A $1.8 MILLION DOLLAR MID-SUMMER CUT IN STATE AID RESULTS IN BOE APPLICATION FOR EMERGENCY AID
Press Release By Jody Rettig- Glassboro School District Community Affairs Secretary
GLASSBORO— Parents and teachers packed the Glassboro High School Auditorium on July 25 for the Glassboro Public School District’s Board of Education Meeting. The turnout was in response to a mid-summer announcement from the New Jersey Department of Education that it was slashing the district’s state aid by $1.8+ Million.
“Losing this aid at the midnight hour is inconceivable and something that cannot stand. We have been told that Glassboro’s situation is an anomaly. Anomalies are not children’s futures. These anomalies are withholding opportunities for children that they would not get elsewhere,” said Dr. Mark Silverstein, superintendent of schools.
Audience members took to the microphone to voice their concerns about the impact that aid reduction might have on programs, students, teachers and the community. Parent Nancy Merritt, whose son attends Glassboro through its School Choice/STEM Academy Program, specifically sought out Glassboro for her son’s education. She praised the school district and commended the community for coming together.
At the meeting, the Board adopted a resolution to apply for emergency aid/grant money and to pursue additional options if the application is fully or partially denied. Since legislators advised administration that they must have a plan for eliminating more than $1.8 Million dollars to apply for consideration of emergency funding, the resolution also calls for such a plan.
“As the Board President, I have a difficult time recommending a resolution that makes $1.8 million in cuts for the upcoming school year. This would decimate the Glassboro School District and would prevent us from providing a thorough and efficient public education to our students, as mandated by the NJ constitution. The effect of this could potentially cause cuts across grade levels … causing an increase in class sizes,” said Calvo.
The aid reduction is more critical because the school budget was submitted in the spring, the hiring process is already underway for fall classes, and it is too late to adjust taxes. The $1.8+ Million reduction in state aid was also surprising because the district had been underfunded for many years. The new aid formula was designed to correct that.
The district has reached out to legislators, and Senator Sweeney has been receptive to concerns expressed by district administration.
“We appreciate the efforts of the legislature, governor, and DOE to address the inequities in school funding. However, we believe an inequity is still resident with the allocation for Glassboro,” said Calvo.
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