The Wall Street journal reports on the Lakewood school district budget shortfall, and who else to blame it on, but the busing of Private school students. Its always a good story to show a picture of a Orthodox student with a school bus in the background. The WSJ fails to mention the LSTA which was created by the state of NJ to provide mandated busing for private school students. Nothing to do with the BOE. Second, the report says "The board chose to provide free transportation to private-school students, even when they aren’t required by law to get busing because they study near home." That statement is not true, facts are the only ones getting free transportation are the non mandated public school students. What more can you expect from the clueless mainstream media.
WSJ:_
By LESLIE BRODY March 30, 2017 7:14 p.m. ET
LAKEWOOD, N.J.—A superintendent’s warnings that the proposed budget for 2017-18 would decimate public schools has caused an uproar in a town that has seen a rapid influx of Orthodox Jewish families sending children to private religious schools.
The school board is dominated by Orthodox men who don’t have children in public schools. Advocates for public-school children, who are mostly poor and Hispanic, say the board doesn’t have their best interests at heart. Barry Iann, the board president, denies that charge. “We represent all the children,” he said.
Now 6,233 Lakewood children attend public schools, and more than 30,000 are enrolled in some 125 private schools, according to the district. In recent years, the number attending private schools has grown by roughly 2,500 annually. About 96,500 people live the 25-square mile township.
Controversy has swirled around Lakewood’s costly busing program. The board chose to provide free transportation to private-school students, even when they aren’t required by law to get busing because they study near home. Critics contend the service is too expensive, but supporters say it improves safety in a town with heavy traffic.
This year, the Lakewood Public School District is set to spend $24.6 million of its $135 million budget on transportation—even more than the $16.8 million spent on regular classroom instruction. “It’s scary,” said the superintendent, Laura Winters. “The kids in public schools end up hurting.”
EDUCATION TAB
Lakewood Public School District’s 2016-17 budget of about $135 million includes:
$31.8 million in tuition for private placements for disabled students
$24.6 million for transporting children to public and private schools
$16.8 million on regular classroom instruction
Source: Lakewood Public School District
Teenagers in the public high school can reel off details of a looming $15-million budget hole that the superintendent said would require the dismissal of 119 of the district’s 450 certified teachers before fall if solutions aren’t found. Students and parents express alarm about the possible elimination of guidance counselors, summer school and sports, and average class sizes that could swell to 50. “Fifty students in a class can cause a lot of distraction,” said 17-year-old Elizabeth Villanueva.
The tensions echo the scenario in East Ramapo, N.Y., where the board also is dominated by Orthodox Jewish men whose families don’t use the public schools.
Adding to the conflict in Lakewood, the board is searching for a replacement for Ms. Winters, whose contract ends in June. Some community advocates are fighting for her to stay, and note that the district’s graduation rate improved to 75%, from 69%, under her five-year tenure. The board “should be crawling over broken glass to keep her,” said Tom Gatti, chairman of Senior Action Group.
Mr. Iann said the board is looking for a strong new leader and problem-solver. He said Ms. Winters’ warning of cuts marked a starting point for negotiations with state officials for aid. “We don’t have a spending problem,” he said. “We have a funding problem.”
Mr. Iann blamed the deficits largely on the state’s repeated failure to fully fund its formula for distributing school aid. State leaders have cited fiscal constraints.
Special education has proved a challenge as well. By law the district must pay for special education for all children who need it, including students in private settings for the disabled. The district is spending nearly $32 million this year for such private placements, including payments for 190 children at the School for Children with Hidden Intelligence, which charges $97,000 a year per student. Many Orthodox families moved to Lakewood so their children could attend the school. read more at WSJ
WSJ:_
By LESLIE BRODY March 30, 2017 7:14 p.m. ET
LAKEWOOD, N.J.—A superintendent’s warnings that the proposed budget for 2017-18 would decimate public schools has caused an uproar in a town that has seen a rapid influx of Orthodox Jewish families sending children to private religious schools.
The school board is dominated by Orthodox men who don’t have children in public schools. Advocates for public-school children, who are mostly poor and Hispanic, say the board doesn’t have their best interests at heart. Barry Iann, the board president, denies that charge. “We represent all the children,” he said.
Now 6,233 Lakewood children attend public schools, and more than 30,000 are enrolled in some 125 private schools, according to the district. In recent years, the number attending private schools has grown by roughly 2,500 annually. About 96,500 people live the 25-square mile township.
Controversy has swirled around Lakewood’s costly busing program. The board chose to provide free transportation to private-school students, even when they aren’t required by law to get busing because they study near home. Critics contend the service is too expensive, but supporters say it improves safety in a town with heavy traffic.
This year, the Lakewood Public School District is set to spend $24.6 million of its $135 million budget on transportation—even more than the $16.8 million spent on regular classroom instruction. “It’s scary,” said the superintendent, Laura Winters. “The kids in public schools end up hurting.”
EDUCATION TAB
Lakewood Public School District’s 2016-17 budget of about $135 million includes:
$31.8 million in tuition for private placements for disabled students
$24.6 million for transporting children to public and private schools
$16.8 million on regular classroom instruction
Source: Lakewood Public School District
Teenagers in the public high school can reel off details of a looming $15-million budget hole that the superintendent said would require the dismissal of 119 of the district’s 450 certified teachers before fall if solutions aren’t found. Students and parents express alarm about the possible elimination of guidance counselors, summer school and sports, and average class sizes that could swell to 50. “Fifty students in a class can cause a lot of distraction,” said 17-year-old Elizabeth Villanueva.
The tensions echo the scenario in East Ramapo, N.Y., where the board also is dominated by Orthodox Jewish men whose families don’t use the public schools.
Adding to the conflict in Lakewood, the board is searching for a replacement for Ms. Winters, whose contract ends in June. Some community advocates are fighting for her to stay, and note that the district’s graduation rate improved to 75%, from 69%, under her five-year tenure. The board “should be crawling over broken glass to keep her,” said Tom Gatti, chairman of Senior Action Group.
Mr. Iann said the board is looking for a strong new leader and problem-solver. He said Ms. Winters’ warning of cuts marked a starting point for negotiations with state officials for aid. “We don’t have a spending problem,” he said. “We have a funding problem.”
Mr. Iann blamed the deficits largely on the state’s repeated failure to fully fund its formula for distributing school aid. State leaders have cited fiscal constraints.
Special education has proved a challenge as well. By law the district must pay for special education for all children who need it, including students in private settings for the disabled. The district is spending nearly $32 million this year for such private placements, including payments for 190 children at the School for Children with Hidden Intelligence, which charges $97,000 a year per student. Many Orthodox families moved to Lakewood so their children could attend the school. read more at WSJ