, drawn-out war..."
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2-19-10 'Acting NJ education commissioner hoping other savings can ward off cuts'
(GSCS was at the committee meeting yesterday, the commissioner was well-received; he is scheduled for a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday.The article below reports on his discussion with the Assembly Education Committee yesterday reflects the content of that conversation.)

The Record - “We’re working hard to see if we can achieve state aid that’s flat but we don’t know if it’s possible,” he told the Assembly Education Committee. “We’re going to try our best to see if we can achieve economies elsewhere in the state budget” to alleviate the pain for schools. Asked after Thursday’s hearing whether 15-percent cuts were the worst-case scenario, Schundler said “that would be precipitous to say. I wouldn’t say yes, I wouldn’t say no.”
Schundler said the dire forecasts stemmed partly from the expected loss of stimulus funds next year. An education department spokeswoman said roughly $1 billion of federal stimulus funds enabled the state to plug budget holes and give $7.5 billion in aid to districts this year. The acting commissioner said pension reform bills under discussion in the Legislature would, if enacted, help districts save significant sums...

If there are aid cuts, Schundler said that some districts would likely face higher percentage cuts than others, depending on their needs...Despite concerns over funding, the committee greeted Schundler cordially and expressed enthusiasm for his calls for high standards, more flexibility and innovation on the local level...In keeping with Schundler’s push for more choice in schooling, the committee unanimously approved a bill that would expand and make permanent a 10-year-old program that lets students leave their districts to attend public schools in 13 “choice districts” statewide, including Englewood..."
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2-18-10 News from Trenton & Schools
Philly.com 'Possible snag in Christie budget plan: may need some legislative OK' 'Gov. Chris Christie says he will need N.J. Legislature to move money into general funds' The Associated Press

'Gov. Chris Christie warns N.J. districts school aid could be cut 15 percent in next budget' Statehouse Bureau Staff

'N.J. bill would let parents move their kids to out-of-district public schools' By The Associated Press/This bill is to be heard in the Assembly Education Committee today 2-18-10
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2-18-10 GSCS Testimony before Assembly Budget Committee 2-17-10
"...With the information on hand to date, our research indicates that GSCS members will be not be receiving nearly $90M (nearly 20% of the $475M)in state aid for the remainder of this year. Feedback at this point is spotty and differs according to perspective and understanding as to how impacts might play out. One issue that seems to be emerging is that middle income districts that were gaining ground with the implementation of the School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) will be hit hard by aid reduction. Districts that had been efficient by saving money or by growing funds through program development – say an in-house program for autistic children that brings tuition payments into district –may lose the opportunity to build a needed full day kindergarten for example (approximately a third on New Jersey districts do not have full day kindergarten). How will next year’s school budgets hold up when property tax relief monies, which are drawn from surplus, are unavailable in whole or in part? Currently, districts are *statutorily required to roll over into the following year budget any funds, dubbed as property tax relief, above the allowable 2% rainy day funds. Because this law has been implemented for several years now, the reduction of surplus will create a hole in the subsequent budget.(It is worth nothing that caps are automatically waived when state aid is decreased - Budget Guidelines, Section III, F)

We hear the administration say tools will be provided to districts to help them get over the hump of dealing with aid loss during this year and the negative implications for property tax relief in Fiscal Year‘11. We look forward to hearing more on what those tools will be and when they will be available...Just as schools are being targeted to help put the current year state budget back on a more even keel, we ask folks in Trenton to reciprocate by allowing relief from as many mandates and regulations as possible, which will result in savings of time and money. And, we hope that can be done soon."
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2-16-10 'Christie Adopts Corzine Cuts, Then Some'
The Associated Press/My Central Jersey "...Murray (Monmouth Univ. pollster) said Christie and Corzine may both have looked to cut school aid because it is one of the few large unspent accounts remaining more than seven months into the budget year.
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2-14-10 'FAQ's on NJ's state of fiscal emergency declaration by Gov. Christie'
Statehouse Bureau Staff - Record & Star Ledger: February 11, 2010, 6:38PM,

Q. What did the governor actually do and what didn’t he do? A. Gov. Chris Christie said "a state of fiscal emergency exists," but he did not officially declare a "state of emergency," which would allow him to breach contracts and assume the type of extraordinary power usually reserved for natural or man-made disasters like hurricanes or terror attacks....for full Q&A, click here on
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2-12-10 Assembly Budget hearing posted for this Wednesday, Feb. 17
As posted on the New Jersey Legislature website, 2-12-10:
Assembly Budget - Wednesday, February 17, 2010 - 10:00 AM Meeting - Committee Room 11, 4th Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ The Assembly Budget Committee will take testimony on Governor Christie's proposal for closing the Fiscal Year 2010 estimated budget shortfall.

2-12-10 News Coverage: Governor Christie's message on actions to address current fiscal year state budget deficits
As anticipated, and laid out in the Governor's message yesterday, school surplus funds will be used to provide $475M to replace state aid to schools for the remainder of the year. With Executive Order 14, the Governor declared a fiscal state of emergency in the morning on February 11 prior to his message to the Joint Legislative Session.

FACTS: As presented, 100% of the additional surplus account, plus 25% each of reserve accounts for capital, maintenance and emergency are to be used to plug the local district's budget hole created since the state school aid is going to be recycled away from schools to help fill the deficit gap in the state budget for Fiscal Year '10 (this year).

The Governor’s Budget Message for FY11is scheduled for March 16.

GSCS: It is important to note that GSCS President Jim O'Neill relayed to the Daily Record yesterday, "... "We all recognize the dire economic times and that we're not going to be able to do what we normally would like to do..." GSCS understands the fiscal stress that the state and localities are facing and we hope to be a positive part of the solution. At the same time GSCS recognizes it has a responsibility to inform the public.

A number of questions arise from the plan; we will investigate and report back as soon as possible.

As GSCS stated in testimony this February 1 before the Senate Education Committee, “… a main tenet of the Coalition is ‘public support for public education’. A major GSCS priority is how to achieve fiscal responsibility to local and state taxpayers while assuring a stable base for quality education…We believe that the results of (any potential) reductions should be recorded and made known so that all understand the impact and learn from the experience…”

Click on more here for today's news articles on the Governor's message yesterday to the Joint Session of the Legislature.
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THE FOUR TITLE LINES DIRECTLY BELOW ARE STATE INFORMATION RE THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE YESTERDAY 2-11-10 ON CURRENT YEAR REDUCTIONS, INCLUDING SCHOOL AID

FY2010 Budget Solutions - PRESS PACKET
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School Aid Withheld Spreadsheet
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State Aid 2010 Reserve Calculation and Appeal Procedures
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State Aid Memo (2-11-10) 2 pgs
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2-11-10 'NJ Governor Chris Christie freezes spending to address budget gap'
GSCS: GSCS will inform Trenton of the impact of the Governor's directive. There are many details to ascertain prior to in depth analysis of the Governor's school aid reduction action...While at the Statehouse today to hear Governor Christie's special message, we were told by officials that a district by district listing would be available to districts and the public by this afternoon. However, the Department of Education alerted reporters later in the day that the list now will not be available for review until Tuesday. Stay tuned...