Sgt Anthony Park Association has joined up with other Neighborhood Associations in the Heights to present a Board Of Education Candidate Forum this Thursday, 10th of October.

Jersey City Board Of Education Election 2019

• The BOE is an unpaid, volunteer board
• 5 seats of the 9 person board are up for election
• . There are(3) three year terms and (2) one year terms
• 11 people are running
• There are two 'slates' of candidates running together - BUT everyone gets voted on individually - not by slate.

What Does the BOE Do and Why Do l Care?

• The BOE is solely responsible for managing the funding of Jersey City school. This is their biggest responsibility.
  (google tip: Jersey City BOE funding)
• The BOE will be hiring a new superintendent this coming year after last year's BOE did not renew our previous superintendent's contract.
  (google tip: Franklin Walker & Marsha Lyles)
• The BOE decides what the tax levy should be to fund the schools.
  (google tip: payroll tax & school levy)
• The BOE puts forth and approves the budget for all jersey city public schools. This is about 609 million this year. As context - the Jersey City budget is: 598 million.
  (google tip: civic parent website archives)
• The BOE holds public meetings and has input/oversees all sorts of things - including school facilities.
  (google tip: Jersey City BOE meetings, Harry Moore school)

Some Additional History and Context:

• Jersey City regained local control in 2017 after being one of three NJ cities who were under state intervention.
• There is a LONG history of local underfunding of our public school system in Jersey City. The Education Law Center estimates that the JCBOE was already $100 million under adequacy funding' and has been for years.
• Development deals involving 'abatements' from the past have lessened the amount of local money that has been allocated to schools. Most abatements were awarded years ago, but continue to impact school funding.
• Governor Murphy recently redid the funding models for school districts to make funding more equitable across the state. Jersey City will lose 27 million per year (for 5 years) for a total loss of about $150 million per year=
• Last spring, 450+ teachers and school staff were given pink slips. Approx 100 found other employment, many were were eventually reinstated and the rest are no longer JCBOE employees (reports say 100+). There are also new guidelines for numbers of administrators and support staff per school which has caused a decline of school support staff at all schools.
• The payroll tax was passed this year specifically to replace some of the lost funding for schools. This was a hotly debated issue and specific companies sued to have it blocked. Their lawsuit was unsuccessful but they still actively oppose the tax.

See you at the meeting!

Sgt. Anthony Park Association
 

*many thanks to Brian Rans and other neighborhood volunteers who have helped coordinate and provided flyers and information.