Tea Party to Host Discussion on School Funding

The Montville Area Tea Party has scheduled an evening of presentations with State Sen. Michael Doherty (R-23) and former gubernatorial candidate Steve Lonegan for 7 p.m. Wednesday at to discuss an alternative school funding proposal and how court decisions affect the state.

Doherty has proposed an amendment that would have state income tax distributed to schools based on enrollment so the amount of state aid per child in each district would be the same, instead of that allocates more funding for poorer districts.

According to a calculator on a website for Doherty's proposal, "Fair School Funding Amendment SCR-162," Montville will get back $30,792,272 each year for schools.

The presentation is one in a series around the state called "Courts Gone Wild," started by Americans for Prosperity Foundation, an organization that advocates for smaller government. Lonegan is state director of the foundation's New Jersey chapter.

State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio, Montville's representative, .

Montville School Board President Dr. Karen Cortellino said she attended another meeting on Doherty's proposal and said Wednesday's presentation should be enlightening and interesting, showing how the school funding formula could be looked at in a fairer light.