$500,000 in surplus to [pay for] a new roof for the school.” Newsome said that some families in Rumson received only a $50 rebate check after S-1701 took effect in 2004, which was money taken out of the surplus to comply with the restrictions of the new law. She said that every district in the state is suffering the effects of the budget restrictions and that people are looking for ways to help. “Taxpayers, parents, everybody sees that there is a crisis in public education,” she said, “and they are jumping at the chance to help. They can help by writing letters to the legislators who are standing in the way of amending 1701.” Newsome said that although changing the school funding process would be a good way of alleviating the negative feelings between taxpayers and school districts, S-1701 needs to be amended immediately, because of the immediate harm that is being done. “There have to be intelligent people out there,” she said, “who can come up with a way to fund schools, and the state should follow that formula. But we have to take care of this now, because our schools are being hurt now. “People are mad. People are frustrated. People are angry,” said Newsome. “They want to know what’s wrong with school districts. They are being asked to choose between their hearts and their homes, between their children and their wallets. That’s not right.”

Vince Mottern, Hightstown, accompanies Stevi Incremona, 15, Fair Haven, who will also perform at the May 5 fundraiser.