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Thanks so much for your interest in the Garden State Coalition of Schools. Representative information follows re GSCS and membership points.
We would be delighted to have your district become a member of GSCS and believe the benefit would be a two way street for your school and town community at the local level as well as for helping TO add your important voice to GSCS’ efforts at the state level.
If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to give me a call at 6099394 2828 or gscs2000@gmail.com ; also see GSCS website www.gscschools.org .
Lynne Strickland, Executive Director, Garden State Coalition.
GSCS Membership Questions? Read FAQs
MEMBERSHIP QUESTIONS: FAQ's; Also, please SEE GSCS "WHAT DO WE DO FOR YOU?" found on list under Board and Membership Information link.
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About Us: Garden State Coalition of Schools
What Does GSCS Believe?
- A permanent commitment to improving education without diminishing quality
- A broad perspective that reflects the concerns of educators, lay leadership and communities and parents
- Focused advocacy with expertise in school funding
- A primary focus on the inter-related issues of academic achievement, educational practices and school finance
- Continuing school programs that have led to high student achievement
Who Belongs to GSCS?
- GSCS is a statewide organization, its members spanning New Jersey from Camden County to Bergen County
- Once considered primarily suburban, GSCS member districts have quintupled (120 school districts today) since 1992 and now include districts with a range of financial resources.
- Member districts represent approximately 400,000 public school children.
- Participants are a unique mix of parents, board of education members and superintendents who bring a broad perspective to GSCS initiatives.
How Is the Coalition Organized?
- A 24-district Board of Trustees meets monthly. The Parent Network Coordinator is a voting member of the Board.
- GSCS has only one paid staff person and is funded solely through member district dues.
- Member districts join through a Board of Education resolution.
What Makes GSCS Effective?
- GSCS is led by a highly motivated, volunteer membership and is grass roots in its decision-making.
- GSCS is tightly organized and able to gather and analyze information and make recommendations in a short time frame.
- GSCS is the only statewide educational organization that serves parents, school administrators Board of Education members.
- GSCS reaches out to work with education partners throughout NJ.
- GSCS maintains a presence in Trenton and is able to mobilize its statewide membership, bringing local educators, parents, and state legislators and policymakers together quickly.
- GSCS is a leading advocate for public support of public education for all children, not just those in one socio-economic group.
______________________________________________
Garden State Coalition of Schools/GSCS
(Established June 1992)
Membership Information - FAQs 0809
Membership:
GSCS represents school districts across the state of New Jersey. It is primarily a volunteer organization and grassroots in nature. GSCS is seen as a unique education advocacy group in that GSCS active volunteers are a combination of parents, school board members and school administrators. Common denominator concerns are for support for public education, quality education and student well-being. GSCS focus is on school finance.
Dues:
- Based on a fiscal year calendar. Annual fee payments should be made July1.
- 2008-2009 Dues $1850 (Dues should be received on within the month a district board of education strikes a resolution to join GSCS. Dues are prorated on monthly basis for districts joining later in the fiscal year.) See FY0809 voucher.
Resolution Required:
- Board of Education Resolution required for initial membership in GSCS.
Contact information:
- GSCS communications (GSCS “EMAILNETS” and Parent Network information) generally work through member districts’ Central Office of the Superintendent. In turn the Superintendent’s office is requested to disseminate GSCS information to the board of education and the local board-designated parent liaison to the GSCS Parent Network on a regular and timely basis. Board members and parents may request to be added to the GSCS and Parent Network email lists directly as well (requests can be made to ‘gscs2000@gmail.com’.
- Names, addresses/email addresses/phone & fax numbers can be submitted to GSCS along with the PO/Voucher form or at a later date to Executive Directors Office, 210 West State Street Trenton, NJ 08608 or by email to gscs2000@gmail.com.
- In addition to regular communication to GSCS member volunteers via email, GSCS has a website established at www.gscschools.org.
Meetings:
- GSCS Board of Trustees meetings are held monthly throughout the school year, on the fourth Wednesday of the month (see GSCS website for meetings calendar). There are 24 districts that are elected to the GSCS Board of Trustees. Trustee districts may represented by their parent, board of education liaison, and school administrator. The GSCS Parent Network Coordinator has a seat on the Board of Trustees as well. Board meetings are open and GSCS member volunteers are always welcome to attend. Traditionally, GSCS holds an Annual Meeting in late May or early June and an open house meeting at the New Jersey School Boards “Fall Workshop” in Atlantic City in October each year. GSCS also holds annual statewide summits on topics of member interest and concern, “Public Support for Public Education,” normally in the winter months.
Actions:
- GSCS is a known and credible presence in Trenton at the Statehouse, in the Governor’s Office as well as the legislature. GSCS often testifies on issues, in particular school finance, that impact the overall membership’s base concerns.
- GSCS is a recognized voice for quality education and is often sought out by the media
- In addition to keeping its members informed and up to date on relevant Trenton issues via communications and forums and statewide meetings, GSCS also sends out policy and legislative alerts to its members. GSCS organizes days for members to attend hearings and press conferences in Trenton.
- GSCS produced the white paper ‘Funding New Jersey’s Schools….Finding a Workable Solution’ in October 2007 that had impact on the school funding formula debate.
Outreach:
- GSCS welcomes invitations to present, or visit, from members, county groups, education associations, public school interest groups, and various governmental and legislative agencies, among others.
- GSCS specializes in grassroots advocacy and school finance issues.
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2008-2009 GARDEN State Coalition of Schools/GSCS
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS & BOARD OF TRUSTEES
President Mr. James O’Neill
Superintendent, School District of the Chathams
President-Elect Mr. Roger Caruba
Superintendent, Rumson
Vice President Ms. Betsy Ginsburg
Board Representative, Glen Ridge
Vice President Ms. Lynn Biehn
Board Representative, Haddonfield
Treasurer Dr. David Abbott
Superintendent, Marlboro
Past President Dr. Daniel Fishbein,
Superintendent, Glen Ridge
2009 2010 2011
Livingston The Chathams Cherry Hill
Madison Cranford Glen Ridge
Monroe Twnsp East Brunswick Hackettstown
Ridgewood Haddonfield Marlboro
Rumson Leonia Millburn
Scotch Plains/Fanwood No. Valley/Demarest Metuchen
Summit Piscataway Moorestown
Tenafly Readington Princeton
______________________________________
Example of GSCS ‘EMAILNET’ Communications sent regularly to GSCS MEMBERS:
GARDEN STATE COALITION OF SCHOOLS/GSCS
EMAILNET FYI 6-10-08
BRINGING YOU UP TO DATE - TRENTON & STATE BUDGET ACTION,
COMMITTEE HEARINGS, GSCS ANNUAL MEETING, more…………….
GSCS QUICK FACT:
· Next Board of Trustees meeting is July 16, 9:30,
at the East Brunswick Board of Education (find directions under sidebar link to 'Board Information'). Please RSVP to gscs2000@gmail.com with you attendance plans.
· GSCS was pleased and rewarded that Assemblyman Joe Cryan announced at the GSCS Annual Meeting today that he will seek an amendment to A15 to remove the 60% voter participation- passage requirement on 2nd questions.See GSCS 5-30-08 note below.
On the GSCS homepage today – full details are just
1 click away on www.gscschools.org
GSCS - WHAT do WE do for YOU?
More...
GSCS 17th Annual Meeting pictures
The meeting was held at the Forsgate Country Club on May 29, 2008. The GSCS program was very well received by members and friends. GSCS was pleased to have featured guests Governor Jon Corzine, Assembly Education Committee Chairman/Democratic State Committee Chair Joe Cryan, and Commissioner of Education Lucille Davy all address the audience, as well as spend the time to participate in a lengthy Q & A session.
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6-10-08 Committee hearings of note this week
6-10-08 Joint Committee on the Public Schools, Trenton
6-12-08Assembly Education Committee, Trenton
Committee hearings can be seen on line, go to the New Jersey legislature website for viewing. To see hearing agenda (Asm Educ. Comm. agenda revised 6-9-08 for new bill A2975 re negotiations limitations on contracts for school superintendents, asst. superintendents, and business administrators), click on More...
6-10-08 NJ lawmakers work on $33B spending plan Tuesday
News short from the Ledger - New Jersey legislative leaders hope to finish work today on the final details of a $33 billion state plan for taxes and spending that has to be in place by July 1. Senate President Richard Codey (D-Essex) said he is hopeful a budget deal will be struck today. Then both houses of the Legislature will be able to vote on the spending plan by June 19, well before the end of the fiscal year, June 30.
6-9-08 GSCS Quick Facts: TRENTON FOCUS THIS WEEK
IT'S ALL ABOUT GETTING THE STATE BUDGET PUT TO BED, this includes potential revisions of the pension process and how to handle school construction funding for Abbott districts which could also impact regular operating districts - GSCS is watching how process is developing...At the same time, bills are moving through education committees that will impact school districts. One such is giving emergrency powers to the Commissioner to put accountability regulations in place immediately. These regulations will impct all districts right away, and include much on budgeting process and executive county superintendent roles & requirements of the job. Click on More below to see Assembly Education Committee agenda for June 12 & read relevant article and editorial.....................
................................................................................................................................................... Pension reform's moment - Sunday Star Ledger, June 08, 2008
Sunday 6-8-08, N.J. budget talks hit home stretch- THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ... 'New Jersey legislators trying to keep hopes for a mid-June budget agreement alive also plan action in the coming weeks on several other key issues, including measures meant to address housing costs, school construction and economic worries...'
'Proposed: Voters to OK all borrowing' Amendment to rein in state debt advances, the Ledger,More...
GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET Fiscal Year 2009...INFOMore...
Office of Leg Services Analysis of Gov's Education budget FY09More...
GSCS & NJ Special Education Funding Coalition on STATE FUNDING FOR EXTRAORDINARY COST
Issue Summary: Produced by Garden State Coalition of Schools and The New Jersey Coalition for Special Education Funding Reform (Released at the GSCS Annual Meeting, May 29, 2008.)More...
2008-2009 GSCS EXECUTIVE OFFICERS & BOARD OF TRUSTEES
At its May 29 2008 Annual Meeting, the GSCS membership unanimously voted on the attached slate of officers and Trustee Districts. GSCS extends its sincere thanks to those who are moving on, as well as up. More...
6-4-08 Education Week Releases 'Diplomas Count' report & data
EDUCATION WEEK 'DIPLOMAS COUNT' DATA http://www.edweek.org/ew/toc/2008/06/05/index.html Dear Educator/GSCS - It's here! The Diplomas Count 2008: School to College has arrived. This third annual report, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is now available online at edweek.org. During our
edweek.org Open House, you can access the whole report for FREE! The report explores the rapid growth of state-level P-16 councils and how they seek to create a more seamless schooling continuum that prepares students from preschool through college and beyond for life, work, and further education....be sure to check out our other benchmark reports, Quality Counts and Technology Counts.For full reports and data click here on
More...
6-4-08 In the News
Ledger editorial - Holding schools to account Wednesday, June 04, 2008"...The wrongs that are being uncovered cannot, however, be used as an excuse simply to cut school funding instead of enact ing true remedies..." More...
6-3-08 Senate Education Committee agenda for Thursday, 6-5 More...
6-1-08 'Shake up on school elections'
Sunday, June 1, 2008 The RECORD - Columnist comments on proposed legislation A10, A15.
More...
6-1-08 Sunday Column - Court could get taken to school
Star Ledger, Sunday, June 01, 2008 "...I attended the governor's speech to the Garden State Coalition of Schools last week at the Forsgate Country Club...The emotional highlight came when he described his visit earlier in the week to six schools in the Iron bound section of Newark...But if the Abbott system has in deed ended, as Corzine contends, then why do the 31 districts formerly known as Abbott still get 100 percent of their construction costs paid by the state? ...Highland Park is a member of the Garden State Coalition. Like other member towns, it gets very little state aid. So the burden of supporting the local schools falls on working stiffs like that caterer[the writer met in the parking lot, a citizen of Highland Park]. And even though Highland Park, like many middle-class towns, is packed to the gills with liberal Democrats, even liberal Democrats have their limits. If this [school construction] bond measure goes on the ballot, we'll find out just what those limits are..." More...
5-30-08 GSCS 17th Annual Meeting featured the Governor, Education Commissioner and Assembly Education Committee Chair
GSCS was pleased to have Governor Corzine, Assembly Education Committee Chair Joe Cryan and Commissioner Davy spend a combined total of more than two hours with over 120 GSCS members. All three officials addressed the audience individually; presentations were followed by Q & A sessions.....Governor Jon Corzine is willing to review certain mandates with an eye to cutting down on them where possible, with the recommendation of Commissioner Lucille Davy.....An objective of GSCS' has been to remove the 60% voter participation 'yes' vote requirement for 2nd questions imposed via the CORE legislation.
GSCS was pleased and rewarded that Assemblyman Joe Cryan announced at the GSCS Annual Meeting today that he will seek an amendment to A15 to remove the 60% voter participation- passage requirement on 2nd questions. The bill A15 moves school board elections to November, as well as any 2nd question - the Assemblyman's rationale here is that the voter participation will be increased thus giving the public more say in 2nd question passage..There was discussion about the $2.5B proposal for school construction in the Abbott districts, talk of review of superintendent contracts and related issues...In addition to print media, clips from the meeting were aired on NJN and News 12 NJ...to see news coverage and Annual Meeting Program, click on More...
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