Crowe: Supreme Court school funding ruling shortchanges Woodbridge
WOODBRIDGE, NJ — The state's 31 poorest school districts will get an additional $500 million in state aid, thanks to a Supreme Court ruling Tuesday. But hundreds of other districts, many with low-income students, are out of luck.
"Once again, districts like Woodbridge and Piscataway have been left out in the cold,"
Tom Maras is discussing.
Tom Maras 10:27 am on May 26, 2011 Permalink
Why has the Woodbridge School System been short changed by the NJ Supreme Court or Trenton, for that matter?
As someone who holds John Crowe in high esteem, as an educator that deeply cares about the quality of education for the students in Woodbridge Schools, I have always felt he has been short changed by the current political system that permeates every aspect of life in Woodbridge Township. Despite the McCormac Administration and the McCormac controlled Woodbridge BOE, the accomplishments Dr. Crowe has made in the schools are truly note worthy.
It would be interesting if Dr. Crowe, or the press, would produce the figures comparing the poverty levels in Woodbridge verses those of other school systems that are getting more money from the state. (Given John McCormac ‘s need to spend money he has to borrow (bond debt) for frivolities, is it any wonder the powers to be in Trenton do not see Woodbridge as being a community in need).
Dr. Crowe did not create the underfunding situation which Woodbridge has endured for years. That said, I do question why he has not done more to curtail abuses within the Woodbridge school system. Abuses like paying the Business Administrator getting extra monies for handling busing, salary increases to high ranking Administration staff, calling back a recently retired Administrator, reportedly at $95.00/hr. to handle correspondence which a lower priced secretary could handle, etc. Perhaps the answer is a simple as Dr. Crowe severs at the pleasure of the BOE, a board noted for its nepotism, cronyism and having members who are employed by the McCormac Administration.
It is a sad commentary on the voters in this township that while they bemoan their tax burdens, they show almost total apathy when it comes to voting on school board budgets. Additionally, go to most BOE meetings and see how few community members come to those meetings to question the Board/Administration on their spending and plans to reduce expenditures. On the other side of that equation, those with the special interest are always there to put pressure on the Board/Administration.
Perhaps, if Woodbridge changes the current regime this community lives under, this coming November, Trenton will change its view of this municipality. What do we have to lose, except a self-styled monarch for life!