The New Jersey School Boards Association has posted a sample resolution for the use of boards that wish to support the passage of the federal State and Municipal Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART) Act, S-3752, introduced by U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.). S-3752 is currently in the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. HR-6954, the companion bill, was introduced by Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11) and is in the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
The act provides $500 billion in emergency funding; funds can be used to help state and local governments meet the current demand, expand testing capacity and contact tracing, provide further assistance to residents, local hospitals, small businesses and schools, and maintain critical services residents depend upon.
“On behalf of New Jersey’s boards of education, I want to thank Sen. Menendez and Congresswoman Sherrill for sponsoring this legislation,” said Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod. “These funds would help local school districts continue to provide education to New Jersey’s 1.4 million public school students during the pandemic.”