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State reps hear plea for help with budget
Assemblywoman invites Freehold parents to come and testify in Trenton
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer
More than 500 people jammed into the cafetorium of the Park Avenue Elementary School on March 20 for one reason - to plead with a panel of elected officials to help save the Freehold Borough school district.
Residents came to ask state legislators to find money that will save the jobs of an art teacher, a music teacher, a librarian, a guidance counselor and a math supervisor in the 2007-08 school year.
The Freehold Borough Board of Education has proposed a $16.7 million budget for the coming school year that does not include those positions. Board members have said a new state law that limits the amount of money that may be raised in local property taxes has made it necessary to cut those existing positions.
The proposed budget will also cut extracurricular activities, including band, concerts, plays and chorus, as well as the entire school-sponsored sports program.
A public hearing on the budget was held March 26. Residents will vote on the budget in the April 17 school election.
In attendance at the March 20 meeting were state representatives Sen. Ellen Karcher, Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck and Assembly-man Michael J. Panter Jr., and Monmouth County Superintendent of Schools Eugenia Lawson. The county superintendent of schools is the local representative of the state Department of Education.
Joining the hundreds of parents in attendance were Freehold Borough Mayor Michael Wilson, Borough Council members, Board of Education members and other school administrators and officials.
Often, seeing something is much more effective than merely hearing about it. District administrators made it a point to show the guests just what Freehold's pupils can do. Focusing on the art and music instruction the children are slated to lose next year, there were displays of the pupils' sculptures, paintings, drawings and other artwork. A musical performance was presented prior to the start of the meeting.
The meeting presented a unified group of residents who expressed their desire for their children to have the same opportunities as youngsters in other school districts.
School board President Jim Keelan said borough children are being denied their constitutional right to a thorough and efficient education.
"We can no longer fund extracurricular activities. There will be no plays, no chorus, and we will have one guidance counselor and one librarian for all three of our schools. We will also have kindergarten classes with up to 30 children in each class. I have four children in the school district.
"I live two houses away from Freehold Township. How do I explain to my son that his friends can have band, field trips and sports, but he can't? These are my children, this is our community and we are being discriminated against because of where we live. No other district is as underserved as our kids," Keelan said.
Superintendent of Schools Liz O'Connell said the district of about 1,400 pupils has found itself in a funding crisis through no fault of the community.
"There is one simple cause for this - the failure of government to fund us since 2002. If the funding formula would have increased over the past five years, rather than remaining flat, it would have been different. Abbott district schools have had increased funding since 2002 by a court order and yet legislation has failed to fund Freehold Borough," O'Connell said.
Abbott school districts are the 31 districts New Jersey officials have deemed to be the state's poorest public school districts. Those districts receive a majority of their funding directly from the state instead of from local property taxes. The Abbott districts in Monmouth County are Asbury Park, Neptune, Long Branch and Keansburg.
O'Connell called on Karcher, Panter and Beck to craft legislation that would help school districts such as Freehold Borough which are not wealthy, as measured by the state's District Factor Group socioeconomic rankings, but are not poor enough to gain Abbott district status.
"Our [students] will not receive a through and efficient education without your help. We never needed your help more than we do now. Do not let us down," the superintendent told the legislators.
Wilson addressed the audience, saying, "We are all united here this evening. Freehold is a diverse community and always has been. That is its history. I can see that by looking out into the audience. Circumstances over the last several years have happened that are beyond our control, but our children are the life's blood of our town. If our schools fail, ultimately the town will fail. Overcrowding and underfunding are a recipe for disaster. Tonight we call on our legislators to right a wrong. It is time for fair funding in Freehold Borough, not next year, not the year after, but right now."
Wilson called on the audience members to let their voices be heard all the way to Trenton.
"When do we need funding ?" he asked, instructing them to respond, "Now."
'They can't hear you in Trenton," he said, and continued to repeat his request, "Now," until he was satisfied they were as loud as they could get.
Linda McCarthy, the president of the teachers association, said teaching such a diverse group of students and watching them grow provides the ability to become the kind of teacher people read about in fairy tales.
"We have all fallen in love with the children of Freehold Borough," she said, adding that if the legislators believe children are the future, they will find funding.
Karcher, Panter and Beck all expressed their understanding of the situation and compassion for what the parents are feeling.
Karcher, who has three children, said her concern is for all children. She said the problem with school funding has been "percolating" for a long time.
"We are at a critical point. We need action and we need it now," the senator said.
County officials have been asked to consider helping the borough financially, given the fact that the borough is the county seat and there are many tax exempt properties in town. The school district does not realize any money from properties that might otherwise be ratables.
Panter said he understands how important teachers are as he recalled the teachers who had an impact on his life.
"We need to put our arms around this problem," he said. "We can talk and talk about the budget, but this is really about those kids singing and the sacrifices they will have to make. We're on your side, just as if we were Freehold Borough parents. Freehold Borough is in the most challenging position in Monmouth County. No school district is in as dire straits as Freehold Borough."
Beck told the parents, "we have work to do," and she encouraged them to join her to testify about school funding during hearings on the state budget scheduled for March 29 in Trenton.
"Help me to make your case for more money. We're desperate. Our backs are against the wall," Beck said.
She said the likelihood of the county helping the borough is "not great." Beck said it is time for the state to "step up to the plate." She said Gov. Jon Corzine is aware and "educated about the problem here and that helps our case."
Beck said Commissioner of Education Lucille Davy has "embraced what we are saying. She knows we have been left out of the equation."
The state representatives were asked why money from the state lottery and casinos could not be used to support the schools.
Beck said lottery money and casino money does go to education and state institutions, but she said that use is "broadly interpreted and not as much of it goes to schools as it should."
Karcher said the "state institutions" Beck referred to were actually prisons. Calling it a "boondoggle," Karcher said, "if we do not invest in our children so that they do well now, we will end up having to build more prisons."
Lawson, the county superintendent, said she "has lost sleep over Freehold Borough whenever it is time to strike a budget."
"I am vividly aware of your struggle. I have sought creative ways to meet your needs and have worked ardently. I have exhausted all grants. We have now come to the end of the road with strategies," she said.
She appealed to officials to consider legislation now.
"It is my job to make sure this school district is properly funded for our children [in order] to make sure they have access to every program they need. It is unacceptable that you have to be told you have to have
State reps hear plea for help with budget
Assemblywoman invites Freehold parents to come and testify in Trenton
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer
More than 500 people jammed into the cafetorium of the Park Avenue Elementary School on March 20 for one reason - to plead with a panel of elected officials to help save the Freehold Borough school district.
Residents came to ask state legislators to find money that will save the jobs of an art teacher, a music teacher, a librarian, a guidance counselor and a math supervisor in the 2007-08 school year.
The Freehold Borough Board of Education has proposed a $16.7 million budget for the coming school year that does not include those positions. Board members have said a new state law that limits the amount of money that may be raised in local property taxes has made it necessary to cut those existing positions.
The proposed budget will also cut extracurricular activities, including band, concerts, plays and chorus, as well as the entire school-sponsored sports program.
A public hearing on the budget was held March 26. Residents will vote on the budget in the April 17 school election.
In attendance at the March 20 meeting were state representatives Sen. Ellen Karcher, Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck and Assembly-man Michael J. Panter Jr., and Monmouth County Superintendent of Schools Eugenia Lawson. The county superintendent of schools is the local representative of the state Department of Education.
Joining the hundreds of parents in attendance were Freehold Borough Mayor Michael Wilson, Borough Council members, Board of Education members and other school administrators and officials.
Often, seeing something is much more effective than merely hearing about it. District administrators made it a point to show the guests just what Freehold's pupils can do. Focusing on the art and music instruction the children are slated to lose next year, there were displays of the pupils' sculptures, paintings, drawings and other artwork. A musical performance was presented prior to the start of the meeting.
The meeting presented a unified group of residents who expressed their desire for their children to have the same opportunities as youngsters in other school districts.
School board President Jim Keelan said borough children are being denied their constitutional right to a thorough and efficient education.
"We can no longer fund extracurricular activities. There will be no plays, no chorus, and we will have one guidance counselor and one librarian for all three of our schools. We will also have kindergarten classes with up to 30 children in each class. I have four children in the school district.
"I live two houses away from Freehold Township. How do I explain to my son that his friends can have band, field trips and sports, but he can't? These are my children, this is our community and we are being discriminated against because of where we live. No other district is as underserved as our kids," Keelan said.
Superintendent of Schools Liz O'Connell said the district of about 1,400 pupils has found itself in a funding crisis through no fault of the community.
"There is one simple cause for this - the failure of government to fund us since 2002. If the funding formula would have increased over the past five years, rather than remaining flat, it would have been different. Abbott district schools have had increased funding since 2002 by a court order and yet legislation has failed to fund Freehold Borough," O'Connell said.
Abbott school districts are the 31 districts New Jersey officials have deemed to be the state's poorest public school districts. Those districts receive a majority of their funding directly from the state instead of from local property taxes. The Abbott districts in Monmouth County are Asbury Park, Neptune, Long Branch and Keansburg.
O'Connell called on Karcher, Panter and Beck to craft legislation that would help school districts such as Freehold Borough which are not wealthy, as measured by the state's District Factor Group socioeconomic rankings, but are not poor enough to gain Abbott district status.
"Our [students] will not receive a through and efficient education without your help. We never needed your help more than we do now. Do not let us down," the superintendent told the legislators.
Wilson addressed the audience, saying, "We are all united here this evening. Freehold is a diverse community and always has been. That is its history. I can see that by looking out into the audience. Circumstances over the last several years have happened that are beyond our control, but our children are the life's blood of our town. If our schools fail, ultimately the town will fail. Overcrowding and underfunding are a recipe for disaster. Tonight we call on our legislators to right a wrong. It is time for fair funding in Freehold Borough, not next year, not the year after, but right now."
Wilson called on the audience members to let their voices be heard all the way to Trenton.
"When do we need funding ?" he asked, instructing them to respond, "Now."
'They can't hear you in Trenton," he said, and continued to repeat his request, "Now," until he was satisfied they were as loud as they could get.
Linda McCarthy, the president of the teachers association, said teaching such a diverse group of students and watching them grow provides the ability to become the kind of teacher people read about in fairy tales.
"We have all fallen in love with the children of Freehold Borough," she said, adding that if the legislators believe children are the future, they will find funding.
Karcher, Panter and Beck all expressed their understanding of the situation and compassion for what the parents are feeling.
Karcher, who has three children, said her concern is for all children. She said the problem with school funding has been "percolating" for a long time.
"We are at a critical point. We need action and we need it now," the senator said.
County officials have been asked to consider helping the borough financially, given the fact that the borough is the county seat and there are many tax exempt properties in town. The school district does not realize any money from properties that might otherwise be ratables.
Panter said he understands how important teachers are as he recalled the teachers who had an impact on his life.
"We need to put our arms around this problem," he said. "We can talk and talk about the budget, but this is really about those kids singing and the sacrifices they will have to make. We're on your side, just as if we were Freehold Borough parents. Freehold Borough is in the most challenging position in Monmouth County. No school district is in as dire straits as Freehold Borough."
Beck told the parents, "we have work to do," and she encouraged them to join her to testify about school funding during hearings on the state budget scheduled for March 29 in Trenton.
"Help me to make your case for more money. We're desperate. Our backs are against the wall," Beck said.
She said the likelihood of the county helping the borough is "not great." Beck said it is time for the state to "step up to the plate." She said Gov. Jon Corzine is aware and "educated about the problem here and that helps our case."
Beck said Commissioner of Education Lucille Davy has "embraced what we are saying. She knows we have been left out of the equation."
The state representatives were asked why money from the state lottery and casinos could not be used to support the schools.
Beck said lottery money and casino money does go to education and state institutions, but she said that use is "broadly interpreted and not as much of it goes to schools as it should."
Karcher said the "state institutions" Beck referred to were actually prisons. Calling it a "boondoggle," Karcher said, "if we do not invest in our children so that they do well now, we will end up having to build more prisons."
Lawson, the county superintendent, said she "has lost sleep over Freehold Borough whenever it is time to strike a budget."
"I am vividly aware of your struggle. I have sought creative ways to meet your needs and have worked ardently. I have exhausted all grants. We have now come to the end of the road with strategies," she said.
She appealed to officials to consider legislation now.
"It is my job to make sure this school district is properly funded for our children [in order] to make sure they have access to every program they need. It is unacceptable that you have to be told you have to have