Post by andrewd on Apr 24, 2007 19:44:47 GMT -5
I just wanted to share with everyone a letter that I had to write to our elected leaders tonight. Maybe everyone else can follow suit and really get their attention.
Senator Karcher, Assemblywoman Beck, and Assemblyman Panter,
Over the past number of weeks, you have seen a very large outpouring of support for the schools of Freehold Boro, and you have all, in one form or another, worked to find ways to help our district with the extreme financial burden that we are facing.
I felt I would be remiss if I did not write this letter to you all tonight regarding a story that I am sure we have all heard of over the past few weeks.
Apparently there is a New Jersey Lottery unclaimed prize of $19 million dollars, which if not claimed by the end of the day today in Trenton, or validated by midnight tonight, the prize is forfeit and the money goes back to the state for use in the educational and institutional areas. As you all admitted to at our Town Hall meeting last month, the majority of Lottery proceeds generally go to jails and other state institutions, while education - while always being mentioned first in regards to where lottery money is spent - gets less than it's fair share.
Assemblywoman Beck and Assemblyman Panter...you have both discussed legislation you are proposing that would bring all of the school districts in the state that currently fall below the Thorough and Efficient box, back into that box. I believe the last figure I saw (from Assemblyman Panter's office) was that it would roughly cost the state $14 million to complete this task.
I should think everyone can see where I am going with this...
Is there any reason whatsoever that the State of New Jersey would not take this "found money" and use it fully to help the schools in this state that are denying children their constitutional right to a Thorough and Efficient Education? I hope to read the papers over the next couple of days and see stories about all of you standing up in your respective houses of government, and, frankly, screaming at the top of your lungs to use this money to help the children of our state.
The jails do not need this money. Other state institutions do not need this money. Schools and education do need this money, and if there was ever a time that the state of New Jersey has been given an easier solution to a problem such as this, I would love to hear about it.
If I am wrong, or if I am missing some information, please let me know, otherwise, I will be checking the papers and the news over the next few days.
Thank you all for your continued support.
Andrew DeFonzo
Board of Education member
Freehold Boro
Senator Karcher, Assemblywoman Beck, and Assemblyman Panter,
Over the past number of weeks, you have seen a very large outpouring of support for the schools of Freehold Boro, and you have all, in one form or another, worked to find ways to help our district with the extreme financial burden that we are facing.
I felt I would be remiss if I did not write this letter to you all tonight regarding a story that I am sure we have all heard of over the past few weeks.
Apparently there is a New Jersey Lottery unclaimed prize of $19 million dollars, which if not claimed by the end of the day today in Trenton, or validated by midnight tonight, the prize is forfeit and the money goes back to the state for use in the educational and institutional areas. As you all admitted to at our Town Hall meeting last month, the majority of Lottery proceeds generally go to jails and other state institutions, while education - while always being mentioned first in regards to where lottery money is spent - gets less than it's fair share.
Assemblywoman Beck and Assemblyman Panter...you have both discussed legislation you are proposing that would bring all of the school districts in the state that currently fall below the Thorough and Efficient box, back into that box. I believe the last figure I saw (from Assemblyman Panter's office) was that it would roughly cost the state $14 million to complete this task.
I should think everyone can see where I am going with this...
Is there any reason whatsoever that the State of New Jersey would not take this "found money" and use it fully to help the schools in this state that are denying children their constitutional right to a Thorough and Efficient Education? I hope to read the papers over the next couple of days and see stories about all of you standing up in your respective houses of government, and, frankly, screaming at the top of your lungs to use this money to help the children of our state.
The jails do not need this money. Other state institutions do not need this money. Schools and education do need this money, and if there was ever a time that the state of New Jersey has been given an easier solution to a problem such as this, I would love to hear about it.
If I am wrong, or if I am missing some information, please let me know, otherwise, I will be checking the papers and the news over the next few days.
Thank you all for your continued support.
Andrew DeFonzo
Board of Education member
Freehold Boro
