NTA Opposes Corzine School Funding Cut
Newark, NJ - A sharp battle is brewing over education equality here. Governor Jon Corzine moved to freeze state aid for school year 2006-2007 for the 31 Abbott districts of New Jersey. Student populations in Abbott districts are about 80% African-American or Latino. Through a long series of court cases (Abbot v. Burke) it was found that the state had failed to fund these districts to function effectively, and supplementary (‘Abbott’) funds have been provided.
A statement from the Newark Teachers Association points out: “Flat funding would cause shortfalls due to inflation and other factors. A preliminary estimate for Newark is a $65 million shortfall for the 2006-2007 school year. Severe program cuts would result.”
Assemblyman Kevin O’Toole (R-Essex) had told the local press, “Republicans and Democrats speaking with one voice means the school funding formula is likely to be changed.” He added, “ It’s the biggest social experiment ever conducted in this country and it is a failure.’”
The statement fires back, “O’Toole gives no basis for his claim that Abbott funding has “failed.” He calls it a “social experiment” as if that justified his claim. What politicians mean by the term is any government measure to benefit low-income people. The Democrats are worse than the Republicans. Like Corzine, they come to minority communities and get their votes and time after time turn right around to stab them in the back.”
“The politicians do not talk about the Schools Construction Corporation (SCC) debacle, the biggest scandal in many years in this scandal-ridden state. A $6.8 billion dollar New Jersey bond issue was passed in 1998 to build new schools in Abbott districts, which suffer from ancient and overcrowded buildings. Republican Christine Whitman, the governor in 1998, refused to spend the money. Then Democratic Governor McGreevey set up the SCC with no financial controls, effectively throwing billions up for grabs. Hundreds of Abbott construction projects are on hold due to huge financial abuses but the politicians have not called for a criminal investigation! If there is failure in the Abbott funding it is due to the state of New Jersey.”
“The politicians are saying that the level of funding makes no difference to the effectiveness of public schools. All experience shows that is nonsense. They are babbling about low-income predominantly minority-background students…”
“Corzine says he must freeze Abbott funds because the state faces a $5 billion budget deficit. But the resources people need for things like education and health care are abundant. The problem is they are going somewhere else.”
“Many states face deficits because of the Bush tax cuts. The bulk of tax savings went to the richest 1% of the population and federal support to states was cut back. Even more notorious is the cost of war. Over $300 billion in direct costs has already gone for the unjust wars to kill hundreds of thousands in Iraq and Afghanistan. Indirect and delayed costs will add several times as much. Meanwhile the essential needs of the masses like hospitals and schools are closed down or cut back. For 90% or more of the people the problem with this country is not lack of money. The problem is the wrong people are making the wrong decisions.”
The Newark Teachers Association will back a June rally against the funding freeze.
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