GSCS Email-Net Archive - Recent and Selected Posting      GSCS Email-Net 11-16-10      GSCS News 'Email-Net' Archive, beginning 2009      6-2-10 RACE TO THE TOP (RTTT) 'NJ STYLE': It is what it is ...but what exactly is it? Race to the Top application is caught in a crossfire of reports - more information and clarity is needed      3-4-10 GSCS Email-Net: Summit @ Summit Report - A New Day in Trenton?      2-12-10 Gov Chrisite's Message re Current Yr Deficit      2-16-10 Email-net March @ Summit at Summit      1-26-10 GSCS Email-Net Christie Era Begins      1-20-10 GSCS Heads Up FYI.docx      1-6-10 GSCS Email-Net Lame Duck Watch      12-15-09 Email-Net      11-9-09 GSCS Email-Net: Request to Trustee Districts      11-6-09 GSCS Email-Net: Important Post-Election Information      11-5-09 GSCS Email-Net: Election Information - Christie on Education - and Request to Member Districts      11-3-09 GSCS Email-Net: Today is Election Day - Coverage, more      10-21-09 GSCS EMAIL-NET: Commissioner Davy to be at GSCS meeting in Atlantic City      10-15-09 GSCS Email-Net: Compare Corzine-Christie re education      9-25-09 GSCS EMAIL-NETOn GSCS Radar Screen, Intro Cons. Cntct      9-14-09 GSCS EMAILNET Welcome 2009-2010      6-24-09 GSCS EMAILNET Heads Up FYI      6-22 & 24 (update) - 09 GSCS EMAILNET FYI re bills A4140, A1489, A4142      6-19-09 a.m. GSCS 'Quick' FYI - State Budget Vote delayed to Thursday, June 25      6-15-09 GSCS Heads Up FYI      6-12-09 EMAILNET      6-4-09 EMAILNET      5-19-09 Treasurer David Rousseau announces additional round of cuts to Gov's proposed State Budget FY2009-2010      5-14-09 GSCS Heads Up - State Aid payments to be delayed into next Fiscal Year      428-09 EMAILNET Abbott & SFRA; DOE before State Budget Committees      4-17-09 EMAILNET Federal Stimulus Title 1 and IDEA Allocations Announced      4-2-09 EMAILNET & GSCS FYI for April 2009      3-27-09 EMAILNET      3-16-09 EMAILNET      3-6-09 GSCS March FYI - Trenton & GSCS Happenings & more      2-23-09 EMAILNET      2-12-09 EMAILNET GSCS Message for State Budget FY10: STABILITY & FAIRNESS      1-30-09 EMAILNET Fed Stimulus Proposal, School Vote, Stability & Fairness      1-24-09 EMAILNET Federal Stimulus proposal - local district impact listing      1-17-09 GSCS EMAILNET & SCHOOL FUNDING OVERVIEW      1-17-09 GSCS EMAILNET      Education excerpts from House Fed Stimulus package in GSCS 1-15-09 Heads Up      GSCS 1-15-09 'Heads Up' - House Releases its Fed Stimulus Package      January 2009 GSCS FYI      1-5-09 EMAILNET Gov Announces Spending Reductions for FY0809 Today      12-21-08 GSCS EMAILNET - Excerpts      10-31-08 EMAILNET      10-17-08 EMAILNET      9-29-08 GSCS EMAILNET      9-12-08 GSCS EMAILNET      7-2-08 EMAILNET FYI      6-17-08 EMAILNET FYI, State Budget Agreement, School Construction bill moving towards passage      6-10-08 GSCS EMAILNET FYI Trenton focus      5-30-08 EMAILNET FYI - GSCS ANNUAL MTG NEWS BRIEFS      4-16-08 EMAILNETSchool Budget Elections early results      1-18-07 GSCS EMAILNET FYI      1-14-08 EMAILNET Governor Corzine Sign funding legisation into law 1-13-08 at Drumthwacket      1-11-08 EMAILNET Funding legislation passes - Aftermath      1-4-08 EMAILNET GSCS statement on current funding proposal - leaning negative      1-3-08 EMAILNET Aid proposal - update & analysis      12-21-07 EMAILNET - GSCS spots 'Giveback' provision in draft bill - a flip flop?      12-19-07 Proposed Funding formula - update      12-12-07 EMAILNET Funding Plan proposal to be released today, no bill yet      12-7-07 EMAILNET Jt Committees schedule hearing on new school funding plan, Commissioner Davy to present      12-6-07 EMAILNET Funding bill - emerging issues      12-1-07 EMAILNET FYI Governor Corzine present new school funding formula concepts      11-30-07 EMAILNET FYI      11-13-07 GSCS EMAILNET      11-6-07 EMAILNET      10-15-07 GSCS EMAILNET      10-1-07 GSCS EMAILNET      071015 EMAILNET      071001 EMAILNET      9-21-07 EMAILNET      7-31-07 EMAILNET Status of School Funding Formula, more      7-10-07 EMAILNET Includes GSCS ADVOCACY PACKET Need for new school funding formula, more      6-29-07 EMAILNET Lots of news affeccting your schools and communities      6-22-07 EMAILNET State Budget Passes last night      6-14-07 GSCS FYI EMAILNET State Budge FY08 Revisions to State Budget filed today      6-13-07 GSCS EMAILNET      5-18-07 EMAILNET School Funding Formula Needed Now      3-30-07 EMAILNET      3-21-07 EMAILNET      3-6-07 EMAILNET State Budget hearings, State Aid, Grassroots activities      2-22-07 GSCS EMAILNET re Gov's Budget Message      2-20-07 EMAILNET FYI - AMID joins GSCS      2-12-07 EMAILNET SCHOOL AID & PROPERTY TAX HELP NEEDED NOW      2-9-07 GSCS EMAILNET MEMBER FYI on Trenton legislation Action      1-26-07 EMAILNET TRENTON UPDATE: A4 CORE Plan on Assembly Agenda Monday; A1 The 4% Tax Cap bill not yet introduced but still possible for Assembly agenda 1-29 also      1-19-07 EMAILNET      1-2 & 3-07 EMAILNET GSCS Resolution, Fast Track Property Tax bills      12-15-06 EMAILNET Bills Held!      11-14-06GSCS FYI EMAILNET - Spec Session Jt Comm Reports due out 11-15-06      11-11-06 EMAILNET Special Session Legislative Committees report Nov. 14 or 15      11-7-06 EMAILNET Special Education Categorical aid at risk and more      10-21-06 EMAILNET Spec Session, press conference, GSCS board mtg inAtl. City      10-5-06 EMAILNET      9-22-06 EMAILNET      9-20-06 EMAILNET Special Session news & testimonies      9-15-06 EMAILNET Special Session; School Construction Report Released      9-7-06 EMAILNET Special Session & Trenton Update      8-31-06 EMAILNET re Sept 5 Jt Comm on Pub Schl Funding mtg      7-21-06 GSCS QUICKNET      8-24-06 EMAILNET Special Session Update      8-18-06 EMAILNET      8-2-06 EMAILNET Special Session fyi, more      7-28-06 GSCS 'QUICKNET' direct from Trenton      7-28-06 GSCS 'QUICKNET' from Trenton on Special Session      7-27-06 GSCS 'QUICKNET' Property Tax Session info      7-14-06 EMAILNET      7-11-06 EMAILNET FYI      7-7-06 EMAILNET - AGREEMENT ON STATE BUDGET REACHED, impt 'details' still being finalized      6-29-06 GSCS 'QUICKNET FYI' Update on State Budget for FY 2007      6-22-06 EMAILNET on the Homepage today      6-12-06 EMAILNET - Extraordinary Special Education student aid; FY07 Budget 'crunch' is on; news clips      6-6-06 EMAILNET On the Homepage today      6-2-06 EMAILNET      5-16-06 EMAILNET Action in Trenton      5-10-06 EMAILNET      5-5-06 EMAILNET      4-26-06 EMAILNET Member Question 6-8 Rally      4-24-06 EMAILNET      4-17-06 EMAILNET      4-11-06 EMAILNET FYI Hompage...your help requested      3-29-06 EMAILNET State Budget FY07 Hearings Update      3-24-06 EMAILNET FYI Update on Gov Corzine's Budget FY07      3-23-06 EMAILNET Corzine says some Abbotts can raise taxes      3-22-06 EMAILNET Governor Corzine's Budget Message      3-10-06 EMAILNET On the Homepage Today      3-9-06 EMAILNETto South Jersey districts      3-7-06 Articles on Gov's Budget Summit and School Board members off to Trenton      3-7-06 EMAILNET S1701 Call to Action at Gov Corzine Public Hearing      3-3-06 EMAILNET Budget discussions begin in earnest      3-3-06 EMAILNET Budget Discussions begin in earnest      3-1-06 EMAILNET State Budget FY07, Health Benefits      2-1-06 EMAILNET GSCS Advocacy FY07 Budget; On the Homepage Today      1-19-06 EMAILNET Quick Facts, On the Homepage Today      1-5-06 EMAILNET Revised: Quick Facts, State Board Legal Committee school funding decision, legislative update      12-16-05 EMAILNET      12-12-05 EMAILNET Bills move out of Assembly Education Committee      12-3-05 EMAILNET Heads Up!      11-28-05 S1701 EMAILNET Alert      11-15-05 EMAILNET      11-10-05 [REISSUE] EMAILNET Update on S1701      11-8-05 EMAILNET You are invited to December 7 Symposium on School Funding      11-1-05 EMAILNET More information on Gubernatorial Candidates      10-28-05 EMAILNET S1701 resignation, Gubernatorial election information      10-20-14 EMAILNET At the top of the GSCS Home Page Today      10-14-05 EMAILNET Parent question for Gubernatorial Candidates aired on 101.5 debate, SCC funds, Next Board meeting, press briefing notes      9-29-05 EMAILNET School Construction Issues      9-23-05 EMAILNET Follow Up Parents in Trenton Press Conference      8-30-05 EMAILNET Invitation to Parents in Trenton Press Conference      9-9-05 EMAILNET      7-29-05 EMAILNET      7-14-05 EMAILNET School Aid Inequity & S1701 amendments update      7-8-05 EMAILNET GSCS Take on the Assembly Passing of A3680Cryan, an S1701 amendment bill      6-29-05 EMAILNET re State Budget FY06      EMAILNET 6-24-05 GSCS Positions: State Budget FY06 Issues Need Resolving      EMAILNET 6-10-05 SchoolConstruction Heads Up      Read Parent Call to Action Letter      6-17-05 EMAILNET [2] School Construction continued      6-17-05 EMAILNET FY06 Budget & Advocay Update, Quick Facts      EMAILNET 6-10-05 School Construction Funding Heads Up!      EMAILNET 6-8-05 Annual Meeting Advocacy - FY06 info - Quick Facts - more      Star Ledger June 3 2005      Associated Press on Annual Meeting, 6-4-05: In the Homestretch Candidates Talk Education Issues      GSCS 14th Annual Breakfast Meeting 6-3-05 AGENDA      EMAILNET 5-27-05FY06 Legislator Budget Question; A451 State Health Benefits Plan Waiver for Dual Spouse Coverage GSCS Supports ....      5-18-2005      5-6-05 EMAILNET Rumson S1701 Meeting; Legislative News...More      4-21-05 Annual Breakfast Meeting June 3 Sign Up      Emailnet 4-14-05      4-14-05 EMAILNET      4-8-2005      3-29-2005      3-24-2005      3-11-2005      3-1-2005      2-21-2005      2-7-2005      1-27-2005      1-26-2005      1-24-2005      1-14-2005      1-9-2005      1-5-2005      11-30-2004      11-19-2004      11-12-2004      10-29-2004      10-26-2004      10-15-2004      10-14-2004      10-5-2004      9-30-04      9-7-04      8-30-04      8-06-04      7-08-04      6-29-2004      2003-2004 School Year Archive      2002-2003 School Year Archive

9-14-09 GSCS EMAILNET Welcome 2009-2010

Dear GSCS Members

In a few weeks, we plan to introduce you to the new and improved Garden State Coalition of Schools email network.  GSCS is entering the 2009-2010 school year with a new look for our e-mail communications, one that we hope will be easier and faster to read.  With our new look, you'll be able to recognize our messages quickly and get the most up-to-date news from Trenton and around New Jersey.  And we'll be able to update and customize our mailing lists.  The first volume - the GSCS Trustee Dispatch - was sent out to the GSCS Board of Directors last Friday. We anticipate that by the end of September all GSCS email news communications will have this new consistent look, including these informative EMAILNET newsletters.

As the campaign season hits high gear this fall, GSCS members will be in a position not only to be on top of the situation and issues as they may develop, but also to communicate to Trenton more effectively than ever.

And, as always, we welcome your input… Please let us know any thoughts, suggestions you may have to improve our communications by e-mailing us at gscs2000@gmail.com .

Thanks!   Lynne Strickland, GSCS Executive Director

 

2009-2010 GSCS meeting schedule is:

Sept. 30, 3:30 p.m., Forsgate Country Club

Oct. 28, NJSBA Workshop, Atlantic City, time & room TBA

Dec. 2, 3:30 p.m., East Brunswick BOE Conference Room

Jan. 27, 3:30 p.m., East Brunswick

Feb. 24, GSCS Statewide Meeting, location & time TBA

Mar. 31, 3:30 p.m., location TBA

Apr. 21, 3:30 p.m., East Brunswick

May 26 or 27, 8:30 a.m. Annual Breakfast Meeting, Highlands Ballroom, Forsgate Country Club

GSCS Report on its Annual Meeting June 2009
In addition to GSCS business, the minutes of the 18th Annual Meeting report on the presentation by Governor Jon Corzine, as well as an in-depth panel discussion, and the speakers response to GSCS member questions from the audience. Panel members included Assembly Education Committee Chair Joe Cryan, as well as Education Committee members David Wolfe and Mila Jasey. Commissioner Lucille Davy served as a resource both the the Governor and to the panel. Read the attached minutes of the meeting to gain insight into the legislature's and administration's thinking public education issues that impact GSCS members.
More (hit ‘Ctrl + click to follow this link’ or go directly to the GSCS website www.gscschools.org)

9-13-09 As an issue for N.J.(Gubernatorial election), schools are in'
Philadelphia 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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9-9-09 News of Note
New York Times - 'Schools Aided by Stimulus Money Still Facing Cuts' Star Ledger - 'Teacher contracts in New Jersey reflect weak economy'
More...

9-3 & 4-09 News of Note
Gannett/Asbury Park Press - September 3, 2009 'Red Bank schools take on youngest pupils...District expands program for 3-year-olds with $2M in new state funding'

Asbury Park Press - September 4, 2009 'Hazlet school takes on new role...Now serves only preschool and kindergarten'

'District gets $1 million for special education' The Record/Northjersey.com - September 10, 2009
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STATE AID Questons? The Department of Education has a mailbox specifically to answer your questions
The DOE has requested that we remind districts 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/

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

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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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8-10-09 News of Note
PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER Sun, Aug. 9, 2009 'Moody's offers mixed economic outlook for N.J.' "...Republicans seized the opportunity to argue that the state's financial glass was half empty. Democrats saw it as half full....Both sides are motivated, in part, by the intense governor's race, but each perspective has validity... Moody's reaffirmed New Jersey's rating for a $200 million school-construction bond issue expected this week, but also revised its "outlook" on the state's general-obligation bonds from stable to negative..."

'Schools’ health insurance fees jump 25 percent Sunday, August 9, 2009...Suburban Trends' northjersey.com

"...the state health benefits plan, contracted through Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield, will increase its costs by 25 percent from Jan. 1, 2010 on..."

'School busing up 7.5% in last decade 'Assoc. Press

"...Rural districts and suburban districts with busy roads often provide additional busing..."
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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 Assembly 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 Education 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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