School construction funding had been on a rollercoaster ride during the New Jersey Legislature’s budget season. But on June 23, thanks to the efforts of many supporters and advocates including members of the Our Children/Our Schools campaign, the Legislature approved $3.9 billion in borrowing for school facilities projects. $2.9 billion was earmarked for Abbott district projects, $1 billion for non-Abbotts, and $50 million for county vocational schools.

The latest ride began in January with a last minute letter to the NJ Supreme Court from Governor Corzine promising legislation to deliver at least $2.5 billion to Abbott districts for school construction. It culminated with a strong stand by a group of Senate Democrats lead by Sen. Ron Rice, who refused to approve the State budget without prior passage of school facilities funding. The amount originally requested for in the bill grew to $3.9 billion as the process of compromise moved forward in the Legislature and funding was added for non-Abbott districts.

Complicating matters further was a bill to amend the State Constitution to require voter approval on all future state borrowing. Discussion of that bill became intertwined with arguments for and against the school construction funding legislation. The constitutional amendment bill also passed both houses of the Legislature and will be on the November 2008 ballot. If the measure passes, it will complicate future efforts to secure additional school construction funding, but will not impact the $3.9 billion plan just passed.

Assemblyman Joseph Cryan gave a detailed and impassioned speech in support of the school facilities funding bill, making reference to a visit to the Cleveland Street School in Orange he had made with Assemblywoman Joan Voss. The press coverage of the visit and Cryan’s statements, coupled with a crippling heat wave resulting in the closure of both Abbott and non-Abbott schools for a number of days, brought home the very real need for facilities improvements across the state and in districts of all types. The importance of Legislator visits to inadequate school facilities, where they can witness firsthand the adverse environments in which children are expected not only to spend their days but to learn and achieve, cannot be overestimated.

Scott Weiner, Chief Executive Officer of the Schools Development Authority (SDA), provided testimony to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee during the last day before the full vote of the Legislature. Some of the Legislators’ comments and questions were predictable, including the now tired refrain of "waste, fraud and abuse" even though the authority has been reconstituted through legislation, leadership and stronger oversight. But discussion also included statements about the moral imperative of providing adequate facilities from some of the same parties who had previously rejected all proposals for school construction funding.

The approved funding jumpstarts 27 projects on the SDA list that had been stalled because of a lack of money and will support approximately 20 more projects deemed high priority, according to Weiner’s testimony. Cost estimates for the completion of all school facility projects in the State stand at $17 billion in Abbott districts and $10 billion in non-Abbott districts. As welcome as the latest funding proposal is, New Jersey still needs a long-term plan to finance the schools construction it needs.

During discussion at Legislative hearings on the budget and the constitutional amendment, some Legislators from both sides of the aisle expressed a desire to find alternative means for funding facilities projects. Commitments were made on the record to help those alternatives become reality.

"Ringside seats" are still available for these hearings, which were recorded and can be accessed via the internet. Visit the home page of the New Jersey Legislature at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/, and choose "View or listen to prior proceedings." To read the proposed constitutional amendment on bonding, visit the same website and enter SCR39 in the Bill Number line under "Bill Search."

For more information about school construction, contact Lindy Wilson at lindy789@optonline.net.

Also see: Abbott V. Burke Court Ruling Sparks Legislative Action

Prepared: July 1, 2008