“As the husband of a Hillsborough educator and parent to three children who went through the outstanding South Brunswick school system, I am outraged at the cuts both districts and others in our area learned of yesterday,” said Zwicker.
“I was hopeful when the proposed budget included $900 million in increased funding for schools. Upon reviewing the actual numbers for the 16th legislative district, while I am pleased to see increases for many of our schools, these allocations do not offset my outrage and frustration on behalf of the school districts that will lose funding. This decrease will cause our children to lose access to teachers, interventionists, activities, and countless other imperative portions of their education,” said Drulis.
“While we are appreciative that many school districts in our legislative district have received positive net funding, we continue to be alarmed by the losses experienced by the school districts of Hillsborough Township, South Brunswick Township, Lebanon Borough, High Bridge Borough, and Hunterdon Central,” added Freiman. “The funding losses will be devastating to these districts. We cannot continue to follow this school funding formula as it currently stands.”
Therefore, State Representatives Zwicker, Freiman, and Drulis said they advocate for the immediate passage of A-3452/S-2434, giving the school districts the ability to responsibly respond to these significant reductions in school funding. Additionally, they are calling for a change in the funding formula that would enable transparency and greater funding predictability, eliminating large annual fluctuations.
Zwicker said, “Just like last year, I will fight for the future of the families of the 16th district, and will work with my colleagues to ensure that these devastating proposed cuts do not come to fruition.”
“The formula has proven it has significant volatility year after year, which inhibits the district’s ability to plan for changes, manage programming, staffing, and deliver quality education to our students,” Freiman added.
“We cannot stand by and allow this to happen. Cutting school funding jeopardizes our children’s future and undermines the quality of education they receive,” said Drulis.
Freiman concluded, “We appreciate every teacher, administrator, and school employee who shows up every single day to support our students. As your state representatives, we pledge to work on this vital task until the school funding allocations match the dedication given to our students.”
Democratic lawmakers in Legislative District 16 have expressed outrage over Governor Murphy’s school funding allocations, claiming that the distribution of funds is unfair and inequitable. The lawmakers, who represent towns such as Princeton, South Brunswick, and Hillsborough, argue that the current funding formula is not adequately addressing the needs of their communities.
One of the main points of contention for these lawmakers is the disparity in funding between urban and suburban school districts. They argue that while urban districts may have higher levels of poverty and need more resources, suburban districts also have their own unique challenges that are not being adequately addressed. They believe that the current funding formula is disproportionately favoring urban districts at the expense of suburban districts.
In addition to the funding disparities between urban and suburban districts, lawmakers in LD-16 are also concerned about the overall level of funding being allocated to schools in their district. They argue that the amount of funding being provided is insufficient to meet the needs of their students and schools, leading to overcrowded classrooms, outdated facilities, and a lack of resources for special education and other critical programs.
Governor Murphy has defended his school funding allocations, arguing that they are based on a fair and equitable formula that takes into account the needs of all districts across the state. He has also pointed to his efforts to increase overall education funding in recent years, including a significant boost in funding for pre-K programs and initiatives to address school infrastructure needs.
Despite the Governor’s defense of his school funding allocations, Democratic lawmakers in LD-16 remain steadfast in their criticism and are calling for a reevaluation of the funding formula to ensure that all districts receive their fair share of resources. They are also advocating for increased transparency and accountability in how school funding decisions are made to ensure that all students have access to a quality education.
As the debate over school funding allocations continues to unfold, it is clear that Democratic lawmakers in LD-16 are committed to fighting for fair and equitable funding for all schools in their district and across the state. Their outrage over Governor Murphy’s allocations highlights the importance of ensuring that all students have access to the resources they need to succeed in school and beyond.
