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NJ Spotlight--Politicians Could Punt To Voters On How To Put NJ’s Fiscal House In Order
Locked in bitter dispute with governor over budget, senate president proposes a referendum on cuts in public-worker benefits
New Jersey voters could soon be dragged into an ongoing and increasingly bitter dispute over how best to address the biggest fiscal challenges that continue to dominate the latest state budget discussions in Trenton.
Under a plan unveiled yesterday by Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester), a series of proposed public-worker benefits cuts that are designed to free up cash for other items and also ease the burden on local property-tax bills would be put before voters in the form of proposed constitutional amendments, as early as this year.
John Reitmeyer | May 17, 2019
NJ Spotlight--Lawmakers Hear From Officials About Teacher Shortage In New Jersey
State officials are working to address shortfalls in the ranks of math, science, bilingual-instruction, ESL and career and technical educators
There’s a teachers shortage in New Jersey. That’s according to data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Raven Santana | NJTV News | May 17, 2019
Star Ledger--A white guy asked if Hispanic kids learn American history. Now, he’s getting slammed.
Jack Fornaro said he was just being “inquisitive” when he raised the question at a state Board of Education meeting.
“With the demographics that you have indicated here, you know, the high population that is Hispanic, and, uh, I am just wondering, do you teach American history as a required course,” Fornaro, a state board member, asked Paterson school officials.
The answers is obviously yes. And, now, Fornaro is facing backlash from two state lawmakers who condemned his May 1 comments as “shocking” and “insensitive."
Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com| Updated May 16, 10:55 PM; Posted May 16, 2:16 PM
Star Ledger--This tiny school district is facing a 77% cut in state aid. Here’s what it’s doing about it.
The good news for residents of Logan Township is school taxes for a typical homeowner are going down by almost $10 to fund the next school year.
The bad news is they are likely to give that back and then some in coming years because of a projected 77 percent cut in state funding for the K-8 district over the next six years.
Bill Duhart | For NJ.com| Posted May 16, 8:40 AM
The Record—Educators, Activists Ask NJ to Dump Graduation Tests
Under a 1979 state law high school students have to pass a state exam in math and English in order to graduate.
Hannan Adely| May 17, 2019
Associated Press (via Philadelphia Inquirer)--College SAT results to include another score: Hardship in students’ lives
An “adversity score” will be added to SAT college entrance test results, rating applicants on environmental factors
Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, Updated: May 16, 2019- 9:42 PM
Press of Atlantic City--Sweeney group introduces 27 bills to rein in cost of government
Legislative leaders introduced a 27-bill package Thursday to institute reforms called for by Senate President Steve Sweeney's 'Path to Progress' initiative, according to Senate Democrats.
Legislative leaders introduced a 27-bill package Thursday to institute reforms called for by Senate President Steve Sweeney’s “Path to Progress” initiative, according to Senate Democrats.
Sweeney said the bills are designed to fix New Jersey’s fiscal crisis, restore the stability of the pension system and save tens of billions of dollars for taxpayers.
“The Path to Progress is the path to real, sustainable tax relief in a state with the highest property taxes, the second-largest unfunded pension liability, the second-worst credit rating and the fifth-highest overall tax burden in the nation,” Sweeney, D-Salem, Gloucester, Cumberland, said in a statement.
MICHELLE BRUNETTI POST Staff Writer | May 17, 2019
Education Week--Substitute Teacher Shot in Santa Fe High School Attack Says Subs Need Safety Training
Flo Rice, who was a substitute teacher at Santa Fe High School in Santa Fe, Texas, on the day a student gunman killed 10 people, was shot multiple times in both legs. Since the shooting, Rice and her husband have advocated for substitute teachers to be included in all school safety trainings and drills.
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2019/05/15/substitute-teacher-shot-in-santa-fe-high.html
Evie Blad| May 15, 2019, Updated May 16, 2019
