Post by Marc LeVine on Dec 15, 2006 9:27:35 GMT -5
School Board & NJSBA Urge Residents to Contact Legislators
The FRHSD Board of Education joins the New Jersey School Boards Association in monitoring the the legislative committees charged with studying school funding, consolidation and shared services, public employee benefits and pensions, and constitutional reform.
Although the Board agrees that New Jersey taxes are spiraling, they share the NJSBA’s concerns that some of the proposed reforms could actually increase costs.
In an effort to maintain school governance at the local school district level and to ensure an adequate and fair school funding system for our children, the FRHSD Board of Education asks district staff and local residents to join us in contacting our legislative representatives.
Please review the following NJSBA News Release, along with the four points currently being considered for reform, and contact the legislators listed below with your comments.
.
NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Frank Belluscio (fbelluscio@njsba.org) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mike Yaple (myaple@njsba.org)
(609) 278-5202
NJSBA Comments on Special Session Reports
TRENTON, November 15, 2006 - The executive director of the New Jersey School Boards Association responded enthusiastically
to some of the recommendations made today by the four special session Joint Legislative Committees-but urged caution on others.
Edwina M. Lee, NJSBA's executive director, provided the following comments:
School funding: "We have long supported the concept of the state revenues being tapped to offset the cost to property taxpayers," said Lee. "Currently, New Jersey state government pays an average of 38 percent of the cost of public schools, where other states pay half, on average. This has put a tremendous burden on property taxes to pay for schools-which is the very heart of the property-tax problem here in New Jersey.
"We also applaud state support for full-day Kindergarten in non-Abbott districts. The academic value of full-day Kindergarten
is proven by research. Yet middle-income districts have found it difficult to create such programs, because full-day Kindergarten
was never factored into the state aid system for non-Abbott districts.
"NJSBA supports reasonable caps on spending, but we oppose the establishment of a 'hard cap' on budgets that provide no
adjustments for costs that are out of a district's control, such as state and federally required special education."
November school elections: "Moving school board member elections really has nothing to do with the property-tax issue.
We agree with the concept of eliminating elections for school budgets that are under the state-imposed spending cap. But
moving school board member elections to November puts those candidates in a partisan environment. The state currently
allows non-partisan municipal officials to run for office in the spring. The same logic should apply to board members, who
serve on a non-partisan basis."
'Super' county superintendents: "'Super' county superintendents could actually cost communities money. By taking over
procurement and, perhaps, negotiations, the concept could undermine cost savings that local boards have already achieved,"
said Lee. "The committee's cost-saving objectives could be achieved better through incentives that promote shared services.
We are also wary about placing sweeping powers in the hands of a political appointee who is not beholden in any way to
local voters. Ultimately, it would strip communities of their very right to decide what's best to meet their local education
goals."
Benefits reform: "We strongly support the legislators' recommendation to allow school boards in the State Health
Benefits
Plan to negotiate terms of the benefits," said Lee. "The practice is common in the private sector, and saves money. But local
school boards in the SHBP are prevented from negotiating such cost savings. The committee's recommendations are on the
mark, and can have a direct, positive impact on property tax relief."
* * * * * * *
The New Jersey School Boards Association, a federation of district boards of education, advocates the interests of school
districts, trains local school board members, and provides resources for the advancement of public education
P.O. Box 909 ? Trenton, NJ 08605-0909 ? Phone: 609.695.7600 ? Fax: 609.695.0413 ? Web: www.njsba.org/PI
ADVOCACYAGENDA 2007 - SPECIAL SESSION
School District Consolidation
Advocate for legislation that encourages voluntary regionalization through grants that cover financial and
educational feasibility studies demonstrating the benefits and costs to taxpayers.
School Funding Formula
Advocate for greater state school aid to ease the burden on school property taxes.
"Super" County Superintendents Advocate against "super" county superintendents, as defined by Assembly bill A-54 and instead advocate for incentives that promote shared services to achieve the same cost-savings.
November School Board Elections
Advocate the elimination of elections for school budgets that are under cap, and keep school board member elections independent and apart from partisan elections, supporting instead a consolidation of all non-partisan elections - including school boards, non-partisan municipal governments, and fire districts - on a single date in the spring.
G:\GOVREL\Leg. Committee\2006\Battle Plan 2007 (2).doc
State Legislators
Governor Jon Corzine
State of New Jersey
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
Lucille Davy, Acting Commissioner
Department of Education
State of New Jersey
PO Box 500
Trenton, NJ 08625
Senator Richard J. Codey
New Jersey Senate President
27th Legislative District
449 Mount Pleasant Avenue
West Orange, NJ 07052
Senator Ellen Karcher
New Jersey Senate
12th Legislative District
400 W. Main St., 3rd Floor
Freehold, NJ 07728
Senator Robert W. Singer
New Jersey Senate
30th Legislative District
2110 W. County Line Rd.
Jackson, NJ 08527
Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck
New Jersey State Legislature
12th Legislative District
256 Rt. 79, 1st Floor
Morganville, NJ 07751
Assemblyman Ronald S. Dancer
New Jersey State Legislature
30th Legislative District
2110 W. County Line Rd.
Jackson, NJ 08527
Assemblyman Joseph R. Malone
New Jersey State Legislature
30th Legislative District
311 Farnsworth Ave.
Bordentown, NJ 08505
Assemblyman Michael J. Panter
New Jersey State Legislature
12th Legislative District
167 Avenue of the Common, Suite 7
Shrewsbury, NJ 07702
Assemblyman Joseph J. Roberts Jr.
New Jersey State Legislature
5th Legislative District
Brooklawn Shopping Plaza
Route 130 & Browning Road
Brooklawn, NJ 08030
P.O. Box 909 ? Trenton, NJ 08605-0909 ? Phone: 609.695.7600 ? Fax: 609.695.0413 ? Web: www.njsba.org/PI
The FRHSD Board of Education joins the New Jersey School Boards Association in monitoring the the legislative committees charged with studying school funding, consolidation and shared services, public employee benefits and pensions, and constitutional reform.
Although the Board agrees that New Jersey taxes are spiraling, they share the NJSBA’s concerns that some of the proposed reforms could actually increase costs.
In an effort to maintain school governance at the local school district level and to ensure an adequate and fair school funding system for our children, the FRHSD Board of Education asks district staff and local residents to join us in contacting our legislative representatives.
Please review the following NJSBA News Release, along with the four points currently being considered for reform, and contact the legislators listed below with your comments.
.
NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Frank Belluscio (fbelluscio@njsba.org) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mike Yaple (myaple@njsba.org)
(609) 278-5202
NJSBA Comments on Special Session Reports
TRENTON, November 15, 2006 - The executive director of the New Jersey School Boards Association responded enthusiastically
to some of the recommendations made today by the four special session Joint Legislative Committees-but urged caution on others.
Edwina M. Lee, NJSBA's executive director, provided the following comments:
School funding: "We have long supported the concept of the state revenues being tapped to offset the cost to property taxpayers," said Lee. "Currently, New Jersey state government pays an average of 38 percent of the cost of public schools, where other states pay half, on average. This has put a tremendous burden on property taxes to pay for schools-which is the very heart of the property-tax problem here in New Jersey.
"We also applaud state support for full-day Kindergarten in non-Abbott districts. The academic value of full-day Kindergarten
is proven by research. Yet middle-income districts have found it difficult to create such programs, because full-day Kindergarten
was never factored into the state aid system for non-Abbott districts.
"NJSBA supports reasonable caps on spending, but we oppose the establishment of a 'hard cap' on budgets that provide no
adjustments for costs that are out of a district's control, such as state and federally required special education."
November school elections: "Moving school board member elections really has nothing to do with the property-tax issue.
We agree with the concept of eliminating elections for school budgets that are under the state-imposed spending cap. But
moving school board member elections to November puts those candidates in a partisan environment. The state currently
allows non-partisan municipal officials to run for office in the spring. The same logic should apply to board members, who
serve on a non-partisan basis."
'Super' county superintendents: "'Super' county superintendents could actually cost communities money. By taking over
procurement and, perhaps, negotiations, the concept could undermine cost savings that local boards have already achieved,"
said Lee. "The committee's cost-saving objectives could be achieved better through incentives that promote shared services.
We are also wary about placing sweeping powers in the hands of a political appointee who is not beholden in any way to
local voters. Ultimately, it would strip communities of their very right to decide what's best to meet their local education
goals."
Benefits reform: "We strongly support the legislators' recommendation to allow school boards in the State Health
Benefits
Plan to negotiate terms of the benefits," said Lee. "The practice is common in the private sector, and saves money. But local
school boards in the SHBP are prevented from negotiating such cost savings. The committee's recommendations are on the
mark, and can have a direct, positive impact on property tax relief."
* * * * * * *
The New Jersey School Boards Association, a federation of district boards of education, advocates the interests of school
districts, trains local school board members, and provides resources for the advancement of public education
P.O. Box 909 ? Trenton, NJ 08605-0909 ? Phone: 609.695.7600 ? Fax: 609.695.0413 ? Web: www.njsba.org/PI
ADVOCACYAGENDA 2007 - SPECIAL SESSION
School District Consolidation
Advocate for legislation that encourages voluntary regionalization through grants that cover financial and
educational feasibility studies demonstrating the benefits and costs to taxpayers.
School Funding Formula
Advocate for greater state school aid to ease the burden on school property taxes.
"Super" County Superintendents Advocate against "super" county superintendents, as defined by Assembly bill A-54 and instead advocate for incentives that promote shared services to achieve the same cost-savings.
November School Board Elections
Advocate the elimination of elections for school budgets that are under cap, and keep school board member elections independent and apart from partisan elections, supporting instead a consolidation of all non-partisan elections - including school boards, non-partisan municipal governments, and fire districts - on a single date in the spring.
G:\GOVREL\Leg. Committee\2006\Battle Plan 2007 (2).doc
State Legislators
Governor Jon Corzine
State of New Jersey
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
Lucille Davy, Acting Commissioner
Department of Education
State of New Jersey
PO Box 500
Trenton, NJ 08625
Senator Richard J. Codey
New Jersey Senate President
27th Legislative District
449 Mount Pleasant Avenue
West Orange, NJ 07052
Senator Ellen Karcher
New Jersey Senate
12th Legislative District
400 W. Main St., 3rd Floor
Freehold, NJ 07728
Senator Robert W. Singer
New Jersey Senate
30th Legislative District
2110 W. County Line Rd.
Jackson, NJ 08527
Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck
New Jersey State Legislature
12th Legislative District
256 Rt. 79, 1st Floor
Morganville, NJ 07751
Assemblyman Ronald S. Dancer
New Jersey State Legislature
30th Legislative District
2110 W. County Line Rd.
Jackson, NJ 08527
Assemblyman Joseph R. Malone
New Jersey State Legislature
30th Legislative District
311 Farnsworth Ave.
Bordentown, NJ 08505
Assemblyman Michael J. Panter
New Jersey State Legislature
12th Legislative District
167 Avenue of the Common, Suite 7
Shrewsbury, NJ 07702
Assemblyman Joseph J. Roberts Jr.
New Jersey State Legislature
5th Legislative District
Brooklawn Shopping Plaza
Route 130 & Browning Road
Brooklawn, NJ 08030
P.O. Box 909 ? Trenton, NJ 08605-0909 ? Phone: 609.695.7600 ? Fax: 609.695.0413 ? Web: www.njsba.org/PI