After supporting murphy platform, toms river, brick school democrats having buyer's remorse

Local Democrats to Blame for School Aid Cuts

TOMS RIVER-Despite multimillion dollar shortfalls across school districts in Ocean County, some of which openly supported Governor Phil Murphy’s gubernatorial campaign, the NJEA this week applauded the devastating cuts that are hitting Ocean County.

In a news release, the NJEA praised Gov. Phil Murphy for signing a new school funding bill into law.

“The bill modifies school funding law to eliminate adjustment aid and State aid growth limit, and it allows adjustment to the tax levy growth limitation for certain school districts. The new law puts New Jersey’s schools on a fair path toward full funding as defined by the School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) of 2008,” the NJEA said

“By signing this school funding bill into law, Gov. Murphy continues to stand up for public education and the people that dedicate their lives to educating our youth,” said NJEA President Marie Blistan.

NJEA’s officers applauded the governor and the Legislature for keeping school funding a top priority during this year’s budget process the released stated.

Now two school districts in Ocean County that have openly supported the Murphy regime and openly boasted their loyal Democratic ties to Trenton are paying a hefty price.

While some districts across the state are seeing funding nearly double next year, Brick and Toms River are seeing decreases.

Although school board elections are supposed to remain nonpartisan, Toms River and Brick are political battlegrounds where openly aligned and establishment Democrats run the show on the board.

Also to blame is the NJEA who gave Murphy a hero’s welcome at last year’s NJEA annual conference.

“Thank you Gov. Murphy, Sen. President Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Coughlin for passing a budget that supports public schools, students, and school employees,” the NJEA touted after the state budget, with educational funding cuts was released. “NJEA members have a lot to celebrate in this budget, and none of these victories would have been possible without their advocacy.”

“When we fully fund our public schools, our children learn and our communities thrive” said NJEA President Marie Blistan. “By signing this school funding bill into law, Gov. Murphy continues to stand up for public education and the people that dedicate their lives to educating our youth.”

This week, school officials in Toms River, after supporting the Murphy platform are quietly leaning on the local media to aid them in their fight against Murphy’s budget cuts.

An email sent on Wednesday pleaded for local media coverage after the NJEA and the local school board shot themselves in the proverbial foot with their support of Murphy’s platform from the Toms River Regional School District.

“Local media friends:

“As you know, our school district has been engaged in a years-long fight for both state funding reform and to prevent additional decreases in state aid to TRRS, a fight that that grown especially urgent in recent weeks. A theme of last night’s special board meeting was establishing a strong spirit of community and solidarity, one that transcends any interest not directly related to the well-being of our students and the greater Toms River community. We simply cannot overstate how crucial this matter is to our district and taxpayers—“devastating” is not hyperbolic when describing the short- and long-term effects of any decreases in district funding.

“With that said, we humbly ask for your continued support in this effort, to help us share the news about what is happening relative to reductions in state aid and its far-reaching and negative effects. Our district leaders pride themselves on their availability, and never more so than now– Superintendent David Healy, Business Administrator William Doering, and our administrative team is readily available for online, in-print, and/or radio interviews, and to help provide whatever content and context is required to further inform your readers, subscribers, and listeners about the implications of funding reductions.

“We are so appreciative of how each of you has helped us share the good news of what is happening at Toms River Regional Schools. During this time of adversity and unease, we are sure that your continued coverage on this matter will greatly assist us in this necessary fight to provide our students the services they deserve, and to ensure the success and prosperity of Toms River in the coming years. Thank you!

“Mike Kenny, Grant Writer”

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