BOE Tackles School Funding Problems

The Howell Township Board of Education is tackling a problem that affects residents not only in the township but throughout the state.

Working with the New Jersey School Boards Association the local board is looking to find new solutions for school funding without leaning so heavily on the money coming from property taxes. As part of that effort the Community Interaction Committee will be holding a meeting on Tuesday to inform residents about what is being done and what they can do to help. 

The problem was described in a letter sent home to parents and attached to this story saying, "The inadequate allocation of existing state resources must end," and added, "We need a more equitable funding plan to lower property tax levies and reduce the burden on our residents."

Superintendent Enid Golden said the meeting is a good opportunity for the community to get involved and help themselves at the same time. "We're hoping to have people come out because at that meeting we're going to start an advocacy program," she said. "We could look at what other states are doing and start looking at other ways to fund education which we really feel has to be done."

Golden called the current system a "regressive tax," and said she believed there are other ways to fund the schools without hurting the wallets of taxpayers as much. 

Board member John Van Noy said he believed with enough interest from the community they could see changes at the state level. "It's a real opportunity for the community to be involved. Not just hear from us but for them to be involved in knowing that there really is hope in property tax relief if we work together to highlight the things that could change in terms of funding and then present a proposal to the legislature."

Van Noy has been active in bringing the board's message to the state and national levels and said those efforts have seen success so far. "The School Boards Association already agreed with the resolution that we proposed to them and said most of the elements are already in their policy," he said. "We expect they will involve others and permit me to present to other boards at the delegate assembly to get involved with it."

Tuesday's meeting will be another step in a process Van Noy said he hoped would end with a resolution going in front of the State Assembly. 

Golden said she hoped to have the community outside of the schools involved in the process as well. She said a letter was sent to the Equestra community to get their input as well. Last year the residents in Equestra were among the most vocal about tax increases experienced by residents. 

The meeting is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. To RSVP email Trudy Stevenson or call 732-751-2480 ext. 3831.