Active participants reflect a unique mix of citizens and parents, as well as educators and lay leadership, who bring a broad perspective to GSCS initiatives. Statewide membership has quintupled since formally organizing in 1992 and now formally includes more than 100 school districts with a range of financial resources. Through its membership, GSCS now represents nearly 375,000 public school children. GSCS brings a focused advocacy to the table at the statehouse in Trenton, strengthened by a recognized expertise in school funding. GSCS KEEPS YOU INFORMED

"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...

Thursday, February 11, 2010 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2010, 1:46 PM STATE HOUSE BUREAU/Record/Star Ledger
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2-11-10 'Gov Christie will announce fiscal emgergency, freeze funds'
GANNETT STATE BUREAU • February 11, 2010 TRENTON — "Gov. Chris Christie will declare a state of fiscal emergency today and freeze $1.6 billion in unexpended funds, including $475 million that had been intended as school aid, according to two administration officials..."
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2-11-10 Gov Christie address to Joint Session of the Legislature on state budget and current year aid reduction remains scheduled for today
'Gov. Christie is expected to address N.J. budget, declare state of emergency' Statehouse Bureau staff "The Republican governor is foregoing some options used by former Gov. Jon Corzine, including unpaid furloughs of state workers, and will not touch municipal aid. But Christie will announce an expanded version of Corzine's plan to force school districts to spend their stored surplus so the state can withhold more than $400 million in aid payments, according to three officials familiar with his plans.

That plan, targeted to about 500 of the state’s nearly 600 districts, was carefully crafted so it would not jeopardize federal stimulus funding and will not require an act of the Legislature, the officials said. But education advocates said it could hit the classroom...

Districts "are going to be very worried about being able to provide programs and the potential of cutting staff," said Lynne Strickland, executive director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, which represents 100 suburban New Jersey districts..."
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2-10-10 NJ School Report Cards released
The report is available at: http://education.state.nj.us

2-10-10 'Schools are likely targets for NJ budget cuts'
Philadelphia Inquirer Trenton Bureau "...He [Governor Christie] has few options. Much of the $29 billion budget has been distributed. Most aid to towns has been sent. Property-tax rebates have been mailed. Medicaid spending is tied to federal rules. Laying off state workers would take time and might require negotiations...But roughly half the school aid in the budget - $3.5 billion to $4 billion - has yet to be paid, making it one of the largest targets available....School-aid payments are sent in 20 installments each fiscal year, and 11 have gone out, according to the Department of Education.

There are limits to how much school aid can be reduced, however, because the federal stimulus law tied education support to spending guidelines..."
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2-9-10 News article posted this morning notes potential for large loss of current year school aid
GSCS: This Thursday at 10:30 Governor Christie has for a Joint Session of the Legislature deliver an address on the current year deficit and the state budget for FY11. The address will be carried on NJN News live as well as on the NJ Leg website...GSCS suggests that the amount cited in the article below as potential school aid that is vulnerable in this current year may exceed allowable restriction. STAY TUNED.
...........................................................................................................
New Jersey 101.5 FM - Posted: Tuesday, 09 Feb 2010 5:19AM 'SOURCES: CHRISTIE TO WITHHOLD SCHOOL AID'

"The day after tomorrow, Governor Chris Christie will address a special joint session of the Legislature regarding the state's current year budget deficit. Five sources with knowledge of Christie's plans say he will propose additional furlough days for state workers and possibly lay-offs. They say there's only one real pot of money left in the state's coffers and it is supposed to go towards school aid. The sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity tell Millennium Radio News that Christie will propose withholding a massive amount of that funding, maybe as much as $1 billion. They say the Governor will not declare a state of fiscal emergency..."

Five sources with knowledge of Christie's plans say he will propose additional furlough days for state workers and possibly lay-offs. They say there's only one real pot of money left in the state's coffers and it is supposed to go towards school aid. The sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity tell Millennium Radio News that Christie will propose withholding a massive amount of that funding, maybe as much as $1 billion. They say the Governor will not declare a state of fiscal emergency...

We're told Christie is still finalizing his plans for Thursday. A spokesman for the Governor says, "We're not going to talk about what he is saying on Thursday at this point. The ultimate cuts are not finalized and there is still plenty of discussion amongst the governor's staff..."
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2-8-10 Northjersey.com editorial 'Tightenting our Belts'
"...In fact in this space over the last half dozen years or so, we’ve cautioned members of the New Jersey Education Association, the parent organization of the various teachers’ unions, that they are in danger of losing their good name. While it hasn’t happened as of yet..."
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2-8-10 'School leaders around N.J. wait and worry over state aid figures'
The Star-Ledger
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2-8-10'Gov Christie, lawmakers proporse sweeping pension, health care changes for public employees'
Statehouse Bureau - nj.com
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2-5-10 Just out! Gov.Christie to address Joint Session 2-11-10 on current year fiscal problems
Information likely on school aid impact - For Immediate Release 2-4-10..... "Governor Chris Christie will address a special joint session of the Legislature next Thursday, February 11, regarding the state's current year budget deficit..."
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2-5-10 Senate Education Committee Agenda for Monday, Feb. 8
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2-5-10 In the News
'Study: Charter school growth accompanied by racial imbalance', Washington Post 'Change aid plan to treat school districts more equally' My Central Jersey
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2-4-10 'Christie advisers call for tough new school rules'
Philadelphia Inquirer "...The report - which is advisory, not indicative of definite policies the governor will pursue - has both delighted and concerned interested parties.

Much of it calls for further study. And to enact some changes, legislation would be required. That takes time.

"Overall, we think it's pretty good, and it's pretty tuned in to many of the educational needs of the local districts," said Lynne Strickland, executive director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, which represents about 100 districts, many in South Jersey.

A number of her group's recommendations made it into the report, Strickland said, including reviewing regulations adopted over recent years, relaxing some paperwork requirements for high-performing schools, and taking a critical look at funded and unfunded education mandates..."
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Governor Christie's Education Team Transition Report
Education Transition Team Recommendations Reflect GSCS Input Throughout the Transition Team's Education Committee Report

GSCS is encouraged to see many of the recommendations we had gathered from our members and submitted during our meeting with the team on your behalf. A few that we note include:

• a call for a moratorium on new programs and expanded initiatives and a review of educational rules and regulations • an immediate review of the School Funding Reform Act for its applicability in the future • an expectation that fiscal assessment will be done for all new legislation, rules and regulations to determine the impact on local property taxes and school budgets (as underscored in Executive Order 4, 1/20/10) • a concern for how the approximately $1 billion in Federal Stimulus grants that went into 2009-10 state funds for public education will be replaced as a source of funding without cuts to state aid • a suggestion that high performing districts already in compliance should only need to go through QSAC monitoring every seven years • a call for the state to move away from the "one size fits all" approach to governing local districts • a call for allowing well-performing districts to be released from burdensome central controls and oversight • a recommendation that High School finance literacy requirements be amended to allow for inclusion in existing courses • a call for a moratorium on school accountability regulations ('Burden of Prooof' noted) • a call for an overall review of special education, particularly where state regulations exceed federal mandate • an acknowledgement of proposed bills A-4140, A-4142 and prevailing wage legislation as problematic • a call for quality education for all NJ children

GSCS will be watching to see if these positive recommendations make the required next steps to become reality.

Click on More below for the Education Transition Team Report...To see the GSCS submissions on mandate and regulatory relief, see link to 'Mandate Relief' [sidebar left] on this homepage.
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2-4-10 'NJ Supreme Court rules schools can search cars of students'
Star-Ledger "School officials can search students’ cars on school property if they suspect them of illegal activity, the state Supreme Court unanimously ruled today in a decision that further broadens administrators’ investigatory rights..."
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2-2-10 GSCS BOARD TO MEET WITH COMMISSIONER BRET SCHUNDLER TODAY

1-29-10 Schools in the News
'N.J. may revive proposal to extend life of school buses' Star-Ledger
'Montgomery faces school budget challenges' - THE TIMES

'Gov. Chris Christie vetoes funding for over-budget Burlington High School project' - Star Ledger
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1-28-10 School Surplus plan to supplant State Aid in this year gaining probability
For Immediate Release, January 28, 2010 ‘Governor Christie Signals Commitment to Increased Transparency with Release of Latest Disclosure Form…Christie Administration Adds Detailed Language on New Jersey's Fiscal Situation’
Trenton, NJ – Governor Christie signaled his commitment to increased transparency in state budgeting with the addition of detailed language on New Jersey's fiscal situation in the State's offering statement. The languages makes clear to potential investors what fiscal developments have taken place since November 2009.

...In response to the budget shortfall, approximately $480 million of budget savings previously identified in the November Supplement are expected to be realized through administrative action. The State still is considering a number of previously identified items of budget savings as well as a number of recently identified items, some of which may require the enactment of legislation. Most notable of the items under consideration is over $260 million in savings intended to be achieved by requiring school districts to offset their State school aid payments with their accumulated surplus balances..."
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1-28-10 Bi-Partisan hearing set for Tuesday, Feb. 2, 3 pm - public invited to testify
"Assembly Bipartisan Leadership Committee Tuesday, February 02, 2010 - 3:00 PM Hearing - Committee Room 11, 4th Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ The Committee, made up of leadership from both the Democratic and Republican Assembly Caucuses, will conduct a public hearing to receive testimony from residents on ideas on how State and local government can improve life in the State."

You may sign up by calling the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer at 609 984 6798
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1-28-10 Governor Christie names new head of School Development Authority (SDA)
Marc Larkins, Executive Director of the New Jersey School Development Authority Board...'Marc Larkins is the Assistant United States Attorney in the US Attorney's Office for the District of New Jersey...'
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1-27-10 'New Jersey Voters Hostile to School Construction Projects
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 'Voters in several New Jersey towns have shown they're in no mood to raise taxes. They defeated seven of the nine school construction projects up for votes in communities across the state...'
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1-27-10 'NJ school referendums will decide on $293.7M in construction'
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1-26-10 Articles on Education Transition Team Report & Agency changes in Trenton
'Gov. Christie transition report recommends tougher N.J. rules for teacher tenure' Star-Ledger.......... 'Christie outlines agency shakeup' Associated Press
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1-26-10 Budget article & Editorial
'Gov. Christie's projected $1.3B N.J. budget shortfall is reasonable, analyst says' Statehouse Bureau ...........
'Gov. Chris Christie's spending cuts: First step, a thorough exam' - Star-Ledger Editorial Board

How many state workers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
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1-22-10 All Transition Group Reports available on line at Governor's website
Governor Chris Christie released 19 reports prepared by his Transition New Jersey subcommittees, which conducted thorough reviews of all departments, agencies and authorities of the state and made assessments and recommendations to improve, shrink and, in some cases, eliminate wasteful or inefficient government operations. The reports can be viewed by clicking here on
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1-22-10 Governor Christie Education Transition Team Report today, Jan.22, 2010
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GSCS at TRI-DISTRICT MEETING IN MONMOUTH COUNTY January 27
New Jersey Schools In the Current Budget Crisis - New Jersey, like other states, face very challenging times ahead with probable cuts to State Aid...Come learn about the possible changes under a new administration and how they may affect your schools' Wednesday, January 27, 7pm, Sponsored by the Shrewsbury Parent- Teacher Group and the Budget Awareness Committee.Tri-District hosts are Shrewsbury, Little Silver and Red Bank/Red Bank Regional - Click here for flyer and meeting details
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1-22-10 'N.J. poll finds support for easier teach dismissal, merit pay'
By The Associated Press "A [Quinnipiac]poll found New Jersey voters support merit pay for teachers, but oppose expansion of charter schools. The Quinnipiac University Poll out today found two-thirds of those surveyed want to tie teachers' pay to their performance. That's about the same number who said it should be easier to fire bad teachers...Voters overall oppose more charter schools by 52 percent to 40 percent Opposition is strongest in union households. Urban and black voters favor more charters..."
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1-21-10'N.J.'s Christie won't rule out layoffs, furloughs to close unexpected $1.2B deficit'
The Record - STATE HOUSE BUREAU/Recor & Star Ledger- Fast facts The eight executive orders Governor Christie signed Wednesday carry the weight of law. Christie said they will...
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1-20-10 Governor Christie signs executive orders, and looks to excess school surplus to fill additional $1B budget gap for this year
Star Ledger - "...The text of the eight executive orders was not immediately released, leaving advocates scrambling to interpret the new landscape.
Christie said they included fulfilling campaign pledges to halt unfunded mandates on towns, freeze new regulations on business and broaden state pay-to-play prohibitions to limit donations by labor unions -- a key Democratic constituency.

(Also)"...Christie criticized outgoing Gov. Jon Corzine for leaving a "final parting gift" of an undisclosed $1 billion shortfall in the current budget, which runs through June. The Republican said he learned of the deficit at 2 p.m. Tuesday, two hours after he took the oath of office, and would begin to tackle it by meeting with economic advisors on Thursday.

"It's my responsibility now, not his," Christie said at a late-morning press conference.

Christie would not say how he would close the gap, other than to rule out raising taxes. He said he would try to implement a Corzine cost-cutting proposal to require school districts with excess surplus to use the money in place of state aid beginning next month..."
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1-20-10 NJ School Boards Cancels Atlantic City Fall Workshop for 2011
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1-20-10 Assembly Democrats release Committee Assignments for 214th Legislature
"...Patrick Diegnan (D-South Plainfield) will chair the Education Committee, which
Joseph Cryan (D-Union) gave up to become Majority Leader.Assembly Democratic Committee Assignments 2010-2011 Session" follow...
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1-20-10 'N.J. files application for federal Race to the Top education money'
"New Jersey completed its application today for a share of $4.35 billion in federal Race to the Top education funding with 378 of the state’s 591 school districts signing on to the bid — but without the support of most of the state’s teachers unions...Only 21 of the state’s local teachers unions backed the effort to win up to $400 million in the competitive grant, according to a spokesman for the state Department of Education..."
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1-20-10 Politickernj on Commissioner Schundler's reception yesterday
"There wasn’t enough Bret Schundler to go around today... Now, as Schundler stood in the hallway of the Trenton War Memorial, attendees of Gov. Christopher Christie’s inauguration clamored to shake the hand of Christie’s nominee to be the next commissioner of education..."
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1-20-10 Editorials, Commentary on New Governor in Trenton
Asbury Park Press, Courier Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, The Record, Star Ledger............... "...Trenton sets the rules for contract negotiations, and they are tilted today in favor of the unions. Edison pays its cops an average of more than $100,000 because surrounding towns do as well, and state arbitration rules force Edison to keep up. The same dynamic drives up teacher salaries.

Trenton needs to rewrite those rules..." (Star Ledger editorial excerpt, 1-20-10)
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1-19-10 Chris Christie - Inauguration Day - UPDATED
Read morning and afternoon (Before & after the Inauguration)articles - The Record, Star Ledger, My Central New Jersey, New York Times, Courier Post, Association Press, Gannett
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1-18-10 Advance news on 'Christie as new Governor'
'Gov.-elect Chris Christie says 'I feel like I'm ready' - Statehouse Bureau "...His plans to eliminate or streamline agencies — including consolidating the functions of the comptroller, public advocate, auditor and other watchdogs — also will be part of his budget address March 16. Within 24 hours of his swearing-in, Christie said he will issue his first executive order to fulfill a campaign promise to halt unfunded mandates and freeze new regulations...".............................................................................. 'Christie's 'to do' list looks familiar Sunday' - The Record

'Christie to N.J.: Get ready for the pain' Statehouse bureau - the Record and the Ledger

Philadelphia Inquirer - 'N.J. shift precedes Christie Economic and other forces have already changed the landscape'..."One of his first acts, he said, will be to sign an executive order freezing pending regulations that may hamper business or add costs to local governments and contribute to property-tax hikes..."
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1-15-10 Corzine administration posts new link re government spending
http://www.nj.gov/transparency/ Transparency in Government: NJ Online Checkbook - The NJ Online Checkbook is a searchable Web site accessible to the public at no cost. From the menu you can query seven years of summary financial data....The hyperlink to this website is also posted on GSCS links/see left sidebar here on the homepage
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1-15-10 Education News-Race to the Top incentives, NCLB annual results, supermajority vote upheld
'More than 800 N.J. schools failed to meet No Child Left Behind standards' Star-Ledger “ ... We in New Jersey have been raising our academic standards and increasing the rigor of our tests,” Assistant Commissioner Barbara Gantwerk said in a statement. “We have very high expectations here..."................................................... Asbury Park Press 'Buy-in essential in state's Race to Top', By LUCILLE E. DAVY "New Jersey will submit its application for the U.S. Department of Education's Race to the Top competition on Tuesday. The prize is a huge infusion of federal dollars to fund innovative, transformational changes in how we prepare children for success in college and the workplace..."

'N.J. law requiring 60-percent vote on local schools budget upheld' The Star-Ledger
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1-14-10 'N.J. Gov.-elect Christie targets teachers' union with Schundler appointment'
Star Ledger- TRENTON -- "Sitting in his transition office a few block from the state capitol in Trenton, Chris Christie was in full battle mode today, like a boxer who couldn’t wait to climb into the ring and start pounding away. In fact, he wasn’t waiting. His target: The 200,000-member strong New Jersey Education Association, the most muscular special interest group in town..."
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1-14-10 'To lead schools, Christie picks voucher advocate'
NY Times on Bret Schundler, January 14 NY TIMES - January 14, 2010 To Lead Schools, Christie Picks Voucher Advocate By DAVID M. HALBFINGER TRENTON — The man once described by teachers’ union leaders as “the antithesis of everything we hold sacred about public education” was chosen to serve as state education commissioner by Governor-elect Christopher J. Christie on Wednesday....The nomination of Bret D. Schundler to the post underscored the governor’s determination to press ahead with his push for school vouchers, more charter schools and merit pay for teachers. “We agree on the type of significant reform that needs to happen in our educational system here in New Jersey,” Mr. Christie said in making the announcement at the State House. “I want a strong, reasonable, bold leader who’s going to help me implement those policies.” Still, some of the ideas that made him a polarizing figure to unions and Democratic leaders have become more mainstream, with even President Obama signaling interest in merit pay and promoting the expansion of charter schools. On Wednesday, the teachers’ union issued a statement that refrained from criticizing the choice. His nomination — made as the Rev. Reginald Jackson, director of the Black Ministers Council, looked on approvingly — captivated New Jersey’s political class on Wednesday. “Wow! Are you serious?” Senator Raymond J. Lesniak of Elizabeth said when told of Mr. Schundler’s selection. Mr. Lesniak said he was thrilled.Mr. Lesniak, a Democrat who has broken with the powerful New Jersey Education Association in sponsoring a bill to create a pilot school-voucher program, said Mr. Schundler’s fate would depend largely on the three Democratic senators from Hudson County. The nominee’s name is submitted to those senators, as a formal courtesy, but they could break with custom and block it if they choose..."
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1-13-10 More articles, plus Wikipedia information re New Education Commissioner, Bret Schundler
'Christie names Bret Schundler to head education, Bob Martin to oversee New Jersey’s environmental protection’ newjerseynewsroom.com ‘Christie picks Bret Schundler as education commissioner’ The Associated Press'Christie names Bret Schundler to head education, Bob Martin to oversee New Jersey’s environmental protection’ newjerseynewsroom.com

‘Christie picks Bret Schundler as education commissioner’ The Associated Press

‘N.J. Gov.-elect Christie names new education, environmental protection chiefs’ Statehouse Bureau Staff

‘Bret Schundler: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia’

'Schundler says he's open to working with NJEA' politickernj.com
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1-13-10 Christie Press Conference reports
'N.J. Gov.-elect Christie names new education, environmental protection chiefs' By Statehouse Bureau/Star ledger "...TRENTON -- Gov.-elect Chris Christie announced two more members of his cabinet today, naming business consultant Bob Martin to lead environmental efforts and former Republican candidate for governor Bret Schundler to oversee New Jersey schools. With each nomination, Christie emphasizes his campaign promises to promote charter schools, combat teacher unions and protect the environment while making the state more business friendly..."

'Christie picks Bret Schundler as education commissioner Source: Bret Schundler NJ ed commish'Associated Press

"...Schundler has taken on national and state teachers unions in the past. Like the incoming governor, he is a proponent of giving parents more choices on where to send their children to school..."
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1-13-10 Christie's New Commissioner of Education to be announced today - 12:30 Statehouse Press Conference
January 13, 2010, Associated Press Source: Christie taps Schundler for education post

"School choice proponent Bret Schundler will be Gov.-elect Chris Christie's pick to serve as New Jersey's education commissioner.

A person with direct knowledge of the nomination says Schundler will join Christie at an afternoon news conference Wednesday. The person was not authorized to speak ahead of the announcement.

Schundler has taken on national and state teachers unions in the past. Like the incoming governor, he is a proponent of giving parents more choices on where to send their children to school.

The former Jersey City mayor launched an unsuccessful bid for the Republican nomination for governor in 2005.

Schundler is chief operating officer of The King's College. The Christian liberal arts school is located in the Empire State Building.

The nomination must be confirmed by the state Senate."

1-12-10 Moving on...'Budget plan a wrinkle for districts'
Courier Post - January 12, 2010 ..."The issue could be moot if the incoming governor and Legislature decide to abandon the plan and devise a new strategy...Lynne Strickland, executive director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, noted that the plan was floated by the Corzine administration legislation. "To date, no legislation has been introduced to support the proposal. GSCS is hearing it is "up in the air' and will not be addressed, at least not in this lame-duck session," Strickland said. "There are clear problems with the proposal's approach..."
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1-12-10 Change in Trenton
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS 'New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine will highlight gains in children's programs during his term when he delivers his final State of the State address Tuesday.'.............'Assembly speaker leaves, and voices mixed feelings' Star Ledger.............'Richard Codey ends run as N.J. Senate president' Statehouse Bureau
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1-12-10 Lame Duck Session is over
The bill for in-state tuition for undocumented students stalled and was not brought up for a vote...parent notification bill signed into to requiring local schools inform parents of contaminated soil located in district grounds withing 10 days...bill re: electricians that can perform work in school districts [among the State and other local units] " Installation, repair or the ...school district on the premises or property owned or occupied by [other units] ... or school district; provided that a regular employee of the [other units] or school district performing this work is a qualified journeyman electrician registered pursuant to section 3 of P.L.2001, c.21 (C.45:5A-11.1) 2, or holds any civil service title with a job description which includes electrical work pursuant to the “Civil Service Act,”......Bill determining certain requirements for district personnel to get tuition reimbursement for higher education programs...Legislation to require local Title 1 districts to treat paraprofessional (teacher aides, etc.) as full time staff - e.g., notify in May if intention is to hire for the subsesquent year - as well as procedures to encourage paraprofessionals to further their education to become teachers, where districts must support such staff and hold their positons open for them in addition to providing student teaching positions in district...this bill surfaced at the last minute with no senate companion bill, put was moved through at the last minute as 'emergency' legislation...for more on bills that were voted on yesterday, go to http://www.njleg.us.state.nj
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1-11-10 Transition News
Gannett/Asbury Park Press'With few options, Christie faces state budget deficit'.......................... 'On a farewell note, Corzine highlights his social policies'/Statehouse Bureau

'New Jersey towns face crash diet of budget cuts' /The Star-Ledger
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1-10-10 'Educators say consolidating school districts doesn't add up'
Courier-Post - "In theory, there is much to commend in state legislation aimed at saving taxpayers' money while improving education. But in reality, regionalizing and consolidating many of the approximately 600 school districts in the state may not be worthwhile from either a fiscal or an educational standpoint, school officials say..."
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1-8-10 Of Note for schools - from Lame Duck session yesterday, 1-7-10
From Trenton's session yesterday: The Assembly voted to allow nonpartisan municipal elections in November. If the bill continues to move along and is signed into law, it takes effect in January 2011; non-partisan municipalities can effect the change to move these elections to November via passage of a local ordinance. The ordinance must stay in place for a 10 year period.The iportance of this bill for schools is that it may be related to easing a move for school elections to November votes as well....The bill to grant in-state tuitions to undocumented residents has been delayed.....The pension deferral bill that would impact municipalities and school districts also continues to be sidelined. Stay tuned...

1-7-10 'N.J. Gov-elect Christie blasts Democrats for lame-duck actions'
Statehouse Bureau/Ledger-Record "...Christie today ripped into ruling Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Jon Corzine for a litany of moves during the lame-duck legislative session, accusing them of tying his hands in a fiscal crisis. Among his concerns are bills that would legalize in-state college tuition rates for undocumented immigrants, reform prisoner re-entry programs, and allow towns to defer pension payments, as well as what he called "discretionary" spending by the Corzine administration...Christie also disagreed with pending bills to increase aid to vocational schools in Essex, Hudson and Passaic counties; to allow collective bargaining for deputy attorneys general and child care and community care; to end state control of Camden but require special aid to flow into the city; to extend prevailing wage requirements on some state projects; and to reduce by two the number of appointments by the governor to the Capital City Redevelopment Corporation..."
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1-6-10 Race to the Top Plans on the move, not without conflict
STAR LEDGER-TRENTON 'N.J. education commissioner unveils system tying student performance to teacher evaluations' "Two weeks before the deadline to apply for up to $400 million in federal Race to the Top education reform aid, state Education Commissioner Lucille Davy on Tuesday unveiled details of the state’s proposed application to more than 600 local school officials in a packed auditorium in Trenton..." ......................... The RECORD - 'Teachers' union advises local affiliates not to join chase for federal grants' "Hours after education Commissioner Lucille Davy made an impassioned plea in Trenton Tuesday morning to persuade districts to join the state’s chase for $400 million in federal grants, the state teachers’ union tried to stop the plan by advising local teachers’ associations...Tuesday afternoon that affiliates should not sign local memorandums of understanding agreeing to the state’s proposal..."
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1-6-10 Lame Duck Legislative Calendar Updated
(Revised) Posted January 6th, 11:25 a.m.: Read to see comittee meetings and extensive voting lists for the Assembly and the Senate. Days covered are January 7, 11, and 12...FYI - Senate Education Meeting 10:00 AM Committee Room 6, 1st Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ Chair: Sen. Shirley Turner. Posted bills are:

A2702 [Diegnan, Patrick J./Lampitt, Pamela R.+9], NJ STARS Prog.-concerns notification

S601 [Baroni, Bill/Allen, Diane B.], NJ STARS Prog.-concerns notification

S3113 [Cunningham, Sandra B.], Basic Skills Training Prog. Econ. Growth

S3161 [Turner, Shirley K.], Math, science teachers-extend pilot prog
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1-5-10 GSCS: Update on January 4 Lame Duck Session
Of Note: Certain bills that have been targeted by GSCS since June and on the GSCS 'Radar Screen' did not come up for a vote (our thanks to members who helped in our outreach out to Trenton). These bills included S2850- Prevailing Wage for Food Service Workers; A4140-Subcontracting revisions; A4142-'Instant Tenure' bill; A1489 Extracurricular Fee bill. GSCS continues to watch...School-related bills that are moving through are A3671-Accredited Institution/studies & compensation; A194-S1036 Allows undocumented residents to pay in-state tuition for higher education studies; A3472- Interdistrict Public School Choice bill, among others...The Pension Deferral bills (S3136-A4362) were held (not enough votes). For related news articles from today, click on More here...ALSO OF NOTE: Governor Corzine's introduced plan to cut state aid to schools via additional surplus on hand,requires legislation...to date, no legislation has been introduced to support this proposal. GSCS is hearing it is 'up in the air' and will not be addressed, at least not in this lame duck session. There are clear problems with the proposal's approach: one, by our measures, is that approximately 40% of school districts will not be impacted; the 60% that could be affected will not be able to apply those moneys to property tax relief (as currently required by law). Since this legislated process has been in place for awhile, removing those funds from property tax relief would create a structural hole in building the revenue side of the school budget at the get-go. At this point it appears that the retiring 213th Legislature is letting go of Corzine's recommendation, leaving the issue to the new 214th Legislature and the new Governor, Chris Christie. Yet GSCS has also been aware that state aid is a likely target and may be cut to schools in this year. GSCS submits that school communities require flexibility in how to apply any potential aid cuts.
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1-5-10 News articles re: lame duck
'In-state tuition for illegal immigrants advances in state Legislature', GANNETT STATE BUREAU 'N.J. Assembly committee approves bill allowing undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition', Statehouse Bureau

'N.J. lawmakers hear bills aimed at improving urban education' Associated Press

'Bill allowing N.J. municipalities to defer pension payments stalls', Statehouse Bureau Staff
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1-4-10 'Last Call for Lame Ducks in Trenton'
STAR-LEDGER ... "Although chances are dwindling for Democrats to enact laws before Republican Gov.-elect Chris Christie takes office Jan. 19, lawmakers said most of their grand plans...have fizzled, many with gut-checks over the state's fiscal crisis...Lame duck's becoming so anticlimactic," said Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester), who will become Senate president when the new session begins Jan. 12...Many bills faded because they would have required new spending without the state revenue to support them, Sweeney said...Other bills have generated controversy at the expense of votes..."
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1-4-10 Assembly Education Committee Agenda
The Assembly Education Committee will meet on Monday, January 4, 2010 at 2:00 PM in Committee Room 16, 4th Floor, State House Annex. Nine Assembly bills are scheduled to be heard.

The committee will conduct a discussion with invited participants (Michele Cahill, C. Kent McGuire) on charter schools, urban education, and strategies to address the needs of low-income students.

Click here for full agenda and bill list
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12-31-09 Commissioner invites chief school administrators to Race to the Top meeting
JON S. CORZINE LUCILLE E. DAVY Governor Commissioner

December 31, 2009

"Dear Chief School Administrator: As a follow-up to my letter inviting you to the meeting on January 5, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at the War Memorial in Trenton, I want to provide you with more information on the New Jersey Race to the Top application (RTTT) and to encourage your participation..." Click on More here to see parameters of program application with January 19 2010 sign up deadline...
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12-28-09 Education Week 'Race to Top' Driving Policy Action Across States
"...the federal Race to the Top competition is helping to drive a flurry of measures nationwide aimed, at least in part, at making states stronger candidates for a slice of the $4 billion in education grants.Those efforts emerge as a priority in the 2010 legislative season, even as many cash-strapped states face the prospect of tough spending decisions—including school budget cuts—on top of the midyear cuts they enacted in recent months..."
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12-27-09 'New Jersey competes for education reform stimulus money' (aka 'Race to the Top' funds)
Star Ledger "...One thing Race to the Top would not do is help New Jersey cope with the $9.5 billion budget shortfall projected for next year. "There will be strings attached," Auerswald said. "If we receive Race to the Top funding, it will be tied to very specific programs and initiatives we submit in the application."

Race to the Top will reward states that have reform plans in four main areas: standards and assessments that prepare students for college and the work force; data systems to support instruction; strategies to improve teachers and leaders; and proposals to turn around struggling schools. The competition also requires that states show support from numerous partners, including school boards, superintendents and teachers union leaders. Some say that could be a challenge for New Jersey..."
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12-23-09 Gannett article provides details on Gov. Corzine's proposal to use additional surplus in place of state aid
12-23-09 Asbury Park Place/Gannett 'School Districts with large surpluses face state aid cuts'(click on More for the article)... GSCS on this proposal: Starting this February 2010, districts with more than 2%surplus on hand will be required to use 75% of that overage to supplant their state aid entitlement, based on Governor Corzine's proposal to garner approximately $260M from schools. Legislation must be enacted in order for this proposal can actually be put into place. GSCS recognizes that in using the additional surplus to cover the underpayment of a district's state aid entitlement can likely have a negative impact on programs in the subsequent school year; GSCS questions whether that state aid will be replaced for FY11 and notes that loss of state aid is loss of property tax relief; GSCS also strongly recommends that the school funding formula must be run regardless so that district information and wealth status is kept current. See below for other articles and information on this proposal.
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12-23-09 GSCS: Governor Corzine targets excess school surplus to replace state aid payments starting in Feb '10 - lame duck legislation anticipated
Politickernj.com, 12-22-09 late p.m.- 'GOVERNOR CORZINE ANNOUNCES NEARLY $1BILLION IN BUDGET CUTS AND SAVINGS' TRENTON "...The plan includes a proposal involving excess surplus balances that have been accumulated by school districts across the state. Under the proposal, which would require enactment of legislation, beginning in February 2010 districts would be required to use a portion of those excess surplus balances – totaling $260 million -- in place of state aid payments..."

For additional information, please visit Treasury’s website: www.state.nj.us/treasury/

'Corzine, Christie unveil plans to slash N.J. budget deficit' - nj.com - Statehouse Bureau Staff "...The governor did target school aid in a proposal to require school districts with excess surplus to use the money in place of state aid beginning in February. The plan, which requires legislative approval, would be the first time there have been cuts in direct aid in the middle of a school year..."

'Gov.-elect Chris Christie compiles plans to slash N.J. spending up to 25 percent'- nj.com -Statehouse Bureau
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12-23-09 Press of Atlantic City - 'Corzine forms panel to aid nonpublic schools'
TRENTON - The funding challenges faced by the state's more than 1,200 nonpublic schools will be the focus of a new state commission.Gov. Jon S. Corzine on Tuesday signed an executive order creating the Non-Public Education Funding Commission to recommend how nonpublic schools and the state can maximize increasingly limited funds.
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12-20-09 Education in the News
'Corzine considers legislation aimed at helping special needs students in N.J.' - The Associated Press
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12-15-09 Email-Net
What's the Buzz in Trenton?
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12-15-09 GSCS is working with the Christie Transition Team
GSCS appreciates the opportunities our organization has been given to share information and your concerns in small-group settings with Governor-Elect Chris Christie's Education Transition Team and Red-Tape Review Committee. GSCS has established on-going working relationships with transition representatives and will continue to use every opportunity to bring our membership's concerns before the new and continuing leaders in Trenton . . . so keep your comments and insights coming our way. Email GSCS at gscs2000@gmail.com Thank you!

12-15-09 Also on the GSCS Radar Screen
1. The likelihood that school elections will be moved to November. There seems to be bi-partisan concensus to effect this change. GSCS has been consistent in its approach to this issue/click on More below for details. Note that the recession and state budget deficit impact may mean that many more school budgets will exceed cap. For example, see COLA implications immediately below.

2. The Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for municipal and county budget caps has been released by the Division of Local Government Services.

"The COLA is based on the Implicit Price Deflator for State and Local Governments, calculated by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis. The Price Deflator calculation for CY 2010 reflects, for the first time, a reduction of one percent (-1%). Because the law does not provide authority for reductions, the COLA for CY 2010 is zero percent (0%)." Go to: www.nj.gov/dca/lgs/lfns/09lfns/2009-26.doc

3. How will the state budget deficit impact school aid and school funding in general for Fiscal Year 2010-2011?
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12-15-09 On the GSCS Radar Screen: S2850 poised for a vote
Alert: An early, 'lame duck' January vote is likely on the Food Service Workers Prevailing Wage bill. While S2850 has note yet been voted on in the Labor Committee, it's companion bill A4151 has already been passed in the Assembly. Please contact your local state representatives, the chairs of the Senate Labor and Assembly Appropriations Committees, the Governor and all Legislative leadership and let them know that this bill will impact local costs, not only to schools, but to parents as well!
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12-14-09 January Legislative Schedule remaining for 213th Legislature
As of 12-14-09 the attached schedule has been posted for the final days of the 213th Legislature, which concludes on January 11, 2010. The reorganiztion for the 214th Legislature is scheduled for January 12. The Inauguration for the new governor, Chris Christie is set for January 19, 2010.
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12-12 & 13-09 Education Issues in the News
'More students in N.J. get free, reduced-priced lunches in recession' - Associated Press/Record The Record of Bergen County found 20,061 Bergen County students got free and reduced-price lunches last year. That was a 17 percent rise in three years.The number of children receiving free or reduced-price school meals has increased in New Jersey's schools as well..."

Star Ledger - 'N.J. Gov.-elect Christie, N.Y.C. Mayor Bloomberg agree on recession budgeting'

"...After meeting privately with a few close aides, the governor-elect and mayor told reporters they planned to work together on economic, homeland security and education issues. Bloomberg, who was elected for a third term in November, has agreed to visit a charter school in Jersey City within the next month, Christie said..."
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12-11-09 'Gov.-elect Chris Christie's team got its signals crossed on education funding application'
By Star-Ledger Editorial Board "...And that probably makes sense. New Jersey will have a second shot at this money in June, and by then, Christie will have an education plan of his own...So the Department of Education will waste its time devising a reform blueprint that has no chance of being enacted under Christie, and so has almost no chance of winning this competition..."
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12-9-09 School Construction votes yesterday
Of the 15 districts that had votes on school construction projects December 8, 11 districts voted for the proposed projects; three of our GSCS member districts passed their referenda: Cranford, Livingston,and Ridgewood; 1 member district, Delsea, rejected its referendum by a slim margin. Click on More here for full results and information on theses votes complied by NJ School Boards Association
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12-9-09 S2850, the prevailing wage bill for food service workers, alive in lame duck
This legislation, opposed by GSCS, has passed in the Assembly via A451, and is still likely to come up for a vote before the lame duck session is over. The timing of these bills is difficult combined with the recession and regulations that specify that school districts cannot run their cafeterias at a deficit. Reseach shows that private provider costs will increase between 30%-40% if he legislation becomes law. How would this impact jobs, quality, preparations and delivery of food is also in question. How would the increase of mandated costs be spread?
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12-9-09 Governor-elect Christie talks more about his thougths for education
audit of all school boards; move school elections to November (linked to moving the school vote to November, are the non-partisan municipal elections bills A351 [already passed in the Assembly] and S1099 up for a vote in the Senate tomorrow/click on More here); encourage shared services before [to reduce taxes] other than de-linking property taxes from education funding first, because the de-linking results in tax-shfiting, not reduction in spending; "teachers are not the problem, it's the over-politicized leadership of their union"... read articles and election bill by clicking here on
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12-7 and 8-09 RaceTo The Top Application for first round in January back in motion; NJ Charter School Laws Reviewed
'New Jersey will apply for federal stimulus money for education,' - The Record The Corzine administration reversed course Monday and said it would apply in January for the first round of competition for federal stimulus money that could bring more than $200 million to New Jersey’s public schools..."

'Corzine seeks $200M of federal stimulus money for N.J. schools' - The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk

"...The N.J. Department of Education had said it would not participate in the first round and instead let the Christie administration set its own agenda, the report said..."

'N.J. gets C rating on laws governing charter schools' - STAR-LEDGER "...The Center for Education Reform, which advocates for charter schools and school choice, found New Jersey's laws fell right in the middle -- 17th strongest --among the 40 states and districts that allow charter schools..."
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12-6-09 Front Burner Isssues in Education Committees
'Corzine education chief to be grilled on lapse' RECORD"... (Commissioner of Education) Davy has been asked to appear before the state Senate’s education committee on Monday to discuss federal stimulus funds for education...New Jersey is eligible for $200 million to $400 million from the Race to the Top fund designed to spur educational reform. But the state is one of just a few that is not applying in January for the first round of grants. "We should be applying now; it’s important," said state Senate Republican leader Tom Kean of Westfield..."

'School choice: Expand N.J.'s existing programs' By Star-Ledger Editorial Board "...A program that allows children in failing public schools to transfer to better ones that are willing to take them is drawing support from Gov.-elect Chris Christie, who wants to see it expanded...We hope he can make that happen so it can benefit more students now trapped in inferior schools...Assemblywoman Mila Jasey (D-Essex) has co-sponsored legislation that seeks to remove some of the legislative barriers so the program can grow somewhat..."
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12-5-09 'Once powerful teachers union faces tough times with Christie'
Statehouse Bureau/Ledger - Record "...Today, after two decades at the top of New Jersey’s political establishment, the world has turned upside down for the NJEA...Corzine lost the election to Republican Chris Christie, who waged a public battle against the NJEA and other public-sector labor unions during the campaign. He says his mandate to bring a new era to Trenton will include a clampdown on the teachers union and education agenda that may advocate changes the NJEA will not welcome, So the 200,000 member union now finds itself in the unusual position..."
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12-4-09 'NJ education department disputes Abbott pre-school eligibility claims'
Star-Ledger "...The board now estimates "preschool universes" by doubling the total number of students attending first-grade in public schools to account for the exclusion of private school data that was collected in an "unsystematic manner."...Davy also said that if districts feel their preschool estimates are not representative of the amount of students they need to serve, they can request an adjustment."
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12-3 Governor-Elect Chris Christie Announces Key Appointments
"Governor-Elect Chris Christie announced the first in a series of key appointments for the Christie-Guadagno Administration. Christie named Rich Bagger as the incoming Chief of Staff, Bill Stepien as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Jeff Chiesa as Chief Counsel to the Governor and Kevin O'Dowd as Deputy Chief Counsel to the Governor..." (Courtesy Princeton Public Affairs Group)
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12-3-09 Today's Agenda at the Assembly Education Committee
Assembly Education Dec 3, Comm Rm 16 Annex, 2 p.m. The committee will conduct a roundtable discussion with invited participants on issues related to tenure of school district administrators. A-4307 Cryan (pending intro) Revises certain authorities of the State Board and Commissioner of Education. Additionally 7 bills are posted for Committee vote. Click on more here to see bill listing
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12-3-09 'New Jersey one of two states not applying for first round of federal education money'
The Record - "...In New Jersey, the Education Department and Governor-elect Chris Christie's transition team said this week that the state would wait until June to compete for its potential grant of $200 million to $400 million. Alarmed education advocates warned that such a delay could hurt New Jersey's chances of getting money it desperately needs...Education Commissioner Lucille Davy has said she did not want to forge ahead with a proposal because the new governor might not agree to her team's vision. Further, Forsyth said Davy believed the transition team wanted her to focus on a separate $350 million stimulus grant application...Christie's transition spokeswoman Maria Comella, however, said the incoming governor wanted New Jersey to compete for Race to the Top in January but the Department of Education wasn't ready...Virginia, the only other state getting a new governor in January, is applying for the grant now..."
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12-3-09 'Some N.J. Democrats not ready to stop spending, despite $1B budget gap'
Star Ledger/Record,Statehouse Bureau - "With New Jersey facing a $1 billion hole in the budget and Gov.-elect Chris Christie demanding lawmakers "stop spending" during the lame-duck session, top Democrats who control both houses of the Legislature are waging a behind-the-scenes standoff about exactly what the state can afford..."
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12-3-09 'Gov.-elect Christie visits North Brunswick to talk with educators on district challenges'
mycenralnewjersey.com - "The state's next governor visited North Brunswick Township High School on Wednesday for a lesson on the challenges faced by the state's educators. Gov.-elect Chris Christie and Lt. Gov.-elect Kim Guadagno met with 11 superintendents from across the state to discuss problems with and solutions for the state's education system..."The truth is we are in awful shape and everyone's going to have to step up to the plate to help solve the problem, and superintendents are going to have to be part of that solution," he said...Zychowski said the problems in the state's education system boil down to three areas: funding, regulations and special education..."
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Codey bill allows Budget Message to be delayed until March 16, 2010
CODEY INTRODUCES BILL EXTENDING...DEADLINE FOR FY 2011 BUDGET ADDRESS "...The message, traditionally delivered on the fourth Tuesday in February, must now be transmitted by March 16, 2010. The move is in line with similar extensions that have been granted in the past for the first budgets prepared by other governors." (Courtesy per NJ School Business Officials/John Donahue)
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12-2-09 State Commission of Investigation Report generates news re municipal spending
'Scathing N.J. report details millions of taxpayer dollars spent on municipal employee perks' The Record............................ 'N.J. investigations unit reports huge payouts by local government' Star Ledger, Statehouse Bureau

Press of Atlantic City - 'Report cites Atlantic City for retirement payouts'
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12-1-09 'NJ will hold off applying for $200 to $400M in fed'l education funds'
The Record "New Jersey appears ready to sit out the first round of competition for a slice of $4.35 billion in federal dollars for education reform in January because of the timing of the transition to a new governor..."
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12-1-09 'NJ budget gap forces state to withhold $20.7 in aid payments to towns'
Star Ledger /Statehouse Bureau November 30, 2009, 7:40PM TRENTON -- To help close an unexpected budget gap, the state plans to withhold $20.7 million in aid payments to municipalities, a move that could force cuts in services or higher property taxes, according to three legislative sources briefed on the move. The decision to place the final aid installment in reserve rather than distribute it to towns is expected to be announced by the Corzine administration Tuesday along with other budget-trimming moves...The administration has said it may slice funding for schools, municipalities, higher education, hospitals and pension plans..."
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11-29-09 Ramifications - News of NJ's fiscal realities
'Municipalities brace for steep cuts in state aid' By Star-Ledger

'Assembly Republicans ask Treasury to delay expiration of office supply contractd current N J vendors prevented from bidding new contract'

Buono (Senator Barbara Buono/D Meteuchen/Chair of Senate Budget& Appropriations Committee)Statement On FY2010 Projected Budget Deficit

"...Largely due to continuing revenue shortfalls and the need for supplemental appropriations, the projected deficit by the close of the current fiscal year is now estimated at $1 billion. This information underscores the need for the continued fiscal restraint as we work our way through this global economic crisis..."
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11-26-09 'Corzine pledges answers by Christmas for state's $1B budget hole'
(Also attached to this Star Ledger article • BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS: Where does the money go?) "..The governor may freeze up to $400 million in payments to schools, higher education, hospitals, pension funds and municipalities, according to information tucked into a bond disclosure sent to Wall Street investors. The news has worried local leaders struggling with budget problems of their own.Christie, who takes office on Jan. 19, will work with the Corzine administration to freeze and cut spending..."
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11-24-09 'Poll finds NJ supports mergers of schools and of town governments'
"New Jersey voters overwhelmingly support merging their school districts and local governments with neighboring ones to lower the state's record-high property taxes, a new poll has found..."
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11-23-09 Status of prevailing wage legislation S2850-A4151: GSCS opposed
At the end of the legislative day 11-23-09: Assembly bill A4151 (bill sponsor is Assemblywoman Nellie Pou, also Chair of the Assembly Appropriations committee)passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee but the vote was not held at the direction of the Senate Labor Committee Chair - and S2850 sponosr - Senator Fred Madden. Senator Madden referred to the fact that there was no fiscal note attached to the legislation (see GSCS testimony attached which specifically refers to the need for a fiscal note in order to have any responsible dicussion on what would be a costly mandate for school districts/excert: "...It would add reality to the discussion if a fiscal note were required that would demonstrate cost to local districts, thus local taxpayers re S2850/A4151; but no fiscal note is attached to this legislation. If this legislation were to pass, it would certainly be considered an unfunded mandate in addition to being a prime reason for schools to confront the probability of having to run school cafeteria programs at a deficit (which is against DOE regulations)..."). Madden also said he planned to bring this bill up again for a vote after more information on its ramifications were brought to the table.
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11-23-09 Governor-elect Christie names Transition Team Subcommittee members
For all subcommittees, including education, click here for
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11-19-09 GSCS HEADS UP: Prevailing Wage bills on 'lame duck fast track' to be heard on 11-23-09
S2850/Madden and companion bill A4151/Watson-Coleman/Pou: 'Extends service prevailing wage requirements to food service contracts and to local units and State authorities' and would impact school cafeteria budgets...GSCS testified against S2850 in June 2009 when it was up for discussion before the Senate Labor Committee. Bill sponsors are Senator Fred Madden and Assemblywomen Bonnie Watson-Coleman Assembly Majority Speaker)and Nellie Pou (Chair of the Appropriations Committee). To read GSCS testimony for this Monday 11-23-09 when these companion bills are scheduled to be heard in the Senate Labor and Assembly Appropriations Committees, click here
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11-20-09 'Christie lays down his law for state'
nj.com STATEHOUSE BUREAU "In his first major speech since Election Day, Gov.-elect Chris Christie told local officials yesterday they better step up and become part of the solution, or he would become their problem..."
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11-18-09 November 23 Senate Education & Labor Committee Agendas
Senate Education Committee to meet at 10 a.m. in Committee Room 6, Statehouse Annex..... Senate Labor Committee to meet at 2:30 p.m. in Committee Room 10 Statehouse Annex
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11-17-09 Politickernj's 'Inside Edge' on Possible Education Committee Chairs
What's the buzz? Click on More here to find out - there will be changes in the Education Committees' leadership in the new session,starting in January 2010..."(Per www.politickernj.com)Political problems for the state's largest teacher's union continue to mount. After going all out for Gov. Jon Corzine in the recent election, the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) knows they have a potential problem with voucher-backing charter school enthusiast Gov.-elect Christopher Christie. And in the Senate, it looks like Teresa Ruiz (D-Newark), a protégé of Newark political leader Stephen Adubato, might replace Shirley Turner (D-Lawrence) as chairman of the Education Committee. A fair assumption is that Ruiz will share Adubato's fervent support for charter schools..."
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11-17-09 Christie to Corzine: Request for Immediate Actions on State Budget Issues
'Christie: New Jersey's finances are worse than we thought' GANNETT STATE BUREAU .......... 'On budget issues, Christie says everything is on the table' PolitickerNJ.com

Governor-elect Christie letter to Governor Corzine re State Budget "...In order to prevent the crisis from worsening and budget hole we are in from deepening during this critical transition period, I respectfully request that you take the following actions..." (Click on More to see article and the 14 'freeze & containment' points delineated in Gov-elect Christie's letter to Governor Corzine)
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11-16-09 p.m. 'NJ Gov-elect Christie transition team says budget probelms worse than expected'
Reported by The Associated Press November 16, 2009, 4:33PM "New Jersey's governor-elect said today he'll be taking office of a state with an even worse financial crisis than previously believed, and he wants the current governor to tighten the state's purse strings in the meantime..."
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11-16-09 'Second Thoughts on School Closing'
Courier Post, November 16, 2009 "...Faced with a state mandate to come up by March 2010 with a consolidation plan to merge with one or more other districts, the school board voted last spring to expand its sending-receiving relationship with Winslow, which was already accepting Chesilhurst's middle and high school students..."
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11-13-09 Chrisite's Budget Transition Team Annouced
"...Former State Sen. Richard Bagger (R-Westfield), left, and former OMB official Robert Grady, will head Gov.-elect Chris Christie's budget transition team...The Task Force Co-Chairmen will help develop recommendations to address the fiscal deficit that state experts have estimated at over $8 billion for the coming fiscal year 2011, and to respond to the shortfall in projected state revenues in the current fiscal year 2010, according to a statement released by Christie's transition office..."
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11-13-09 NJ educational grants could top $200M
Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk - 'New Jersey may benefit from federal grants intended for educational reform, according to a report by NorthJersey.com...'
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11-13-09 Education Week on: Gov-elect Christie's Education Agenda; Race to the Top Funds Rules
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11-12-09 p.m. Lame Duck Schedule Announced
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11-12-09 Governor-elect Christie names his 10 member transition team
...The team will be led by David Samson, a Republican lawyer who served as former governor James E. McGreevey's attorney general.' The transition team will include: -- Mike DuHaime, campaign strategists; -- Senator Joe Kyrillos, campaign chairman; -- George Gilmore, Ocean County republican chairman; -- Senator Sandra Cunningham -- John McCormac, Woodbridge Mayor; -- Susan Cole, President Monclaire State University; -- Debra DiLorenzo, President and CEO Chamber of Commerce Southern NJ; -- Jon Hanson, Chairman and founder of the Hampshire Real Estate Companies; and -- Alfred C. Koeppe, executive director of the Newark Alliance and former president of PSE&G. (Courtesy/Princeton Public Affairs Group)

N.J. Gov.-elect Chris Christie names bipartisan transition team, Star-Ledger 'After running for office vowing to "turn Trenton upside down," Gov.-elect Chris Christie today tapped a transition team that knows the Statehouse inside out, from a Democratic state senator and former state treasurer to longtime Republican operatives.'
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11-12-09 NJ at risk of economic calamity, study says
Philadelphia Inquirer Trenton Bureau... 'New Jersey made it onto an undesirable top-10 list yesterday, ranking high among the states most at risk of economic calamity, according to a national research group.'
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11-11-09 Lame Duck...What's the Buzz?
GSCS is hearing that the legislature will convene on November 23 to vote on leaadership for the next legislative session. The new legislative session will coincide with when the Governor-Elect assumes office in mid-January. However, GSCS is also hearing that it is possible that the schedule date of November 23 for that leadership vote could be moved until November 30. This all means that lame duck legislation will not be posted for legislative hearings and voting sessions until after the leadership of both houses is decided. STAY TUNED...

11-11-09 'Oliver ready for Nov.23 leadership vote, wants up or down vote on marriage equality'
POLITICKERNJ.COM News 'Her early critics quietly grumble that she's a political neophyte - the preferred Essex County term of art for someone who rises too quickly in politics.But Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange), a veteran of local East Orange politics, said she is more than ready to assume the lead role in the lower house come Nov. 23rd, when both the Assemby and the senate are scheduled to vote on leadership...'
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11-11-09 Christie mum on fiscal emergency declaration
11-10-09,THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Asbury Park Press 'A spokeswoman for Gov.-elect Chris Christie wouldn't confirm or deny a published report that New Jersey's next governor may declare a financial state of emergency after he takes office in January...A report by the Statehouse bureau of The Star-Ledger and The Record, attributed to unnamed advisers and published Tuesday, said Christie is "examining the possibility of declaring a financial emergency.'...Christie has limited options for balancing the budget that starts July 1 after ruling out raising taxes or cutting funding for K-12 education.''
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11-9-09 Education in the News
Bergen County, Education, News » Classes help N.J. students prepare for state graduation exam

Christie provides fresh hope for city schoolkids, Asbury Park Press, November 8, 2009

Don't mess with success: Gov.-elect Chris Christie should catch up on preschool, By Star-Ledger Editorial Board

Public school meets needs of disabled students Sunday, November 08, 2009 STAR-LEDGER
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11-8-09 News of Note
Christie Victory Stalls Plans for N.J. Road Funds, Pensions - Bloomberg News, By Dunstan McNichol& T. Dopp....................... Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac headed for Christie transition team; Treachery among N.J. Democrats; Candidates take mystery vacations By The Auditor/The Star-Ledger
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11-6-09 News of Note
NY TIMES - November 6, 2009 Op-Ed Contributor/Harlen Coben 'Chris Christie Confidential'

My Central Jersey - 'Christie: My win not a loss for Obama'

Nj.com/Star Ledger -'Governor-elect Chris Christie prepares to take on role as head of New Jersey'

Politickernj.com -'GOP leaders rejoice in Christie's ability to unify, while Dems still skeptical'
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11-5-09 GSCS asks members to submit recommendations for mandate and regulatory relief
GSCS will be putting forth suggestions regarding regulatory and mandate relief to the Christie transition team. GSCS asks members to submit their recommendations for mandate and regulatory relief via email to us at: gscs2000@gmail.com

The Christie transition group is starting to review regulations and mandates with the intent to eliminate or relieve where possible. Over the years GSCS has pushed hard for mandate relief, including being an initiating force in establshing the *Mandate Commission of 2003(*Click on More below). GSCS has compiled a list of potential mandatesto review for relief over time and is already in the process of revising it for submission. Input from you, our members, will be an clear asset to enhance the report.

Please send your ideas as soon as possible - be a specific as possible; recognize that some mandates may be more feasible to relieve than others. As always, we thank you for your help.
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11-5-09 Day After the Election News
STAR LEDGER - 'After victory, Christie asks for Dems' help' "A day after becoming the first Republican in a dozen years to capture the Statehouse, Gov.-elect Chris Christie yesterday went to the Democratic bastion of Newark and urged bipartisanship in the wake of a divisive campaign. "This administration is going to be about what works, and that's the signal I'm trying to send," said Christie..."

UPDATE: 'Christie emphasizes reform as he meets with Dems,talks school audits' GANNETT STATE BUREAU Gov.-elect Chris Christie, the newly minted Republican chief executive of normally solidly Democratic New Jersey, made a visit to a Newark charter school the first official stop in his transition to power...

'Christie sets sights on property taxes,The RECORD,STATE HOUSE BUREAU Chris Christie said he will lower New Jersey’s notoriously high property taxes... by following the deliberate approach voters approved — a mix of spending checks and more shared services.“I’ve told everybody right from the beginning that this is not a silver bullet issue...”

NY TIMES, November 5, 2009 'Christie Pledges Fight on Taxes and Business Rules' Governor-elect Christopher J. Christie of New Jersey, basking in praise from Republicans who hailed him as the party’s new star, said Wednesday that he would move quickly to suspend new regulations on business and find ways to lower crushing property taxes, the nation’s highest...[he]also said he would enforce a stricter cap on increases in spending at the local level — the primary driver of the rising property taxes that have set off anger among voters...

NY TIMES, November 5, 2009, Editorial 'The Off-Off-Year Elections' Tuesday’s vote — particularly the election of Republican governors in New Jersey and Virginia — has produced heated predictions about the revived power of Republican social conservatism and the declining fortunes of Barack Obama and his 2008 coalition....
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11-4-09 Post Election Analysis 2009
Provided to GSCS by Princeton Public Affairs Group
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11-4-09 Record low turnout elects Chris Chrisite NJ's Governor
POLITICS NJ 11-3/4-09 - Christie elected Governor, defeats Corzine by 106,000 votes; GOP picks up one Assembly seat Republican Christopher J. Christie, who won acclaim as a corruption buster during his seven years as the United States Attorney, was elected Governor of New Jersey, defeating incumbent Jon S. Corzine by more than 105,000 votes...Republicans picked up one State Assembly seat, captured control of the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders, and won Freeholder seats in Bergen, Passaic, and Cumberland counties.

November 4, 2009 NY TIMES G.O.P. Wins Two Key Governors’ Races; Bloomberg Prevails in a Close Contest

GANNETT/Asbury Park Press, go to app.com : Why Christie won N.J.

NEW BRUNSWICK — The undecided voters finally decided. They decided that four more years of Democratic Gov. Jon S.Corzine

STAR LEDGER - go to nj.com: N.J.'s election of 'unapologetic conservative' marks personal rebuke of Corzine By Tom Moran

Christie wins N.J. gov race; Corzine vows to keep speaking up
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11-3-09 'Chris Christie wins N.J. governor race'
November 03, 2009, 10:07PM Star Ledger 'Former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie has defeated Gov. Jon Corzine in his bid for re-election...'
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11-3-09 ELECTION DAY IS TODAY - SHOW UP AND VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATES OF YOUR CHOICE
WHAT HAPPENS IN TRENTON DIRECTLY IMPACTS YOU, YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR COMMUNITY...Today - Tuesday November 3 - is the election day that will determine who will be your Governor for the next four years and who will represent you in your legislative district in the New Jersey Assembly for the next two years...EVERY VOTE WILL COUNT, MAKE SURE YOU EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE & CAST YOUR BALLOT TODAY! Click on More for TV and Radio election night coverage, related articles on the gubernatorial election...
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11-2-09 NY Times NJ Governors' race update
November 2, 2009 'Democrats Strive to Hold Governor Posts in Two States' "...Mr. Obama’s appearances in Camden and Newark underscored the White House’s determination to stave off defeat for Mr. Corzine, the only Democratic incumbent up for re-election this year, who is facing an aggressive challenge from Christopher J. Christie, a Republican.The New Jersey contest is attracting enormous attention, not only because of its closeness.

The sputtering economy here (unemployment is 10 percent) has helped to depress Mr. Corzine’s poll numbers and created uneasiness among Democrats nationally about a state they have consistently carried in presidential contests since 1992. Most polls show the race too close to call; Mr. Obama’s visit to New Jersey Sunday was his third to stump for Mr. Corzine...Mr. Christie, undeterred by Mr. Obama’s appeal, barnstormed Sunday in Bergen County, the state’s most populous county, and in Republican strongholds..."
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11-1-09 Education News of Note
'Bergen County towns will vote on school-district consolidation' The Star-Ledger ............................... 'Shot in the arm' for special ed' Herald News
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10-26-09 'High school sports spending grows as budgets get tighter inNew Jersey'
Press of Atlantic City - "...A bill sponsored by state Assemblyman John Burzichelli, D-Salem, Gloucester, Cumberland, would prohibit schools from charging fees for extracurricular activities. Burzichelli did not return calls for comment, but has said he believes charging a user fee could discriminate against those who cannot afford to pay. Lynne Strickland, executive director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, said districts need flexibility in how they save money. She said fee waivers ensure low-income students are not excluded.

"It really hasn't happened that students can't play," she said, adding that fees offer a compromise that helps control costs while still offering activities. "It would seem to me that it does more harm if they take the activity away," she said.."
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Education Week on Federal Stimulus Funding Issues
EDUCATION WEEK October 19, 2009 - How Big Is the Stimulus Funding Cliff? $16.5 billion.

White House: Stimulus Saved 250,000 Education Jobs So Far

Stimulus Funding Cliff Is a Reality

Duncan to CA: Don't Count Your Race to the Top Funds Yet
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PLEASE NOTE - GSCS HAS MOVED to #204 West State Street, Trenton 08608
Please change your address file for Garden State Coalition of Schools/GSCS to: GSCS, 204 West State St., Trenton, NJ 08608...Thank you.

10-22-09 News of Note
Press of Atlantic Cty: 'What do the candidates say on education?' A third of the state budget and a lot of property-tax money funds public education in New Jersey. The next governor will decide how that money is spent. Here's what the candidates say they will do.

Associated Press - 'College prep for teachers 'lacking' Thursday, October 22, 2009

Herald News,WASHINGTON — The Obama administration is calling for an overhaul of college programs that prepare teachers, saying they are cash cows that do a mediocre job of preparing teachers for the classroom.

Star Ledger - 'N.J. school construction projects are delayed by state-contractors dispute'
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10-20-09 News of Note
'State school jobs are saved – but where' THE RECORD WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT

GANNETT; PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY: Articles on Additional NJ Budget Shortfall of $190M
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10-19-09 Education Week 'States felling fiscal pain despite the stimulus'
"...And many states are looking ahead to a time in the federal 2011 fiscal year when money from the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund, a key part of the stimulus program, will no longer be available. That funding, which was intended primarily to backfill cuts that states had already made to education programs, is spread out over two years. In some cases, states have diverted resources from K-12 programs and replaced their own dollars with stabilization funding from the federal government..."
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10-14-09 'Meetings are just the tip of the iceberg'
Education Week/Commentary - Meetings Are Just Tip of Iceberg "...in 2008, driven by a sense of curiosity and public service, I got elected to my local school board in central New Jersey, providing me with a box-seat view that even the most informed observer cannot obtain..."(Author Gene I. Maeroff, a member of the school board in Edison, N.J., is the author of 12 books on education topics and a senior fellow at Teachers College, Columbia University.)
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10-7 & 9-09 Gubernatorial Campaign news: Candidates on education; Corzine on next year's state budget
Star Ledger - 'Issues facing N.J. public schools, students tackled by gubernatorial candidates'...TRENTON -- As the race for New Jersey governor entered the fall, the three major candidates spent a lot of time in places well-known to most state residents: public schools. With 2,500 public schools and nearly 1.4 million children attending them, New Jersey has no shortage of educational issues..."

Star Ledger - Gov. Jon Corzine details how he would close N.J.'s $8B budget deficit. (For the first time...)
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10-2009 On the GSCS Radar Screen
Regionalization and Consolidation Concerns - GSCS will remain vigilant to see that local districts have the final say on whether their districts should be regionalized or consolidated. The law currently states that each district's vote will count.

Reports on the status of regionalization/consolidation feasibility studies are not consistent. On the one hand, we have heard that the deadline for the feasibility studies and recommendations for 10-11 selected districts has been delayed until June. On the other hand, we understand that feasibility studies have a priority completion date of this December for certain 'Bacon' (mostly rural, economically disadvantaged) districts . . . Stay tuned.

Gubernatorial Election Thoughts . . . Something's Missing From the Conversation -

GSCS recognizes there is an obvious void in the election debate arena regarding public education. The candidates need to bring K-12 secondary education-where the majority of New Jersey students are impacted -into the campaign conversation. To date, the candidates' campaign talk has been mostly limited to areas outside of K-12 programs. GSCS has been intereviewd by the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Star Ledger regarding the education platforms of the candidates for Governer.

Keeping an Eye on Legislation - GSCS Opposes these bills:

A-1489/Burzichelli (calls for ending a district's ability to charge fees for extracurricular activities) GSCS recently met with Assemblyman John Burzichelli, the sponsor of A-1489. At that meeting Assemblyman Burzichelli said that A-1489 was not going to have priority in this legislative session, including the lame duck session after this November's election. GSCS appreciates the Assemblyman's willingness to work with GSCS on this and other education funding issues.

A-4140/Oliver (Prohibits an employer from entering into a subcontracting agreement that may affect the employment of any employees in a collective bargaining unit during the term of a collective bargaining agreement covering those employees)

A4142/Cryan (Provides that the terms of a collectively negotiated agreement shall supersede the terms of any individual contract between any public employer and any individual public employee whose position is within the bargaining unit covered by the collective agreement)

GSCS is opposed to these bills and will be meeting with Assembly Education Committee Chairman Joe Cryan to discuss the legislation in October. See the GSCS website homepage (www.gscschools.org, scroll down to June & July 2009) for detailed information on these bills and 'what you can do'...

FYI, GSCS has joined in a coalition of 10 multi-interest organizations (including county, municipal, higher education and business associations, as well as school groups) that oppose both A4140 and A4142.
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10-5-09 Gannett: Editorial & Recommendations re: Gubernatorial Campaign Issues '09
"If you haven't read all of our eight-part "Tax Crush" series, which concludes today, the entire package is available online at mycentraljersey.com and at app.com (Asbury Park Press). As a follow-up to it, we will be outlining a 20-point plan for easing the tax burden that will appear on the Monday and Tuesday editorial pages. It will address four basic areas: reining in public employee salaries and benefits; making the tax system more equitable; putting controls in place that will make it more difficult for lawmakers to spend money they don't have; and improving government efficiency."
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10-4-09 NY Times 'As Property Taxes Become a Real Burden'
'...Of the 10 counties in the country with the highest median property taxes, every one is in New York or New Jersey...The problem is that many suburbanites who bought the luxury car a few years back now can barely afford the Saturn. The New Jersey race will provide some signals.'
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10-2-09 News of Note
N.J. to receive nearly $533 million in education aid GANNETT WASHINGTON BUREAU • OCTOBER 1, 2009 "New Jersey will receive nearly $533 million worth of federal grants for teacher and student support programs, Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Thursday...The money will be used to help students at so-called Title I, or high-poverty, schools and children with disabilities...The grant funding is separate from the $100 billion in education money Congress approved as part of the $787 billion economic stimulus bill, which President Barack Obama signed into law in February."

'N.J. schools narrowing achievement gap for minority, low-income students, study says' Star Ledger... WASHINGTON -- New Jersey schools are narrowing the achievement gap for minority and low-income students on statewide standardized reading and math tests, reflecting a nationwide trend, according to a study released today..."
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10-1-09 Information on S2850 Prevailing Wage bill - food service workers included
On 6-15-09 S2850/Madden was up for 'discussion only' in the Senate Labor Committee - it would require prevailing wage for food service employees. It is a bill GSCS is watching closely and will keep a particular focus on through the lame duck session. GSCS Testimony opposing S2850 is attached here.
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10-1-09 Education Week on Acheivement Gap narrowing; Algebra Testing
EDUCATION WEEK: October 1, 2009 Report Finds Achievement Gap Continuing to Narrow, By Stephen Sawchuk

"Achievement gaps between advantaged and disadvantaged students on state tests have narrowed in many instances over the past decade—continuing a trend that appears to have been bolstered in the 1990s by the standards-based-reform movement, concludes a wide-ranging analysis released today..."

EDUCATION WEEK, Published Online: October 1, 2009 Algebra 2 Test Yields Poor Results in Year II "States that voluntarily took part in a demanding test of advanced algebra skills, given for a second straight year, again saw large proportions of their students struggle with that math content.Yet the test’s sponsors cite the effort as evidence of states’ willingness to band together to create common assessments—a possibility that interests many policymakers—even when the test results are unflattering..."
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9-30-09 'Attack ads give way to issues as campaign enters final phase'
The Record, STATE HOUSE BUREAU "...On education, a Corzine ad touts the governor's preservation of funding for public schools even as he sliced the budget. It says Corzine expanded preschool programs and knocks Christie for calling state-funded preschool "baby-sitting."............. Christie did refer to preschool as "baby-sitting" in a debate against GOP primary challenger Steve Lonegan in May but says it's the state paying for universal preschool he opposes, not preschool itself. Corzine has expanded preschool programs, until he had to cut the funding out of this year's budget amid plummeting tax revenues. His $29 billion recession-year budget did boost aid to K-12 school districts to $8.8 billion, but used $1 billion in federal stimulus money................. Christie vigorously contests the ad's claim that his rejection of the stimulus money would have led to layoffs of up to 35,000 teachers. Christie has said he would turn down "any of the stimulus money which had strings attached to it, which required me to manage the state in a particular way by the federal government." But he says education does not fall into that category and he would have accepted the funds..."
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9-30-09 Results of School Construction bond referenda rolling in
Asbury Park Press - School votes fail in Brick, pass in Atlantic Highlands, Manchester, Marlboro Voters in 3 Bergen districts OK school renovation plans -The Record

South Plainfield rejects school referendum 2-1, STAR-LEDGER

Split decisions on school funding - Burlington County Times
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9-25-09 GSCS Email-Net, issue 2
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ARRA funding guidelines& NJ accountability summary - links from Federal Government
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9-29-09 Third Gannett series on property taxes in NJ
Gannett/Asbury Park Press,September 29, 2009 'The power of unions - New Jersey's fractured governmental system is little match against police and school unions. Here's why...'

'Schools, unions at odds- Is there a better way to negotiate school contracts?'
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9-29-09 My Central NJ article re the struggle of merging local government units v New Jerseyans faith in home rule
'Even simple mergers can be a tough sell in 'home rule' NJ' (GSCS' position is that the vote of local citizens is needed to strike any final decision.)
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9-27-09 Education News of Note
NJ School construction referenda set for vote in 25 school districts this Tuesday (9-29-09)...Morris County district considering school uniforms...Gannett delves into property taxes & New Jersey, begins eight days of exploratory articles on the hot button topic...President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan talking about exanding school time via more minutes in the school day to longer school year...
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9-23-09 Federal Stimulus program information, including (more than $4B) 'Race to the Top' program
Education Week, the leading national publication on education, has provided in-depth articles and data on the federal stimulus programs. Click on More here to locate data and reports on a variety of aspects of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
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9-23-09 'Tests changing for special ed students'
Phillyburbs.com - The Intelligencer "Special education students generally perform below their biological grade level, officials said. The Pennsylvania Department of Education is changing the way schools test special education students to determine their learning levels, officials said. The modified tests "will be less cognitively complex and shorter" than the regular standardized tests, according to state education officials..."
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9-18-09 State is piloting 'personalized learning plans'
'N.J. students to develop personal learning plans in pilot program at 16 schools' The Star-Ledger "Sixth- and ninth-grade students in 16 New Jersey schools will begin developing personal learning plans this year -- examining their interests, strengths and goals -- as part of a two-year statewide pilot program to get kids looking toward their futures..."
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9-15-09 News on teacher salary & benefits negotiations
N.J. teachers' pay rises, but districts put pressure on benefits by The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk

N.J. teachers unions battling over health benefits THE ASSOCIATED PRESS New Jersey teachers unions are still winning their members raises, but there are tough negotiations over benefits...
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9-14-09 GSCS EMAILNET Welcome 2009-2010
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9-13-09 As an issue for N.J.(Gubernatorial election), schools are in'
Phildaelphia Inquirer-South Jersey News,Sunday, Sep. 13, 2009 'As an issue for N.J., schools are in...The candidates for governor are focusing on charters, funding, and business-tax scholarships.'

"...The big elephant in the room is, 'What about next year?' " said Lynne Strickland, director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, which represents many suburban districts.

The state Office of Legislative Services has projected a possible $8 billion budget shortfall. What then?..."
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STATE AID Questons? The Dept of Educ has a mailbox specifically to answer your questions
The DOE has requested that we remind districtds that questions about state aid can be directed to the DOE state aid questions mailbox at: staid@doe.state.nj.us. There are several people that monitor this mailbox and their response time is reported to be pretty good.

August 2009 Information on Federal Stimulus funding supporting school districts Fiscal Year 2009-2010
http://www.state.nj.us/education/arra/

„X Memo

„X SFSF - Equalization Aid Allocations		Memo
„X IDEA Allocations		Memo
„X Title I Allocations - Revised		Memo

„X ARRA - Title I Fact Sheet (as of August 17, 2009) „X SIA, Part A Allocations „X 2009 Summer Programs „X Resources „X ARRA Slideshow - May 16, 2009 „X ARRA Technical Assistance Session PowerPoint Presentation ¡V June 2009 „X ARRA Technical Assistance Session PowerPoint Presentation ¡V July 2009 „X Title I Preschool Application „X Title I Part A Waivers ¡V Request for Comments „X Application for Equalization Aid - ARRA-ESF/GSF and ARRA Quarterly Reporting
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8-20-09 'Nearly all NJ teachers are highly qualified'
Star Ledger article based on information presented to the State Board of Education yesterday, Wednesday 8-19-09
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8-7-09 'Bill would strengthen teacher tenure rights'
northjersey.com article re bill A4142 - GSCS first broke the news of this last-minute, fast track bill that surfaced in the Asembly Education Committee at the very end of June, after the Appropriations Acts for Fiscal Year 2009-2010 was passed. Committee members were caught unaware of the bill and had to vote on it the same day they first saw it. GSCS is adamantly opposed to this legislation. For details and GSCS reporting on the A4142 as it progressed through the Assembly Education Committee, see below on this homepage under the week of June 22, 2009. We urge folks to let their legislators know their opposition to this legislation, as well as Assembly Educatoin Committee Chairman, Joe Cryan, and Governor Jon S.Corzine.
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GSCS Meetings Calendar 2009-2010
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8-4-09 Recent NJ Education News of Note
NJ school districts look to federal stimulus to boost special-needs programs - Sunday August 02, 2009, nj.com .................................................................................................................................................................................Voters will weigh in on future of Pascack Valley, Northjersey.com .............................................................................................................................................................................State set to announce feasibility studies for school consolidations Press of Atlantic City, 7-28-09
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7-22-09 'State gives extra aid for schools an extraordinary boost'
Press of Atlantic City/TRENTON - This year, extraordinary school aid really is extraordinary. The state Department of Education has awarded almost $140 million in so-called extraordinary state aid for 2009-2010 to school districts with disabled children whose education costs exceed $40,000 per year. The awards were a huge increase over last year, when the state budget included just $52 million for extraordinary aid. "We've worked hard on this for years," said Lynne Strickland, executive director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools. "Extra-ordinary expenses for just one or two children can push a district off the budget cliff."
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7-16-08 Schools Testing measures adopted; Test scoring upgraded - harder to pass
Philadelphia Inquirer - N.J. adopts tougher math, language standards The New Jersey Board of Education yesterday adopted tougher achievement standards for the state math and language-arts tests that third and fourth graders take.

Press of Atlantic City – New scoring makes 3rd-, 4th-grade tests harder to pass State wants expectations raised for all grade levels
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7-14-09 Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial
'One small step worth cheering' See editorial that talks about eliminating non-operating districts and responding reader comment that addresses value of home rule.
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6-26-09 Floor Amendment to A1489 re Extracurricular fees
See bill & floor amednment language,
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6-26-09 Executive Director to GSCS Trustees: Wrap Up Report - State Budget and Assembly bills this week
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6-26-09 NJ State Budget Passed late Thursday night
Burlington County Times - Highlights of NJ budget approved Thursday - THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Asbury Park Press - $1.2B tax hikes get OK - GANNETT STATE BUREAU

North Jersey - Hearld News Record/Star Ledger STATEHOUSE Bureau -UPDATE: Divided Legislature passes $29B budget

Press of Atlantic City - State lawmakers approve tax-laden budget
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6-26-09 Education Issues in the News
Press of Atlantic City - N.J. bills bad for taxpayers, school officials say "..Several speakers at the hearing were upset that the bills were added to the agenda at the last minute and not available for review until Monday, though some managed to get copies Sunday. Even some committee members conceded that changes might be needed to the bills, and their final approval was not guaranteed."This is dangerous stuff, it really is," said Lynne Strickland, of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, who sent out an alert to members Sunday..."

Press of Atlantic City [see related article below "6-24-09 Supreme Court Decision"] - Few in N.J. affected by top court's ruling on special education

"Few New Jersey students are likely to benefit from Monday's U.S. Supreme Court decision that parents may be reimbursed for private school tuition for a child with disabilities, even if the child had never received services from the public school district..."

'Loch Arbour asks to postpone N.J. school funding formula' LOCH ARBOUR -- The tiny seaside community of Loch Arbour is asking a Superior Court judge to postpone implementation of the state's new school funding formula to stave off a 400-percent tax increase for its residents.
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6-22 & 24 (update) - 09 GSCS EMAILNET FYI re bills A4140, A1489, A4142
Letter to legislators from Jim O'Neill,GSCS President, and Glen Ridge outreach to community on these bills - what they mean and what you can do; GSCS testimony on the Bills before Assembly Education Committee June 22, 2009.
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6-24-09 GSCS EMAILNET Heads Up FYI
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6-23-09 A4141 & S3000 clarifies how to eliminate Non-Operating school districts
These companion bills were introduced and moved out of the Assembly Education and Senate Budget & Appropriations Committees Monday, June 22,2009...they are scheduled for a vote tomorrow in both houses. It is notable that Commissioner Davy pointed out (while presenting the bill in the Assembly Education Committee) that parts of this bill will likely be used as a model for merging regular operating districts.
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6-24-09 U.S. Supreme Court backs reimbursement for private tuition
Edweek.com (Education Week) “…The case raised the question of whether parents in a special education dispute with a school district may be reimbursed for “unilaterally” placing their child in a private school when that child has never received special education services from the district…”
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6-23-09 Budget and Education in the News today
“N.J. budget approved by Senate, Assembly committees- A revised state budget that uses a last-minute windfall to preserve taxpayer rebates for households making up to $75,000 cleared the budget committees in the Senate and Assembly today, setting up final votes for Thursday. (Reitmeyer and Heininger, The Star-Ledger)”

“GOP gov. candidate Chris Christie condemns N.J. public schools as Gov. Corzine heralds system ..As it usually does, education is emerging as a key issue in New Jersey's gubernatorial race. But in 2009, there's a twist -- as seen by the candidates' appearances today. “(AP) GOP gov. candidate Chris Christie condemns N.J. public schools as Gov. Corzine heralds system, by Associated Press
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6-23-09 Grassroots at Work re A4140, A4142 and A1489
Helpful information, see 1)GSCS President Jim O'Neill letter to legislators on negative issues in these bills that would hurt schools & taxpayers and )Glen Ridge "SOS" community release and bill overview/implications
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6-22-09 GSCS Testimony A1489, A4140, A4142
Assembly Education Committee June 21, 2009 GSCS Positions on A4140, A1489, A4142: Opposed A-4140, concerning collective bargaining agreements and subcontracting, A-4142, concerning certain disciplinary procedures, collective bargaining, and binding arbitration in public employment, are on the agenda pending introduction & referral. A-1489 prohibits boards of education from charging students a fee to participate in extracurricular activities. Due to very late public notice of the hearing, as well as bills not being available for appropriate review and analysis, GSCS is presenting a compilation of thoughts, including member comments (in quotes below) on bills A4140, A1489, and A4142.
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6-23-09 Update re Assembly Education bills heard 6-22-09
Status of bills heard in Assembly Education Committee June 22, 2009, as posted today 6-23-09 NJ Legislature website...The only bill posted for a vote at this time is A4141/Non-operating District Elimination & Merger
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6-23-09 Press of Atlantic City on Assembly Education hearing yestserday
This article is about A1489, which GSCS opposed yesterday.See below for how to contact Trenton legislators to register your opposition. A1489 takes away districts' ability to save taxpayer money (as directed by the Executive and Legislative branches) while keeping programs that benefit the whole student and promote a thorough and efficient education... 'TODAY'S FRONT PAGE - PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY' - June 23, 2009 'State panel votes to bar school fees for clubs, sports'

"TRENTON - A 2006 bill that would prohibit schools from charging students a fee to participate in clubs or sports was dusted off and approved Monday by the state Assembly Education Committee. The bill would allow districts to charge for reimbursement of equipment and supply costs, but districts could not exclude any child whose parent is unable to pay. The New Jersey School Boards Association and the Garden State Coalition of Schools oppose the bill, saying fees charged so far have been small and charging them is preferable to eliminating a club or sport for lack of funds..."
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6-22-09 Bills A4140, 4142, and A1489
What they do and What you can do: call the bill sponsors and register your opposition to these bills now. Legislative contacts [Note: It is good practice to cc your local legislators on whenever communiciating with Statehouse officials on issues) :

Bill Sponsors: • (A1489—activities fees) Assemblyman John J. Burzichelli: (856) 251-9801; asmburzichelli@njleg.org • (A1489—activities fees) Assemblyman Gary S. Schaer (973) 249-3665; asmschaer@njleg.org • (A1489—activities fees) Assemblyman L. Harvey Smith (201) 536-7851; asmsmith@njleg.org • (A1489—activities fees) Assemblywoman Joan M. Voss (201) 346-6400; aswvoss@njleg.org

• (A4140—subcontracting) Assemblywoman Sheila Y. Oliver (973) 395-1166; aswoliver@njleg.org

• (A 4142—disciplinary procedures) Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (908) 624-0880; asmcryan@njleg.org For details, for details, click here on
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6-22-09 Assembly Education moves bills out of committee
All the bills on the agenda today passed out of the Assembly Education Committee (A4140,A4141, A4142 and A1489): A4140 (clamps down on district's ability to subcontract) and A4141(not yet posted, but according to Commissioner Davy's testimony would facilitate regionalizing/consolidating the 23 Non-Operating Districts, per A4 legislation of 2007) -passed unanimously; A4142(essentially requires binding arbitration for all employee disciplinary actions) passed unanimously, with the exception of Assemblyman David Wolfe, who abstained (the other Committee Republicans voted yes with the proviso that their yes votes would not be guaranteed if the bill gets to a floor vote); A1489 (No fees allowed for extracurricular activities) divided along party lines with all Committee Democrats voting yes; all Committee Republicans abstained........The bill sponsor, Assemblyman Burzichelli said that A1489 would not be posted for a vote prior to the summer; while some are saying that A4140 and A4142 will not go to the floor for a vote this month, the NJEA continues to lobby hard for their passage.

6-19-09 a.m. GSCS 'Quick' FYI - State Budget Vote delayed to Thursday, June 25
The postponement announcement of the State Budget vote caught many by surprise yesterday at the statehouse. There is some sentiment that politics and low poll numbers may be influencing the decision to delay the vote on Appropriations Act due to the infusion of some of the funding increase re tax amnesty revenue. (During an election year, the educated ‘guessors’ usually see September as the time to spring good news on the public....)It seems unlikely that education aid (see GSCS Emailnet 6-15-09 as well as www.gscschools.org 6-15-09) will change much, if at all. Most of the increase will be likely going via property relief, such as property tax deductions, uptick in rebate qualifications...different days down here in Trenton… GSCS heard yesterday that the Assembly Education Committee was going to schedule a meeting for this Monday, but at the time of this writing it is not on the legislative calendar.

Attached: 2 articles about Governor & Legislature and State Budget postponement; An additional note - 1 article re: Chris Christie to pursue Urban Education Reform
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6-18-09 Democrats say they have the votes to pass the State Budget today
6-18-09 'Democrats say they have the votes to pass state budget [today]' Northjersey.com article, click on More below . FYI - The State Budget is up for a vote today in both the the Assembly and the Senate. If it passes in both houses, it will go directly to the Governor's desk for signing...GSCS will be keeping an eye on the action in Trenton today.
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6-18-09 NJ toughens high school graduation requirements
The Star-Ledger CAMDEN -- The state Board of Education adopted tougher new high school graduation requirements today that aim to prepare all New Jersey students for jobs or college in the 21st century economy...
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6-17-09 Education in the News
Gloucester County Times 'State OKs Newfield's break with Buena district' "...The borough said school districts in Franklin can provide similar or greater educational opportunities for its students at a lower cost..."Education-wise, it will better with Franklin and Delsea, (and) the facilities, busing and other aspects," said Paladino...Newfield, a non-operating school district, currently pays tuition to the Buena Regional School District and transportation costs to bus some 200 students to Buena's schools in Atlantic County."

Press of Atlantic City: Compared with world, New Jersey 8th-graders average in math "New Jersey students perform better in math than Russian students, but not nearly as well as those in Singapore....The news is pretty good for New Jersey, which earned a B for its fourth-grade results and a C-plus for eighth grade and scored above the U.S. averages. The United States as a whole earned a C-plus in the fourth-grade listing and a C in the eighth-grade ranking. Nationally, only six states, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Kansas and Vermont earned a B in fourth-grade math. Only Massachusetts got a B in eighth-grade math.....Lucille Davy and Gov. Jon S. Corzine. The state is a member of the American Diploma Project and recently joined an effort to create a set of national education standards. The state Board of Education is scheduled to vote today on new high school graduation requirements that will require all students to take algebra I, geometry and a third year of math that builds on the previous classes. The state is also working to provide a better math base in elementary and middle school....."
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6-15-09 GSCS Testifies on its concerns re S2850
S2850/Madden was up for 'discussion only' in the Senate Labor Committee - it would require prevailing wage for food service employees. GSCS Testimony attachopposing S2850 attached here.
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APPROPRIATIONS ACT FY2009-1020 as introduced
The Assembly (A4100Greenwald) and Senate S2010/Buono) versions of the bills are identical. The legislature has stated it has hopes to pass these bills this coming Thursday.
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A4100-S2010 Appropriations Act 'Scoresheet' and Language Changes released
INITIAL review of the documents provided by the Office of Legislative Services on the N J Legislature homepage indicate that 1) the is no reduction in debt service aid, and 2) there is a reduction of $5M for high density populations of autistic students, 3) the pre-school incentive aid is not included in the A4100/S2010. 4) there is a formulaic increase of $10M for Extraordinary Aid to Special Education, and 5)an addition of $10M for Adult Education . For your convenience, GSCS has compiled relevant information from these documents provided on the NJ legislature homepage. Attached here is some overview excerpts on the A4100-S2010 bills' impact via language changes and funding changes, comparing the just introduced bills [over the weekend for public viewing] comparing A4100/S2010 to the Governor's original proposed budget for fiscal year 2009-2010 (March 2009).
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6-12-09 How 50% of IDEA funding can be used to reduce level of state and local expenses - certain circumstances
Because we continue to receive inquiries, we are re-posting an April memo from the Department of Education that stipulates criteria and appropriate use for possible use 50% of IDEA funds by local districts for to "reduce the level of state and local expenditures..." EXCERPT FROM THE MEMO..."...Under certain circumstances an LEA may be able to reduce the level of State and local expenditures otherwise required by the IDEA LEA maintenance of effort (MOE) requirements. Under section 613(a)(2)(C), in any fiscal year that an LEA’s IDEA allocation exceeds the amount the LEA received in the previous year, the LEA may reduce the level of State and local expenditures by up to 50 percent of the amount of the increase, as long as the LEA uses those freed-up local funds for existing or new activities that could be supported under the ESEA..." TO READ THE FULL MEMO, Click on More here
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6-12-09 EMAILNET
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6-11-09 GSCS - it sometimes defies logic
In the midst of economic crisis and trying to stabilize school budgets as well as property taxes, sometimes the push to pass some bills just doesn't make sense. In the news report below we are told that health benefits may rise as much as 20-25% in the State Health Plan for teachers, by next January. This is a fixed cost that will invade budgets already in place and will cut into on-going programs, as well as hiking local property taxes. Fixed costs are those items that are required by law but are beyond local control; yet these costs can eat up most -sometimes all - of the allowable 4% increase in school budgets. Too often, at the same time fixed costs are rising, bills come along that will add to the fixed cost burden, such as S1882/Stack (allows municipalities to transfer adult school crossing guard operation & cost to school districts) and S2850/Madden (requires prevailing wages for private food service providers in local government agencies, including school districts). S1882 has already passed out of the Senate Education Committee and S2850 is being heard this Monday in the Senate Labor Committee. Click on More here to see the bills...
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6-11-09 'N.J. pension director says insurance premiums could rise by double digits'
Star Ledger/Statehouse Bureau/TRENTON -- "State pension director Fred Beaver continued to deliver bad news about health care coverage today, saying insurance premiums for public employees could rise by double digits next year. The increase is likely to strain budgets for cash-strapped counties, municipalities and local agencies (including school districts) that are enrolled in the state health care program..."
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6-11-09 Court challenge filed by Denville Bd. of Educ. member v. 60% super majority vote required for 2nd questions
Star Ledger, June 11, 2009/Morris Section – ‘Denville lawsuit challenges 60 percent voter requirement for local budget questions’ "...The suit contends the law is unconstitutional and will cause "significant and irreparable" harm to the quality of education...But any requests above a 4 percent state limit on budget increases must be put to voters in a separate question, which must get at least 60 percent voter approval in order to pass. Gellene said the margin is arbitrary and violates federal one-man, one-vote fairness rules. "This is a very important question, one that I think could go to the Supreme Court," said Gellene.
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6-10-09 The Senate Budget and Appropriation Committee is scheduled to hear State Budget FY10 next Monday

6-10-09 Education Week on Abbott Decision
'Though N.J. Funding Formula Upheld, Abbott Intact' - "...The governor, who had likened the old method to funding children by zip code, hailed the high court ruling in a statement, saying that it “brings to a conclusion decades of conflict and litigation that many thought would never end.”..."David G. Sciarra, the lead lawyer for the Abbott schoolchildren, said the case is not over “by a long shot.”... “The new formula provides, arguably, the most generous resources in the nation for children at risk,” she (Commissioner of Education Lucille Davy) said. “It is really difficult for me, given the complexity of the national fiscal crisis, for anyone to look at this glass and see it as anything less than full.” ".....Lynne Strickland, the executive director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, an advocacy group for middle- and upper-income districts, said the new formula offers a mixed bag for her members.....Nevertheless, she sees tremendous political advantage for schools in the adoption of one uniform funding approach. “For the first time in recent history, all the districts in the state will be unified in some real common-denominator advocacy,” Ms. Strickland said.
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6-9-09 COMMENTARY on Supreme Court Abbott school funding decisio
Perspectives and Moving Forward:COMMENTARY ON SUPREME COURT ABBOTT DECISION- SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA CONSTITUTIONAL: 'Abbott amended; now, eliminate spending caps' NorthJersey.com by Robert Hutton, vice president of the Ridgewood Board of Education.

"THE ABBOTT decisions have been with us for more than 20 years. I don't believe the most recent state Supreme Court decision will make unfair funding formulas go away that easily..."

"Given the court's support for the new school funding formula, the only logical next step is to abolish the legislation dictating caps...The reversal of these caps would put budget decisions back where they have been and rightfully should be — in the hands of district voters...If caps remain, the end result will be the elimination of high performing districts such as Ridgewood in New Jersey."

'Verniero: From the courtrooms to the classrooms' NorthJersey.com, by Peter G. Verniero, a lawyer, formerly served as a justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court and state attorney general. As attorney general, he represented the state in the fourth and fifth Abbott cases..."The bottom line is this: For the time being, all three branches of government are moving in the same direction. If we could keep it that way, all of New Jersey’s school children would be the winners."
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6-4-09 EMAILNET
GSCS EMAILNET 6-4-09.....GSCS Quick Facts: • In support of a unitary formula that brings all New Jersey districts together under one umbrella, and looking to loosen the “constitutional straightjacket” that evolved over the years regarding school funding, the Supreme Court decision rendered May 28, 20009 found the School funding formula (the School Funding Reform Act 2008/SFRA) constitutional for former Abbott Districts. The opportunity is now ripe for combined strength of districts united by one formula to additionally empower education advocacy.

• Regionalization plans evoking loud criticism around the state.

• GSCS Annual Meeting with capacity crowd in attendance. GSCS thanks all those efforts made this program a great success which included presentations, panel and audience Q&A’s with Governor Corzine, Commissioner Davy, Assembly Education Chairman Joe Cryan, and Assembly Education Committee members Mila Jasey and David Wolfe. Many thanks to our guests and GSCS members both, for their time and frank conversation on critical issues facing education today. A separate report on the Annual Meeting will follow soon.

• Statehouse reports it is anticipating a final vote on State Budget FY’10 by 6-22-09.

• Still no word on how the Governor and the Treasurer will require districts to return $35M in debt service aid – already in school budgets for 2009-2010 – to state coffers. GSCS is pressing this question.
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6-4-09 Assembly Education Committee meeting Monday June 8, 2pm
The committee will conduct a roundtable discussion with invited participants on the Statewide assessment program. For details, click on
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6-2-09 The Record, Editorial 'Preschool Postponed'
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6-1-09 Excerpts from 5-28-09 Supreme Court decision on Abbott
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5-28-09 Supreme Court decision Constitutionality of the SFRA (School Funding Reform Act 2008) re Abbott Districts
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5-28-09 GSCS memo to Board of Trustees includes 'syllabus' summary of today's Supreme Court decision
Go to the Supreme Court website at http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/opinions/supreme/M-969-07%20Abbott%20v%20Burke.pdf to see the pdf of the syllabus and the full decision (138 pages). The State 'won' in the decision. The Court granted the State's motion that the SFRA is constitutional and denied the Education Law Center's motion "seeking an order preserving and continuing the status quo concerning enforcement of the Court’s prior remedial orders addressing funding to Abbott districts..."
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5-28-09 Supreme Court sides with the State: SFRA is consitutional
Court ends Abbott program Thursday, May 28, 2009 NorthJersey.com,The Record, Herald News

"...Justices ruled that Governor Corzine's new school funding formula, which will still send the lion's share of state aid to the 31 Abbott districts, meets constitutional muster. In doing so, they agreed with the Corzine administration's argument: that a new funding formula fairly shares state aid among all 600 of New Jersey's school districts because it targets extra money to any district with high numbers of poor students.....The court also ruled that "supplemental funding," a special funding source available only to Abbott districts, should end. That was a clear win for the Corzine administration..."

'N.J. Supreme Court backs Gov. Jon Corzine's revised school-funding plan' - The Star-Ledger "The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled today that a revised school aid formula can succeed the landmark Abbott school funding case that has sent billions of dollars to the state's poorest communities during the past 30 years. In its unanimous ruling, the court said that the state's plan for school aid, the School Funding Reform Act that lawmakers adopted last year at the behest of Gov. Jon Corzine, is "a constitutionally adequate scheme." "There is no absolute guranatee that (the revised funding plan) will achieve the results desired by all," the opinion states. "...The political branches of government, however, are entitled to take reasoned steps, even if the outcome cannot be assured, to address the pressing social, economic and educational challenges confronting our state..."

Assoc. Press - 'N.J. court approves major shift in school funding' "...Thursday's 5-0 ruling is the closest the court has come in 39 years of litigation to saying the state has found a way to provide a proper education for all children without special treatment for urban schools..."
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5-28-09 Abbott Ruling to be issued by Supreme Court at 10 a.m. today
Star Ledger - N.J. Supreme Court to rule on future of 'Abbott' school districts, May 28, 2009 TRENTON -- "New Jersey's Supreme Court today will rule on whether a new school funding formula proposed by Gov. Jon Corzine is constitutional, which could potentially end the long-running, and controversial, Abbott vs. Burke school funding case..."

The Record, North Jersey News ‘State's highest court to rule on Abbott funding today’ Thursday May 28, 2009..... "The state Supreme Court is scheduled to rule on the mother of all school funding cases tomorrow: Abbott v. Burke..."
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5-27-09 'Monmouth County town to pay $68K per student...'
'...based on NJ funding formula' NJ.com online
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5-25-09 'Public schools join hunt for grants...'
...as programs budgets are trimmed' The Star-Ledger
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5-22-09 'New Jersey: Modest Increases'
New York Times article re: NJ School Budget Elections for Fiscal 2009-2010
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5-21-09 School-related bills up for vote in Senate & Assembly Sessions today
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5-20-09 News articles re proposed new State Budget cuts for FY2009-2010
May 19, 2009 'Only seniors to get property tax rebates- Revised N.J. budget adds $400M in tax increases' GANNETT STATE BUREAU

'Corzine proposes more rebate cuts' Philadelphia Inquirer Trenton Bureau

Star Ledger – ‘Say goodbye to property-tax rebates, N.J. treasurer says’
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5-18-09 Propterty Tax 'Appeals soar amid clamor for tax relief'
Star Ledger "...Smaller tax revenues create bigger headaches for municipalities and counties already struggling to fund their operations...It's a big concern of mine that the ratable base is eroding," said Hunterdon Freeholder George Melick. "Less money from ratables drives the tax rate up." ...Ratables, or taxable properties, lost about $1 billion of value last year in Hunterdon..."
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5-14-09 GSCS Heads Up - State Aid payments to be delayed into next Fiscal Year
Note: GSCS continues to advocate for an increase in allowable surplus. The current 2% limit has been often specified by auditors as to restrictive and inflexible when critical stress on budgets - such as this delay - may occur. '...GSCS was a participant in a late afternoon conference call with Lucille Davy, Commissioner of Education today, 5-14-09 re: Governor Corzine’s State Budget FY10 update 5-14-09.

• Statewide this delay totals $383M • Both the last and now ‘next to last’ state aid payments will be reimbursed to districts in early July at the same time, in one lump sum

'...Districts need to review their cash flow situation immediately to see if they will require borrowing; suggest districts use ‘cash flow summary’ sheet already posted on DOE website...'
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5-14-09 CONGRATULATIONS TO NJ PRESS ASSOCIATION & STATEHOUSE PRESS FOR LAST NIGHT'S GREAT CORRESPONDENT'S SHOW - AN ABUNDANCE OF THESPIAN TALENT, COUPLED WITH THE ABUNDANCE OF TRENTON STORIES TO HERALD

5-09 GSCS ASKS - Education funding questions- school districts need answers
While the end of the fiscal year is ending not only for Trenton, but alo for schools, there are still many large budget quest remaining: Where is the special education Extraordinary Aid schools were requried to budget for and when will these funds be given to local schools? If not done soon, schools may not be able to balance their budgets....Is the last state aid payment going to be paid by the end of the fiscal year this year?....When will the federal stimulus funds actually be transferred on to local school accounts so programs can really take effect? ....Will school construction funds be paid out in timely fashion? There are more questions but these need answering now.

5-14-09 Tax Issues in the News
Assoc. Press 'Towns see surge in property tax appeals' ..................Asbury Park Press '20,033 area homeowners appeal taxes'..................The Record/Star Ledger statehouse bureaus: ‘N.J. groups ask Gov. Corzine to fix budget woes by taxing rich residents more’
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5-12-09 News of Note
PHILLY.COM

Posted on Tue, May. 12, 2009 'Corzine to lay out budget deficit solutions soon' Inquirer' Trenton Bureau..."Gov. Corzine expects to lay out solutions for New Jersey's latest budget shortfall within days, he said yesterday." "You'll hear this week, relatively early"

'NJ prepares for layoffs of state workers' The Associated Press

'Princeton University will use Kindle e-reader to use less paper,' The Star Ledger

'You can go back to work, N.J. top court tells teacher after 20 years of disability leave', The Star-Ledger
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5-5-09 Gov Corzine files Exec. County Sup't. Nominations
These nominations will be brought to the legislature's Judiciary Committees for approval votes, and then to the legislature for final approval of appointment.
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4-23-09 GSCS BOARD OF TRUSTEES PASSAGE RATE OF SCHOOL BUDGETS is 87 per cent
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4-23-09 The public shows its support for public education in passing nearly 75 per cent of school budgets statewide
STAR LEDGER, 4-23-09,'Despite national recession, N.J. voters approve 73 percent of school budgets' "...They braced for the worst but instead most New Jersey school districts were expressing relief today, after voters approved 73.3 percent of school budgets in local school elections Tuesday night..."

PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY, 4-23-09, 'New Jersey voters no tougher on school budgets this year than last' "...Increased state aid and new state laws capping property-tax increases appear to have played a role in increasing budget approvals during the past few years...New Jersey School Boards Association data show that in 2006, when five years of flat state aid forced local school boards to turn to taxpayers for more money, only 52 percent of budgets passed..."
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4-22-09 Statewide District by District Results FY0910 School Budget Elections
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4-22-09 Statewide County by County Results FY0910 School Budget Elections
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4-22-09 Department of Education releases recap of school budget vote, 73.5 passage rate
"...The Commissioner called the approval rate “quite extraordinary” in light of the national economic crisis...it seems clear that yesterday’s school budget vote shows that the public supports local efforts to provide the best possible education for their children. [Davy] also praised Governor’s Corzine’s commitment to making additional education funding a priority, “not just because it is the right thing to do but because it is one of several ways that we are trying to rein in property taxes, and voters seem to be responding to that.” Indicating that voters did not support spending beyond the 4% tax levy cap, ten )10) of eleven (11) second questions were defeated.The 11 second questions on the local ballots was the lowest number ever.

Seventeen of the 22 bond referenda on the ballot passed.

http://www.nj.gov/education/data/vote/09/

Click on More for full details...
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4-22-09 School election results & articles
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4-19 and 20-09 Editorial and School Elections articles
New Jersey voters will have a chance Tuesday to say yes or no to an estimated $14 billion in school taxes.
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4-17-09 The $609M Federal Stimulus aid to NJ - initial reactions
New Jersey school districts will share $609 million in federal stimulus money that they can begin to spend as soon as this summer to preserve jobs and invest in education reform, Gov. Jon Corzine said today.
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4-17-09 The Trenton Times
The state announced how it expects to distribute $609 million worth of stimulus funding to local schools yesterday, earmarking $25.3 million for special education, at-risk students and preschools in the Trenton area.
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4-16-09 Federal Stimulus funds for IDEA and Title 1 just announced
Department of Education posts district by district listing.
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4-16-2009 DOE RELEASE - Fed'l StimulusTITLE 1 ALLOCATIONS
School Year 2009-2010 Title I Preliminary ARRA by District
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4-16-2009 DOE RELEASE - Fed'l Stimulus IDEA ALLOCATIONS
IDEA Stimulus Awards
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4-13-09 News of Note
Frustration grows as Essex County school costs keep rising
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4-13-09 Dept. of Education reissues guidance memo
This is regarding the DoE 4-2-09 memo on Federal Recovery funds for schools.
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4-8-09 News of Note
President Barack Obama campaigned on a message of change, but when it comes to K-12 education, he appears to be walking in the policy footsteps of his recent predecessors, including George W. Bush.
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4-5-09 The Record, Sunday April 5, Front Page Opinion
SCHOOL FUNDING in New Jersey is ever evolving. But always underneath the process lies some issue, somewhere, that impacts a school and its community. Somewhere, someone is worried there is not enough support for his children. And everyone seems to have an opinion that too little or too much is being spent.
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4-5-09 A new approach to an old math problem
In the midst of revamping its core curriculum standards for elementary and high schools, the state Department of Education has waded into the "math wars" -- a national debate over the best way to teach children mathematics.
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4-2-09 US Dept of Education Federal Stimulus fund information
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan today announced that $44 billion for states and schools is now available under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009.
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4-2-09 NJ Dept of Education Memo re Federal Stimulus Funds for Education
The United States Department of Education (USDE) posted several guidance documents yesterday on the additional federal funds that will be available to school districts throughout the state under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) at the following address: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/leg/recovery/index.html#apps.
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