How area districts will fare under new plan. (NY Times graphic.)
Plainfielders are finally getting a peek at what's in store for school funding, after Gov. Jon Corzine's presentation at a south Jersey school yesterday.
Abbott Districts have been worried that the governor's proposal for rejiggering school funding would put them at a disadvantage vis-a-vis wealthier districts. Meanwhile, other districts in which numbers of at-risk students have dramatically increased over recent years, yet who are neither Abbotts nor well-to-do, have been hopeful of funding changes to benefit them.
In a Solomonic move, Corzine has attempted to address everyone's concerns with a proposal that gives most districts increases in a range from 2% to 20% -- though even some of the wealthiest will see also see increases.
Both the Ledger and the Times give the story extensive coverage this morning, with lots of details, while the Courier gives scant mention, cutting the Gannett story in half and putting in on page 3.
How Plainfield ranks with other NJ districts. (NY Times graphic.)
To me, one of the most interesting features today is the Times' interactive map, where you can drill down to info on any single school district in the state -- and see how it ranks among the state's 526 total districts in each of twelve categories.
For instance, our average spending per pupil ($13,961) ranks us as 62nd out of 526 districts, while our average teacher salary ($51,795) stands near the middle of the pack at 246 out of 526 districts. Our teacher/student ratio of 10.4 puts us in the high middle range of 302 out of 526 districts.
Taxpayers will especially note that the percentage of the cost of the school system borne locally -- 13% -- places us in the high end of state support, along with the other Abbott Districts.
Does the new formula signal that Abbott districts will be held to lower annual increases in ensuing years? And does that prospect mean that Plainfield taxpayers will ultimately have to look at funding more of the school budget?
These are questions which should rivet taxpayers.
But will such attention, if given, lead to more intense scrutiny of school matters -- especially as measured by attendance at school board meetings?
Only time will tell.
- Ledger: "Middle- and working-class districts benefit" -- Q&A overview here.
- Ledger: "Union County fares well in state's new aid formula"
- Gannett: "Half school districts get big aid hikes under Corzine's funding plan"
- NY Times: "Increases in school aid range from 2 to 20 percent under Corzine plan" -- Interactive chart here.
-- Dan Damon
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