Proposed Legislation Could Eliminate Gloucester K-8 Schools

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ - Lawmakers say they have a plan to fix New Jersey's fiscal crisis, restore the stability of the pension system and save tens of billions of dollars for taxpayers, and it includes closing the Gloucester Township K-8 Public School District.

Gloucester Township is one of 300 districts named in a 27-bill package that would be eliminated. The bills also would create a pilot program testing the viability of countywide school districts.

The package, known as the "Path to Progress" bills, was unveiled by Senate President Steve Sweeney, Sens. Paul Sarlo and Steve Oroho and Assembly Majority Leader Lou Greenwald.

Sweeney said the bills are intended to provide stability to a state with the highest property taxes, the second-largest unfunded pension liability, the second-worst credit rating and the fifth-highest overall tax burden in the nation.

Earlier this week, the Gloucester Township Board of Education approved a $118 million budget that includes a tax rate increase of over 1 percent, according to The Sicklerville Sun.

The district is home to 6,111 students, according to Niche.com. They go to a total of 11 schools, including eight elementary and three middle schools. High school students are enrolled in the Black Horse Pike Regional School District, which is not listed as one of the districts that might disappear.

The bill package comes just after lawmakers killed a bill to legalize marijuana in New Jersey. Read more: NJ Marijuana Legalization Bill Is Dead: Voters Will Decide

"These reforms can have an historic impact that will produce an unprecedented amount of sustained savings," Sweeney said. "They will help make New Jersey more affordable, especially for hard working middle class families."

Read more here: 27 Proposed Laws Pushed: Nearly 300 NJ School Districts May Go

See related:
Consolidation Still Possible For Gloucester Township K-8 Schools
Gloucester Township School District May Disappear In State Plan