Sweeney, Greenstein, DeAngelo, Benson Tour Monroe Township High School Touting Increased School Aid

TRENTON – Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senator Linda Greenstein, Assemblyman Wayne Deangelo and Assemblyman Daniel Benson toured Monroe Township High School today and participated in a roundtable discussion on school funding while praising local school officials, teachers and parents for their support in gaining a substantial increase in school aid from the new school funding formula passed in July.

“One of our most cherished responsibilities is providing a quality education for every student in each and every community throughout New Jersey,” said Senator Sweeney (D-Gloucester/Salem/Cumberland). “Full and fair funding is paramount in providing the resources and the support our educators need to ensure our students are receiving the best educational opportunities to succeed in life.  That is why I fought so hard to fund the formula so that districts like Monroe Township that have increased enrollment receive the money they deserve so that state aid goes where it is needed most.”

Monroe Township received an extra $2 million in aid this year, an increase of nearly 61 percent.

“To see all of our dedication and hard work we put towards providing fair funding for our students come to fruition is extremely gratifying,” said Senator Greenstein (D-Mercer/Middlesex).  “Monroe Township is a reflection of what the new school funding formula set out to do and I am proud to be a part of something that will provide such a positive impact in lives of our students and communities.”

“The school funding increase this year was well-deserved by all school districts. We can see today in Monroe that it has allowed them to do more for their students,” said DeAngelo (D-Mercer, Middlesex). “Ensuring adequate funding to meet educational needs is an ongoing conversation. A conversation that is best had directly with the teachers and staff who work hard each day to help students achieve their goals.”

“It was a pleasure to visit Monroe School and be a part of the today’s discussion,” said Benson (D-Mercer, Middlesex).  “This was an opportunity to measure the impact of the increased school aid school districts received this year. It has helped but there is more to be done for school districts that have been chronically underfunded for eight years.”

“Senate President Sweeney and Senator Greenstein recognized that the school funding formula was broken, and the quality of education was suffering for many children throughout the state,” said Monroe Township Mayor Gerald Tamburro.  “Their commitment to fixing the formula shows their steadfast commitment to education, to our students and to the future of New Jersey.”

“Senator Greenstein and I met with Senate President Sweeney in 2016 to begin this statewide campaign for fair school funding for our children and taxpayers here in Monroe, ” said Monroe Township Mayor Gerald W. Tamburro.  “This is a important achievement and I am proud to have fought alongside our legislators, the Township Council, school district administrators, Board of Education members – and most importantly –  the parents and advocates who championed our cause for so long.”

“We cannot thank Senate President Sweeney and Senator Greenstein enough for fighting for our teachers and our students,” said acting Monroe Township Superintendent Robert Goodall.  “This substantial boost in aid was sorely needed and has granted us the opportunity to obtain the resources needed to provide the best quality education to our students. So many of our community members, current and past Board of Education members and school community have advocated for a long time for equitable funding for our township and school district.”

The current state budget increases school aid by $347 million, continuing the ramp-up to full funding led by Senator Sweeney last year. School districts in 17 of New Jersey’s 21 counties will receive a net increase in funding in the upcoming school year, delivering increases for school districts that educate 72 percent of the state’s schoolchildren.

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