Funding Session Focuses on Transportation

Funding Session Focuses on Transportation

Commissioner of Education Lucille E. Davy held a second meeting with education stakeholders to discuss the state’s new school funding formula, with the most recent session focusing on transportation costs. NJSBA representatives attended the invitation-only session on June 8 at the state Department of Education headquarters in Trenton.

Discussion focused on the feasibility of consolidating bus routes, the amount of time students spend on buses to and from school, and how transportation changes could affect school starting times. However, no consensus was reached on how these new proposals could be implemented.

Highest Priority Davy has called a new school funding formula the department’s highest priority. New Jersey’s previous funding system, the Comprehensive Educational Improvement and Financing Act, has not been properly funded since the 2001-2002 school year due to state revenue constraints.

The Corzine administration is expected to propose a new funding system to the Legislature by Nov. 15, in time for implementation in the 2008-2009 school year.

More meetings between Davy and education community leaders are planned for throughout the summer. NJSBA will keep its members posted of any new developments through School Board Notes.

As We Went to Press...

A June 12 report in The Star-Ledger, quoting administration sources, indicated that long-term Senator Joseph Doria (D-Hudson) might become an education adviser to Governor Corzine for the express purpose of guiding efforts to revamp New Jersey’s school funding system.