Bridge The Gap Colls

Community, Responsibility, Compassion

Thank you for your question and your advocacy on behalf of state funding! Progress, whether incremental or large, should be championed. Assembly Bill 5966 addresses some gaps and issues in the current school funding formula. I definitely appreciate the sections of the bill that focus on budgeting clarity for timing and planning purposes. I support the funding formula changes that make planning school year to school year easier and more transparent. The ability of the Board of Education to plan knowing that numbers won’t swing wildly in either direction will help our administration, staff, and students feel safe that programs won’t disappear year-to-year, especially if the budget is done properly and thoughtfully. The updates regarding earlier notification will also allow our Board and administration to plan earlier out in case of shortages or changes in the amount we receive. The bill allows flexibility in planning, as well as additional time to plan. The part of the bill that calls for the Funding Portal is also of particular interest - allowing our community and the communities around us to understand school funding better can only led to better, more informed community members. No bill is perfect - progress that insists on perfection will get us nowhere. It keeps us with our current situation which hasn’t served Collingswood well in the past. This bill can be a stepping stone to a more fair, equitable, and transparent school funding process. Thanks again!

Community, Responsibility, Compassion

Thank you for reaching out to us to get our thoughts on the new funding formula bill. I have read the bill, and after reading the bill, I looked at your overview of it, which was very helpful, as it was clear and factual. Personally, I fully support the bill, and I feel that it does move us in the direction that makes sense. It does seem to provide more understanding and more flexibility, and it does seem to prevent snapshot scenarios that could negatively impact the budget. It also seems to open the opportunity for the community to better understand the funding formula, which offers more transparency. It's clear that change is needed and it’s clear we need to continue the advocacy work that’s been ongoing. I greatly appreciate all the advocacy work, especially from members of the community this past year. It’s necessary and needs to continue. It also seems obvious, given the significant strains of the past four years, and significant reductions to staff and programs in the past four years, that the level of advocacy that has taken place in the last year from ours and surrounding communities is having a positive impact. It seems that it has gotten the attention of lawmakers in the state, who seem to be trying modify the formula with good intentions. When it comes to advocacy, the more people involved, the better and I look forward to being a part of and in support of that ongoing advocacy work. Thanks again, and always happy to have a face-to-face conversation.

Community, Responsibility, Compassion

Thank you both so much for this detailed explanation of A5966. Your breakdown of this bill will really help the Collingswood community digest the complexities of this legislation in such a way that will enable residents to truly understand how this applies to the challenges that face our district. Clearly, advocacy such as yours has convinced lawmakers to finally stop kicking the can down the road and to act now to bring some relief to our state’s school districts. The past three years have certainly been a whirlwind of learning for me. Budgets are so complicated and Beth Ann Coleman has done a great job of explaining the complexities of the situation that Collingswood, along with surrounding small districts, faces. Having sat on the Board through three tense budget years now, I appreciate the importance of the changes that A5966 brings. Provisions such as earlier notification of aid numbers, the lengthening of budget submission and modification deadlines, and the expansion of LFS calculations from a one to a three-year period will take some pressure off of district leadership and increase the chances of state aid numbers that better reflect the needs of Collingswood. I, personally, will do my part to contact Assemblymen Moen and Spearman and Senator Cruz-Perez and urge that they support this bill’s passage - and I will urge others to do the same! However, we all recognize that this bill is not perfect and will not solve all of the fiscal challenges facing Collingswood School District. It is therefore our continued responsibility as a district to be as responsible with our spending as we can be. I believe that means investing primarily in student-facing positions and the retention and even expansion of programs, courses, and supports that directly benefit the students of Collingswood. Sometimes that may mean facing tough budgetary decisions elsewhere. But we must remember that we are a small district. If there’s only so much money, we must put it toward students first. I am hopeful about A5966’s passage and the benefits it could bring to Collingswood. Thank you both so much for your advocacy and please let me know if you would like to discuss this further!

Equity, Community, Excellence

I have been following Bridge the Gap and I appreciate all of your advocacy and determination to keep the community informed about complex funding issues. I have also been following the NJ Fair Funding Collective (NJFCC) and agree with Kellie Hinkle's thoughts on Assembly Bill 5966. In her recent email to Assembly Majority Leader Greenwald's staff, she highlighted two positive aspects of the bill-- the December timeline for sharing minimum state aid and the creation of the NJ Education Funding Portal-- and called for a full reevaluation of SFRA. I too believe the bill is necessary but not sufficient and I will absolutely advocate for improvements in public education funding, whether I am elected to the Collingswood BOE or not. If I am elected, I will collaborate with other district boards to continue pressuring the state. This bill and the recent lifting of the 2% cap are the result of coalitions like Bridge and Gap and NJFCC demanding action. Funding is a crucial issue right now, particularly because we cannot assume the federal government will provide the level of support that it has in the past. There is also the very real threat of funding being tied to policy changes that target vulnerable children. We have seen the Trump administration withhold funding at both the university and K-12 levels for things like DEI policy, support for immigrant learners, and even athletes' awards. It is therefore critical that we act quickly and definitively to support public education and protect all students. Thanks for all of your work!

Equity Commitment Growth

Thank you for the tireless advocacy you’ve done on behalf of our schools. I’ve learned so much from your work on how New Jersey’s school funding system creates uncertainty for districts. The research and resources you’ve shared through Bridge the Gap highlight how essential it is for districts like Collingswood to have a funding formula that is equitable, predictable, and aligned with the needs of students. Assembly Bill 5966 isn’t a solution to the broader funding issue in the state, but I believe it would help our district plan and prepare. Knowing state aid numbers earlier in the year and moving toward a more stable and fair funding formula would give districts the ability to plan responsibly and ensure resources are directed appropriately. Advocating for improvements in school funding has been and will continue to be a priority for me as a member of the Board. During my first term, I’ve tried to call attention to how the current formula leaves communities like Collingswood vulnerable. I’ve joined in statewide advocacy efforts to push for adjustments that provide more stability, adequacy, and fairness for our schools. If re-elected, I will continue to use my role on the Board to amplify those concerns, to work in partnership with borough and state leaders, and to ensure that Collingswood’s story is heard in these important conversations. Thank you again for your leadership on this issue and for giving us tools to understand how funding decisions affect our schools. I look forward to continuing to work alongside you to push for lasting, meaningful improvements to how New Jersey funds its schools.