NJSBA on Funding Formula: It’s Not Over, by Any Means

NJSBA on Funding Formula:
It’s Not Over, by Any Means

NJSBA President Kevin E. Ciak issued the following statement in response to the Legislature’s approval on Jan. 7 of the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 (A-500):

Our work is not over by any means. As the funding plan goes into effect, we have to ensure that school districts no longer face the prospect of tax increases while cutting back in the classroom or, at best, maintaining existing programs. Avoiding that situation will require ongoing dialogue between legislators and the local school officials whose students will be affected by the new system. NJSBA is committed to maintaining that dialogue.

The plan’s $530 million statewide increase for 2008-2009 will help a large number of school districts. For many, the increase provides welcome relief after six years of stagnant state education aid. For that reason NJSBA did not call for a delay in legislative action on the plan.

However, the New Jersey School Boards Association, which represents the state’s local boards of education, continues to have serious reservations about several aspects of the plan. These provisions include the new method to distribute special education aid and the requirement that will force some districts to direct much of their aid increase toward tax reduction rather than the classroom.

While NJSBA will continue to lobby for changes, we will also fulfill our mission to educate local school board members about the new funding system. This will be especially critical as school boards prepare their 2008-2009 budgets.

Kevin E. Ciak, NJSBA President