Democrat Plan For School Funding Reform Sold To Officials In South Jersey
WOOLWICH TOWNSHIP, NJ (CBS) -- There are dueling proposals in New Jersey to reform state education funding. Governor Chris Christie is pushing his alternative to provide equal $6,600 a year funding per student in meetings throughout the state. Senate President Steve Sweeney has his own alternative, one he brought to school administrators in one hard hit Gloucester County school district.
The Kingsway Regional School District receives 43% of the funding from Trenton they're supposed to. Reforms approved eight years ago have created inequities that Sweeney says need to be addressed.
"Everyone thinks this is urban verses suburban, and if you listen to the other plan that's out there, that's what it is and that's not fair," Sweeney told a dozen board members and administrators during a 90 minute meeting Wednesday afternoon. "But what's going on isn't fair to anybody."
Sweeney's alternative would set up a commission that would devise a five year plan that would put every district at equal 100% funding. He admits some 15% of districts now getting more than they should be would lose money while the rest would get more.
Sweeney's held a half dozen of these meetings across the state, with at least six more to come. The bottom line message, to take its merits out to the people, and make them realize this will be fairer than the Christie alternative.
