South Brunswick Assemblyman Criticizes Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop Over School Funding

South Brunswick, NJ - A state Assemblyman who represents South Brunswick criticized Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop Friday, saying South Brunswick taxpayers are having to subsidize amenities for Jersey City public schools.

“He’s at it again. Mayor Steve Fulop exploits taxpayers from across the state, and even his own constituents, by continually failing to be transparent regarding his Jersey City schools. This time it is his announcement about new school openings," said Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R-Somerset) in a statement his office released Friday. “Certainly, on the surface, the opening of any structure dedicated to education and learning is to be celebrated. What’s different about these new structures is, unlike new school construction in most New Jersey towns, they weren’t paid for by the local community. These new schools were paid for 100 percent by the state."

What Ciattarelli is referencing is the opening of the brand-new Dr. Maya Angelou Public School, a new elementary school that opened in Jersey City Thursday to much fanfare. The school was built by New Jersey's School Development Authority, which oversees the use of bond money dedicated to 31 school districts across the state that have been designated as high-need. These districts, of which Jersey City is one, were previously called Abbott districts, but are now called SDA districts.

The SDA spent $49.3 million building the 108,000-square-foot Maya Angelou School, which is part of $329 million total the state agency is shelling out in Jersey City. The next school to open will be the Patricia M. Noonan Elementary School in the Jersey City Heights, also built with SDA bond money.

“As terribly flawed and blatantly unfair the distribution of K-12 state aid, the distribution of new school construction aid is even worse," said Ciattarelli. "Completely unknown by many is the fact that the state bears 100 percent of the costs for school construction and renovation in several districts around state. Jersey City is one of them."

“What makes any community especially great, given the property tax crisis in most communities, is paying its own way," Ciattarelli continued. "It’s time for Jersey City to start doing just that. Jersey City residents, if they knew the truth, would agree, I’m sure. In the meantime, Mayor Fulop should give a little credit where credit is due – to New Jersey taxpayers statewide who pay for his schools."

In an announcement sent out this week, Fulop boasted about Jersey City's economic success and the amenities at the Maya Angelou School, including a technology lab, a media center, and a STEM lab. The school is also air conditioned. Meanwhile, Ciattarelli says, Manville, in his district, remains the 12th most underfunded school district in the state.

"Hard-working communities without such amenities in their own schools are paying for Mayor Fulop’s amenities. How is this fair, right or justifiable?" the Assemblyman asked. “We all want our kids to have the best schools. But a community that proclaims itself to be in an economic boom, as Mayor Fulop recently did, should not have its schools so heavily subsidized. Reform is long overdue."

Ciattarelli represents New Jersey's Legislative District 16, which includes South Brunswick, Princeton, Montgomery, Hillsborough, Millstone (Somerset), Flemington and Branchburg.