By

Ray Pinney

Deep Throat: “Oh, I can’t tell you that.”
Bob Woodward:  ”But you could tell me that.”
Deep Throat:  “No, I have to do this my way. You tell me what you know, and I’ll confirm. I’ll keep you in the right direction if I can, but that’s all. Just… follow the money.”   All the Presidents Men, 1976

When Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of the Washington Post were reporting the Watergate story and looking for answers, Woodward’s secret source, Deep Throat, counseled him to “Follow the Money.”  That has turned out to be advice that is applicable in all times and many situations.

I thought of that quote when I recently heard David Rosen, the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer for the Office of Legislative Services, testify before the Assembly Budget Committee to give them a mid-year update on the state’s budget. His projections for the state budget are bleak. State revenue is still dropping and it does not appear that it will increase anytime soon. Any growth that might occur will be small at best.  What perked my ears up is when Mr. Rosen explained that 75 percent of the  budget is tied up in aid going to school districts, municipalities, Medicaid, Homestead Rebates, and higher education and that “if you are looking to cut … that is where the money is“.

Make no mistake about it:  the legislature and the governor will have to make cuts and public education may not be spared this year. (more…)

By

Ray Pinney

There is a new leader in New Jersey who is making headlines.  He’s a big man, a bit brash, perhaps a bit cocky, and he likes to speak from the hip. His style is obviously different from his predecessor and he is promising change that will lead us to goals we could never imagined.  Back in June he had his detractors and he still had his doubters even through last autumn. Many would never have believed he’d be where he is now in January. But… enough about Rex Ryan, the New York Jets head football coach. Let’s turn our attention to our new Governor Chris Christie.

Before I do that, I must apologize for the sports analogy. If you follow sports, you probably know about Ryan and the Jets. Right now Ryan is the favorite of long suffering Jet fans. Ryan has transformed them from dour pessimists to giddy optimists. If you don’t follow sports, but are married to a fan, ask your spouse about them because there is a lesson about leadership there.  (more…)

By

Ray Pinney

“Listen, I don’t think the appointment of Bret Schundler sends any signal to the NJEA.  The election of Chris Christie, sends a signal to NJEA.” Gov-elect Chris Christie at his  Jan. 12 State House press conference

At the press conference that introduced Bret Schundler as Governor-elect Chris Christie’s nominee for commissioner of education, many of the questions focused not on Mr. Schundler, but on the NJEA.  That is because the reporters are anticipating, some might even say hoping, for conflict between the Christie administration and the NJEA. That makes for good news stories. 

The question I have  (I am sure many of you have the same question) is what does the appointment of Bret Schundler mean to the rest of us involved in education?  While it seems from Chris Christie’s remarks and the campaign banter that the NJEA and Governor -elect Christie have yet to offer each other an olive branch, the message being sent to other educational groups by the Christie administration is not as confrontational. (more…)

 By

Ray Pinney 

I have known Mike, who is a board member, since I started working at NJSBA almost 12 years ago. That is long enough to know that he is not afraid to speak his mind.  

Mike is in a “quandary” about Assemblyman John Burzichelli’s bill A-4297, which would make membership in NJSBA voluntary for school districts.  While he is a certified board member and thinks our training is worthwhile, he sometimes feels that we are not aggressive enough in our advocacy efforts.  He thinks that maybe we would be more aggressive advocates for boards of education if membership in our organization were voluntary and we were not part of the state’s pension system. 

The interesting thing is that, like Mike, I too am in a “quandary”, though my “quandary” is different than Mike’s.  (more…)