The N.J. education department will hold a public forum on school funding Monday
Some complain their districts are shortchanged by state funding. Many district leaders fume that unpredictable funding levels make annual budgeting a guessing game.
State funding for school budgets, a contentious topic among taxpayers and school boards, will be the focus of a public forum on Monday sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Education at Camden County College in Blackwood.
Some complain their districts are shortchanged by state funding. Many district leaders fume that unpredictable funding levels make annual budgeting a guessing game.
In Cherry Hill, the Fair Funding Cherry Hill Facebook page advocates for more funds for the district. On the page, a suggested note for residents to send to Gov. Mikie Sherrill in June said: “You stated that you fully funded education in NJ, but after drastically being underfunded for years and shortchanged almost $350M+, Cherry Hill residents need the relief that these restored funds will bring.”
The Education Department forum, which runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Civic Hall, Gabriel E. Danch Center, 200 College Dr., will include an overview of school funding with public comments. The comments will be reviewed after all six forums as part of the School Funding Outreach Project, according to the Education Department. Registration for the forum is here.
“Through a collaborative, stakeholder-driven process, NJDOE will work with families, educators, school leaders, legislators, advocates, and community partners to identify opportunities for improvement,” according to the education department.
One regional forum was held in Edison in late September. Others, besides the one on Monday, are:
Oct. 14: Stockton University, Galloway
Oct. 22: Virtual statewide forum
Oct. 27: Essex County Donald M. Payne School of Technology, Newark
Nov. 12: Virtual statewide forum
The sessions are each from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Email updates from the state about school funding are available through email by signing up here.
Inquirer South Jersey
70and73.com is a hyperlocal news site focused on South Jersey, including the communities of Cherry Hill, Evesham, Mount Laurel, Voorhees, Medford, Medford Lakes, and Moorestown.
