By the end of this week, Governor Christie will sign the New Jersey state budget—and with it, we hope he will approve the increased funding allotted for non-public schools that is included in the legislative budget.
But we need your help to make that happen.
Early Wednesday morning, June 25th, the New Jersey State Assembly and Senate Budget Committees both passed the State Budget for Fiscal Year 2014-2015.
Included in the budget were significant increases for both non-public school technology aid and non-public school nursing aid.
Those increases will now provide technology funding to New Jersey Jewish day schools to within 90 percent of where it was in 2009 and will — for the first time — adequately fund nursing services for non-public school students.
Both houses of the State Legislature will vote on the budget on Thursday, June 26th. If passed, the budget will go to Governor Christie for signature.
We need the community’s help now — in the next 36 hours — by reaching out to Governor Christie and asking him to approve the funding increases for non-public school students. Write to Governor Christie or call his office at 609-292-6000 and urge him to approve the increased technology and nursing aid for non-public schools!
Thank you for your support of New Jersey’s Jewish day schools.
(YWN Desk – NYC)
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3 Responses
Be careful what you wish for.
New Jersey is a “blue” state – and once the government gives money, it starts taking control. Money for our schools is nice, but if we want to give the government control over content we wouldn’t have gone to the trouble to set up a school system Once they fund you, they will start making demands, many of which are unacceptable.
While this is a great idea in theory, Gov. Christie has stolen money owed the state pension plans in order to pay for other projects. For this to work a significant tax increase is needed; we can’t fund our schools with money that belongs to others.
New Jersey is one of only 12 states that does not have a Blaine Amendment. We should push for a voucher program that provides full tuition up to a certain level for any nonpublic school student attending a school that meets the standard curriculum requirements. This will require a large tax increase, but if the state were to consolidate its over 600 school districts, substantial savings could be achieved. And we would not have to steal from the pension funds.