Bloomfield Schools To Get $1 Million in Federal Money

The Bloomfield school district is slated to receive $1 million in federal grants after it had employed a politically-connected lobbying firm.

Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-8th District) announced the news today that Bloomfield is receiving $1,025,767 in federal money, which is coming from the $14.5 billion Title 1 education fund, according to a press release from the congressman's office.

The actualy grant money amount may be slightly adjusted according to a final formula, the press release states.

“As a former educator, I know the greatest disservice a school can do is to forsake those students who aren’t successful in the classroom,” said Pascrell in the press release. “That is why the federal government is providing resources to help schools reach students who are at risk of not realizing their full potential. These dollars will help children succeed in the classroom, and help public schools achieve their mission of providing quality education to all students.”

Pascrell taught high school history for 12 years, the press release said. He currently serves as a House Ways and Means Committee member

The grants, the press release stated, "are designated to help local education agencies provide financial assistance to school districts for services that improve the teaching and learning of children at risk of not meeting challenging academic standards, especially those children who reside in areas with high concentrations of children from low-income families."

The news on the large grant comes shortly after it was revealed that Bloomfield was one of nine New Jersey school districts to hire Caldwell lobbying firm, Millennium Strategies LLC, whose president is Ed Farmer, ex-chief of staff to Pascrell, according to a report from the news website, mycentraljersey.com.

Bloomfield was charged $7,500 by the lobbying firm last year, the report states.

The report also noted that it's growing trend for school districts to hire lobbyists.