By Albert Countryman Jr.

Publisher/Editor Gloucester City News

When Governor Chris Christie announced his proposed state budget March 16, he sent shock waves that nearly swamped school districts and towns throughout the state.

School district business administrators, superintendents and staff had just five days, counting the weekend, to prepare their 2010-11 budgets.

They had to be submitted by the Monday, March 22, deadline to county departments of education.

And, they had to prepare the budgets with less state aid than last year.

The proposed school budgets for Bellmawr, Brooklawn, Gloucester City and Mount Ephraim, with the new numbers, are printed in the legal pages (6, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 15) of this week’s Gloucester City News.

Voters will decide on the budgets during the upcoming School Election April 20. Polls will be open from 2 to 9 p.m.

Christie’s proposed budget cuts aid to school districts a total of $819 million. Individual districts lose up to 5 percent of their total budget in state aid.

Meanwhile, local mayors and governing bodies were also stunned with the loss in state aid, as they try to prepare their 2010 municipal budgets.

Aid to municipalities throughout the state will be cut by $446 million.

Locally, all five towns in the NEWS’ coverage area had their state aid cut 16 percent from last year’s figures, as follows:

Gloucester City aid will be cut from $3.187 million to $2.678 million; Bellmawr will drop from $1.446 million to $1.215 million; Brooklawn will go from $230,370 to $199,509; Mount Ephraim will see a decrease from $492,211 to $413,704; and Westville will be cut from $478,759 to $402,397.

Governor Christie, in explaining his reasons for the cuts, said the state of New Jersey is facing a major financial crisis, and that tough decisions have to be made.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced today that Delaware and Tennessee have won grants in the first phase of the Race to the Top competition.

\”We received many strong proposals from states all across America, but two applications stood out above all others: Delaware and Tennessee,\” Duncan said in announcing the winners. \”Both states have statewide buy-in for comprehensive plans to reform their schools. They have written new laws to support their policies. And they have demonstrated the courage, capacity, and commitment to turn their ideas into practices that can improve outcomes for students.\”

Delaware will receive approximately $100 million and Tennessee $500 million to implement their comprehensive school reform plans over the next four years. As with any federal grant program, budgets will be finalized after discussions between the grantees and the Department, and the money will be distributed over time as the grantees meet established benchmarks.

The U.S. Department of Education will have about $3.4 billion available for the second phase of the Race to the Top competition.

\”We set a very high bar for the first phase,\” Duncan said. \”With $3.4 billion still available, we\’re providing plenty of opportunity for all other states to develop plans and aggressively pursue reform.\”

The $4.35 billion Race to the Top Fund is an unprecedented federal investment in reform. The program includes $4 billion for statewide reform grants and $350 million to support states working together to improve the quality of their assessments. The Race to the Top state competition is designed to reward states that are leading the way in comprehensive, coherent, statewide education reform across four key areas:

• Adopting standards and assessments that prepare students to succeed in college and the workplace;
• Building data systems that measure student growth and success, and inform teachers and principals how to improve instruction;
• Recruiting, developing, rewarding, and retaining effective teachers and principals, especially where they are needed most; and
• Turning around their lowest-performing schools.

Forty states and the District of Columbia submitted applications for the first phase of grants. Delaware and Tennessee were selected from among 16 finalists who presented their proposals to panels of peer reviewers earlier this month.

The peer reviewers awarded the highest scores to Delaware and Tennessee. They awarded Delaware and Tennessee high marks for the commitment to reform from key stakeholders, including elected officials, teacher\’s union leaders, and business leaders. In both states, all school districts committed to implementing Race to the Top reforms. Delaware and Tennessee also have aggressive plans to improve teacher and principal evaluation, use data to inform instructional decisions, and turn around their lowest-performing schools. In addition, both states have put in place strong laws and policies to support their reform efforts.

Applications for Phase 2 of Race to the Top are due on June 1, 2010. To help states as they prepare their proposals and to continue the nationwide dialogue on education reform, the Department of Education has made all Phase 1 applications, peer reviewers\’ comments, and scores available on its website; videos of states\’ presentations will be posted next week.

The Department is making one change to the rules for the Phase 2 competition. To fund as many strong applications as possible, the Department of Education is requiring states\’ budgets to be within the ranges that were suggested in the original notice. Details are available on the Department\’s Web site and will appear in the Federal Register later this week.

PRESS RELEASE

The Brooklawn Board of Education held a public hearing and then approved the district’s 2010-2011 budget of $5,177,451 at the meeting of the Board on March 30. There will be no tax increase in the district, but a few non-instructional staff reductions may be necessary, as well reductions in areas such as equipment and supplies. The district remains at the state minimum tax levy, which means that state law will not permit the Board to reduce taxes below this amount.

Superintendent Dr. John Kellmayer remarked, \”Everyone is aware of the unprecedented reduction in state funding that New Jersey’s school districts have experienced this year due to the state’s economic crisis. Brooklawn’s state funding was reduced about $309,000, a significant amount in a small district. However, we are able to continue generate revenue from nontraditional sources. This revenue has allowed us to minimize the effect of funding cuts on academic programs.\”

The district plans to continue to provide services not only for families who have children who attend school in the district, but for the entire community as well. The Shop Rite of Brooklawn Center will be open evenings and weekends for approved groups. The Flowers Library and Media Center will be open two nights a week for the community at large. Programs will be planned for residents of all ages. The district before and after school latchkey program will remain open. In addition, the district will continue to offer a fullday pre-kindergarten program.

Board of Education President Bruce Darrow said, \”The entire Board should be commended for their hard work in putting together the 2010-2011 budget. This has been the most difficult budget that I can recall. The Board has met several times to discuss and review the proposed 2010-2011 budget and members should be commended for how they have worked to reach a consensus on the budget in such difficult times.

Darrow also said, \”Our students continue to do well academically, and the district cost per pupil is among the lowest in the state. In the past several years, we have built a library, classrooms, and a gym, added staff and programs, installed a new heating system and windows, made significant improvements in technology, and made numerous other improvements to educational programs and the physical plant—all without a tax increase. The Board remains committed to working with the entire community, including Mayor and Council, to find innovative ways to continue the success of the school district for the benefit of not only the students but all the residents of Brooklawn.\”

and made numerous other improvements to educational programs and the physical plant—all without a tax increase. The Board remains committed to working with the entire community, including Mayor and Council, to find innovative ways to continue the success of the school district for the benefit of not only the students but all the residents of Brooklawn.\”