Iwould like to thank the residents of Monroe for taking the time to come out and vote in the last school board election and for helping me win a seat on the Board of Education.
While campaigning, I met and spoke with many residents who voiced their opinions on the betterment of education for their children as well as their suggestions for the board. As I promised, I will follow through with many of these suggestions as well as start a campaign for residents to put pressure on Trenton to give the suburbs their fair share of state aid for education.
Currently, 55 percent of state aid goes to the 32 Abbott districts, and the remaining 45 percent goes to about 595 school districts. New Brunswick receives 85 percent of its total education budget from Trenton, with 15 percent raised locally.
M
onroe only receives 5 percent
from Trenton, and 95 percent must be raised via local property taxes. This policy is wrong and should be changed immediately. The proper formula is to fund equally based on student enrollment so all schools receive the same aid per student.
I ask that residents in all towns join their PTAs and/or their PTOs, become more involved in supporting their schools and start organizing and putting pressure on their elected officials and the state Supreme Court to overturn the Abbott decision.
Mark Klein
Member
Monroe Township Board of
Education