Karcher Announces Additional School Funding

[Marc LeVine]

FOR RELEASE:
Immediate

CONTACT:
Jason Butkowski

June 13, 2007
Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

Good work EVERYBODY!!!

Marc


Karcher Announces Additional School Funding for Freehold
Budget Language Necessary to Ensure Thorough and Efficient Education

FREEHOLD - Senator Ellen Karcher announced an agreement
today which would ensure that Freehold Borough schools will receive
additional State aid to provide quality education without further
burdening the taxpayers of the Borough.

"Under the Governor's original budget proposal, Freehold
Borough wasn't afforded the resources to meet the mandate of quality
schools for New Jersey's residents," said Senator Karcher, D-Marlboro.
"The Borough has been spending less per pupil than the State requires,
but administrators couldn't make up the balance on the backs of
already-hard-hit taxpayers. I was able to work with the Senate
Democratic leadership and the Administration to broker a deal which
would mean a needed injection of funds into the Borough's educational
coffers."

Senator Karcher noted that the budget agreement she reached
with the Governor's Office and Senate leadership would provide $2.9
million for nine underperforming school districts in New Jersey which
have not met the State's threshold of per-pupil spending to provide a
Thorough and Efficient Education, as outlined by the State School
Funding Formula. The districts receiving the additional funds have
also
not met the national performance standards of the No Child Left Behind
law. Senator Karcher successfully argued that without additional State
aid, these school districts would have to increase taxes substantially
to provide basic education.

"These are districts where taxpayers are, for the most
part,
already paying more than the State average in property taxes," said
Senator Karcher. "In many cases, the tax base just cannot support the
needed educational infrastructure, and students are suffering because
of
that. We needed the State to step in to help meet basic educational
costs for these districts."

Senator Karcher's original resolution would have funded the
total $5.8 million budget gap, bringing the nine school districts in
question up to the Thorough and Efficient spending threshold. Despite
constraints on this year's State budget, she was able to reach a
compromise with the Administration to provide half of the needed
amount,
so that the school districts would experience some increase in State
aid. As a result, Freehold Borough would receive nearly half a million
dollars to improve education in the district.

"I wish we could have done more," said Senator Karcher.
"The fact is that much of the State budget is already guaranteed for
property tax relief and other worthy State programs, and we didn't have
a lot of room to increase spending. However, this compromise
represents
our best first step in making many of the underperforming, underfunded
school districts in the State whole."

Senator Karcher said that Freehold Borough's situation is
particularly unique, in that, as the county seat, the Borough has a
disproportionate percentage of non-taxable county land. The Borough
has
also struggled under the State-imposed caps on local tax increases,
which would have prohibited it from raising the funds needed to meet
the
spending minimum.

"Freehold Borough is caught in a double-bind, because we've
limited their spending increases and asked them to shoulder the loss of
taxable land that hosting county government carries," said Senator
Karcher. "It would have been simply unfair of the State to turn a
blind
eye towards the educational crisis in the Borough."

Senator Karcher added that she will continue working to
increase State support of suburban school districts, and noted that a
new State school spending formula needs to do more to address
inequities
between urban and suburban schools.

"Without a revamped State spending formula, we cannot take
the necessary steps to ensure quality education for students everywhere
in New Jersey into the future," said Senator Karcher. "This budget
resolution is a stop-gap approach to a chronic funding shortfall for
many of our suburban districts. We need a more equitable way to fund
our schools, where New Jersey meets its obligation to students for a
thorough education, and where students are guaranteed the resources
they
need to succeed, wherever they might live."

###









________________________________

From: Panter, Asm. D.O. [mailto:[e-mail]]
Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 9:31 AM
Subject: Update on Freehold Borough School Funding



Dear Friends,



I am writing to you today to give you an update on the school funding
situation for the Freehold Borough School District (FBSD). Senator
Ellen
Karcher and myself have secured an additional $550,000 allocation in
the
Fiscal Year 2008 state budget for the Freehold Borough School District.
We expect that this budget will be approved on June 21st. The Senator
and myself will also continue to work with Governor Jon S. Corzine's
office and the New Jersey Department of Education to explore additional
sources of assistance for the FBSD.



This special allocation follows my sponsorship of two budget
resolutions
aimed at alleviating the severe shortfall in the FBSD's budget for the
upcoming school year. The first resolution sought $1.1 million in
supplemental funds to bring the FBSD to the minimum spending level per
student required by the New Jersey constitution. The second resolution
sought relief for 12 school districts in a similar financial condition
to the FBSD in an effort to garner wider legislative support.



The FBSD recently announced plans to cut as many as 10 staff positions,
in addition to the elimination of sports, music, guidance, library and
extra-curricular programs due to an anticipated budget shortfall.



This allocation is the result of many weeks of tireless advocacy on
behalf of the FBSD. While I am encouraged by this development, I know
that the FBSD needs additional assistance. I believe that it is
unconscionable that any school district should lag behind others in the
state by thousands of dollars per student.



The FBSD has experienced unprecedented enrollment growth, but the
students of this district should not be at a disadvantage compared to
students in other districts as a result. State aid has now increased to
the FBSD by over $1.3 million this year, and I will continue to push
for
even greater assistance.



Given the challenges of the FBSD, it is very unfortunate that the
county
is not doing their share, and that the federal government has cut its
aid by more than $600,000.



Senator Karcher and myself are grateful that the state has recognized
the FBSD's emergency situation, and we will continue to seek any and
all
available funds to further close this funding gap. At the end of the
day, this is about preserving the educational quality and future of the
children of the Freehold Borough School District.



As always please feel free to contact me at anytime.



Mike Panter

[Marc LeVine]

How pathetic - both camps are trying to beat the clock to gain credit for this. Folks: ever here of a JOINT PRESS RELEASE in the spirit of BIPARTISANSHIP? Come on - Freehold Borough doesn't need to be a polical football. Now, just work together for the other $500K we need and don't worry about who looks better.

Marc


Beck: Budget Deal to Provide Funding to Schools Below the T&E Level is a Step in the Right Direction
By bguhl - June 13, 2007 - 3:26pm
Release Date: June 13, 2007
BECK: BUDGET DEAL TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO SCHOOLS BELOW THE T&E LEVEL IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
STRESSES THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR FREEHOLD BOROUGH

Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck today said the budget deal that would provide an additional $2.9 million for nine underperforming school districts which do not meet New Jersey’s minimum standard for a thorough and efficient education is a step in the right direction but falls short of meeting the needs of the school districts.

“The additional funding is greatly appreciated but it is not nearly enough to bring these schools up to the funding level which is mandated by law,” said Beck, R-Monmouth and Mercer. “Certainly, there are budget constraints which must be accounted for but ensuring that our children are receiving an adequate education needs to be a priority.”

Assemblywoman Beck has been at the forefront of efforts to draw attention to the plight of Freehold Borough’s school district and has led the chorus of calls for the State to provided extra funding assistance to the district as well as eleven others like it across the State that are neither spending the State mandated average cost of educating a pupil, nor have the ability to raise the money necessary meet those funding levels.

Beck submitted a budget resolution, as well as introduced legislation, that would appropriate an additional $8.4 million to the Department of Education to provide aid to school districts in which the FY 2007 thorough and efficient spending per pupil is less than the minimum amount set under the State’s school funding laws.

The twelve districts set to receive additional educational assistance under the Beck resolution include, Hamilton Township (Atlantic County), Hammonton Township, Brooklawn Borough, Clementon Borough, Woodlynne Borough, Commercial Township, Freehold Borough, Lawrence Township (Cumberland County), Guttenberg Township, South River Borough, Prospect Park Borough, and Greenwich Township (Warren).

“There is still plenty of time before the budget has to be voted on to discuss ways to fund the resolution I proposed,” added Beck. “Throughout the budget process, I have met with the Governor’s office and a multitude of legislators to discuss the financial burden that is making it nearly impossible for these schools to achieve their educational goals. I am happy to sit down with them for further discussions on ways we can bring all schools up to the minimum thorough and efficient standard.”

Beck said that the structural funding problems that districts like Freehold face will not be eliminated until the State implements a new school funding formula.

“This appropriation will help temporarily alleviate some of the burden put on schools like Freehold Borough,” concluded Beck. “However, I will continue to fight to enact a school funding formula that tackles the abhorrent inequities between urban and suburban schools.”

#####



Contact:
Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck/732-772-1571

[adefonzo]

I am respectfully reserving my comments on this until I get definite numbers.

I will also hold off on my opinions of the actions of those involved until I get more information.

Stay tuned....

[LS]

Does Freehold just need $500,000 to solve its education woes? If so, is that number for this year alone?

Any extra money sounds good. It is a shame that everyone is looking for the credit. I am sure that all of our representatives had some effort in securing the funds. But I laugh as Beck and Karcher's try to come across as news items and attempt to write objectively. Panter's press release is written in the first person - look what I did.

Here's a question? How much should Freehold publicize this? If it is highly publicized, does that tell people don't worry, help is here and it's getting better? Or does it say, man, $500,000 and we are still hurting, if you didn't know this from prior news articles?

[admin]

I am reserving my judgment on all of the candidates. This bit of money is good news, but I hope they can offer us more solutions beyond getting them through election day. One year from now, I am sure that we do not want to have a repeat year in our school systems. If Trenton does not get it's act together, we will have a repeat.

I will admit, Karcher has two strikes against her in my eyes. Her performance at the town hall meeting was not impressive. And her biggest goof was that disgraceful show she put on at the Freeholders meeting. She should be ashamed of herself for that one.

[admin]

Putting my usual skepticism aside, this is a real victory for all of you who have petitioned our elected leaders to pay attention and help our schools. I hope this trend continues and our schools can get what they need to maintain the high quality education they have long provided the children of our town.

www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070614/NEWS/706140391

Freehold likely to receive additional state aid
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 06/14/07
BY NICK PETRUNCIO
FREEHOLD BUREAU

FREEHOLD — The proverbial "thorough and efficient education box" that borough school district officials frequently refer to is now half full — or half empty, depending on how you look at it.

The district is expected to receive $550,000 in extra aid from the state, roughly half of the $1.2 million the K-8 school system says it needs to be in compliance with the state mandate to provide a "thorough and efficient" education. For years, the district has fallen short of the per-pupil spending amounts needed to comply with this constitutional mandate. Fiscal obstacles have been the cap on school budgets imposed by the state, untaxable county-owned properties in Freehold and exploding enrollment coupled with a lack of significant new revenue streams.

To district officials, news of the additional aid was good, although they acknowledged they need more and they vowed to keep fighting.

"(State) Sen. (Ellen) Karcher called me yesterday afternoon, and she told me the news. Obviously, I'm very happy," Board of Education President James Keelan said Wednesday. "We're getting over $500,000. I'd be ecstatic if we got the $1.2 million, but this is a step in the right direction, and we're going to continue to work with our state representatives to press for additional funding even after this budget process closes."

Schools Superintendent Elizabeth O'Connell echoed Keelan's sentiments about the allocation and said while it has not been determined exactly how the money will be spent, it will go toward educationally sound budget line items.

"I will always look at it as being half full because we're better off than we would have been," O'Connell said.

Business Administrator Veronica Wolf said the money means the district will be able to restore some of the 12 positions it had to eliminate earlier, and it will be able to replenish exhausted surplus funds so there again will be money in reserve in case of emergencies. District administrators are expected to have spending recommendations for the board by its next meeting, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at the Park Avenue complex.

9 districts granted aid


Freehold is one of nine underperforming school districts, the only one in Monmouth and Ocean counties, to receive some of the $2.9 million the state agreed to apportion to districts. The criteria for qualifying were that spending fell below the thorough and efficient education threshold, and insufficient yearly progress under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Karcher and the two Assembly members who represent the district in the Legislature each issued separate news releases about the aid Wednesday. Karcher, D-Monmouth; Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth; and Assemblyman Michael Panter, D-Monmouth, have been working to secure more funding for months.

"There was nowhere to go except to ask the state to make a specific appropriation for them," Karcher said.

Panter said he worked to make sure this appropriation was included in the district's base state funding amount.

"This is not a one-shot deal," he said.

The lawmakers agreed that the school funding formula needs to be fixed before the start of the next budget cycle. Beck believes the concept for a new formula could be in place as early as the fall.

And like Keelan, O'Connell and Wolf, all three lawmakers vowed to keep fighting.

"I'm happy that we got the half a million for Freehold Borough, but the truth be told, they really need" the $1.2 million, Beck said.

[fiberisgoodforyou]

PANTER...."Given the challenges of the FBSD, it is very unfortunate that the county is not doing their share,"

Interesting comment from Panter, so now the failure of Trenton's inadequate funding falls on the shoulders of the County Freeholders.

More acuratly...Given the challenges of the FBSD, it is very unfortunate that OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES HAVE NOT CHALLENGED THEIR MAJORITY ABBOTT DISTRICT COLLEAGUES FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.

WHATS UNFORTUNATE IS THAT THE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS (MORE LIKE BILLIONS) SQUANDERED BY ABBOTT DISTRICTS HAS NOT BEEN QUESTIONED.

WHAT IS UNFORTUNATE IS THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ABBOTT ACCOUNTABILITY!

WHATS UNFORTUNATE IS THAT PANTER AND KARCHER WILL USE OUR CHILDREN AND OUR SCHOOLS FOR DISGRACEFUL PARTY POLITICS.

READ THIS WELL, DO NOT INVOLVE (USE) OUR CHILDREN AND OUR SCHOOLS AS A COUNTY DEM VS. REPUB FULCRUM TO INFLUENCE AN ELECTION. IT IS INEXCUSABLE, CHEAP AND GUARANTIED TO BACKFIRE!

THERE ARE STATE OFFICES IN THE COUNTY THAT DO NOT PAY PROPERTY TAX, LETS LOOK AT THIS FIRST.?

TRENTON'S FAILURE IS NOT THE FAULT OF ANY OF THIS STATES 21 COUNTY GOVERNMENTS.

BLAMING YOUR FAILURES ON OTHERS IS WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.

[angry guest]

fiberisgoodforyou said:

More acuratly...Given the challenges of the FBSD, it is very unfortunate that OUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES HAVE NOT CHALLENGED THEIR MAJORITY ABBOTT DISTRICT COLLEAGUES FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS.

The politicians in this state's government won't even challenge the minority within it's own ranks...read the post on another thread about how over 100 representatives won't pressure the 19 who are holding dual offices.

What made you ever think, based on their history, that they would challenge the big abbott district democrats??

Karcher and Panter are lap dogs to the democratic leaders in the state legislature...these last two occurances are perfect examples.

While I am sure the schools will love getting the extra money, this will more than likely create more arguments within the town about how to spend it. Who will they bring back first? Where is the Superintendent or the board of ed to answer that question? Is there a board meeting coming up soon? I'll bet that meeting will be really interesting...

[fiberisgoodforyou]

AN EMAIL I RECIEVED.....

Once again, I need to express my disappointment, and now anger, in the decision that the children of the Freehold Boro School District are only worth 1/2 of its financial shortfall for the 2007/2008 school year.

As I read the front page of the Home News Tribune "Aid saves jobs cut by schools" it was not our district they were referring to but New Brunswick; a district already fully funded by the State. They will receive an infusion of $4.4 million in additional state funds that will allow it to return teachers & staff to its payroll.

New Brunswick's Superintendent Richard Kaplan, a former state Department of Education official, said: the state's February funding totals - a 1.3 percent decrease from the year before - were insufficient (for his district). As such, the district could not provide the programs necessary to give students a "thorough and efficient education" (SOUND FAMILIAR?) The Board of Education (NB) then filed its appeal for more than $5.5 million in additional aid.

According to DOE assistant commisioner for finance, Katherine Attwood: The DOE review of the budget and appeal application indicated that the budget submitted would not maintain essential instructional programs, positions or services (hummm).

My question: Who decided the children of Freehold Boro are only worth $550,000? Why do the rules of a "thorough and efficient" education not apply to our district?

We, too, presented our case to the DOE of being overcrowded, underfunded, and over mandated; we explained our unique situation; we provided our budget which does not meet the needs of providing a "thorough and efficient" education. The DOE was UNABLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDING - $1.2 MILLION - TO FREEHOLD BORO - yet, $4.4 was available to make sure New Brunswick was able to meet the needs of their students for a "thorough and efficient" education.

Should we be grateful for the $550,000 from the state - of course. Should we be disappointed that the state thinks less of our children - without a doubt.

[Marc LeVine]

Should we be greatful for the $550,000 from the state - of course. Should we be disappointed that the state thinks less of our children - without a doubt.

I'm speaking as a taxpayer now. You can't be "greatful" for having restored monies that you are entitled to in the first place. This is beginning to look like a used car sales deal. We need the full MILLION DOLLARS to be where we are supposed to be in the first place. Folks, we are not looking for a new Cadillac, we just want the old Chevy to run better.

Marc

[Guest]

All

Please try to attend in a Yellow Shirt on Monday. If you can make Friday that would be great too.

Tear yourself away from this Blog and express you concerns in person to the people who can make a difference.

The Assembly Budget Committee will be meeting this Friday at 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room 11 on the 4th Floor in the Statehouse Annex. Additionally, they are holding a second public hearing on Monday again at 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room 11 in the Statehouse Annex.

[fiberisgoodforyou]

AGAIN.....and I will repeat this post again!!!

All

Please spread the word about the hearings. We can speak too. Wear your yellow T&E shirt or Any YELLOW shirt if you do not have the T&E shirt. Bring a friend too.

Lets try to go with a large crowd for Monday and ask for the other $700K. We know the State has money problems, That is why we asked for the bottom of the Box, not the TOP



From: Wyckoff, Danielle on behalf of Beck, Asw. D.O.
Sent: Thu 6/14/2007 11:20 AM
To:
Cc:
Subject: RE: Freehold Boro Schools Budget Hearing Info

Hi Jim,

We just got confirmation on the public budget hearings. The Assembly Budget Committee will be meeting this Friday at 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room 11 on the 4th Floor in the Statehouse Annex. Additionally, they are holding a second public hearing on Monday again at 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room 11 in the Statehouse Annex. I am still investigating the format of the meetings but as soon as I have information I will be sure to pass it along to you.

In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to call should you need any additional information.

Thanks,

Danielle Wyckoff

Chief of Staff

Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck

12th Legislative District

[fiberisgoodforyou]

This just in..... about the Budget hearings tomorrow.....

Fom:
Sent: Thu 6/14/2007 3:24 PM
To:
Subject: FYI budget hearing

I just found out that you must register on the OLS Homepage www.njleg.state.nj.us/to sign up to testify for tomorrow's budget hearing. Please let me know if you need any other information in preparation for tomorrow's hearing.

[admin]

fiberisgoodforyou said:

AGAIN.....and I will repeat this post again!!!

All

Please spread the word about the hearings. We can speak too. Wear your yellow T&E shirt or Any YELLOW shirt if you do not have the T&E shirt. Bring a friend too.

Lets try to go with a large crowd for Monday and ask for the other $700K. We know the State has money problems, That is why we asked for the bottom of the Box, not the TOP



From: Wyckoff, Danielle on behalf of Beck, Asw. D.O.
Sent: Thu 6/14/2007 11:20 AM
To:
Cc:
Subject: RE: Freehold Boro Schools Budget Hearing Info

Hi Jim,

We just got confirmation on the public budget hearings. The Assembly Budget Committee will be meeting this Friday at 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room 11 on the 4th Floor in the Statehouse Annex. Additionally, they are holding a second public hearing on Monday again at 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room 11 in the Statehouse Annex. I am still investigating the format of the meetings but as soon as I have information I will be sure to pass it along to you.

In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to call should you need any additional information.

Thanks,

Danielle Wyckoff

Chief of Staff

Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck

12th Legislative District

Fiber, I put this in it's own thread to stand alone. I also made it an announcememnt so that all will see it.

Let us get some numbers into that meeting.