Doherty to Hold Town Hall Meeting in West Amwell on “Fair School Funding” Plan
Senator Michael Doherty, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, announced today that he will hold a town hall meeting on his “Fair School Funding” plan. The town hall meeting will be held Thursday, September 15 at 7:30 P.M. in the West Amwell Town Hall at 150 Rocktown-Lambertville Road, West Amwell, N.J.
The Senator has proposed a new school funding formula that is fair and equitable to all students in the state; urban, suburban and rural. The new formula be would implemented by constitutional amendment that would have to approved by the voters.
Doherty Praises A.G.’s Investigation of Elizabeth School District, Urges That Probe Be Expanded Statewide
Senator Michael Doherty, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, commended Attorney General Paula Dow for her investigation of allegations of corruption and fraud in the National School Lunch Program in the Elizabeth school district. According to published reports in the Star-Ledger, the president of the Elizabeth Board of Education, a school principal, and a supervisor of custodians, all have children enrolled in the free or reduced price lunch program, even though their incomes appear to significantly exceed the level needed to qualify for the program.
Doherty Asks Commissioner of Education Cerf to Investigate Elizabeth School Lunch Case
Senator Michael Doherty, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, has sent a letter to New Jersey Acting Commissioner of Education Christopher Cerf asking him to investigate allegations of fraud in the National School Lunch Program by the Elizabeth school district detailed in a published report by the Star-Ledger.
Click here to view a PDF of the letter from Doherty to Cerf.
Doherty said: “The program that provides free or reduced price lunches to needy children is certainly important to ensure that those children have the proper nutrition during the school day. Sadly, it seems that cynical officials have expropriated the program for their own selfish needs.
Doherty Asks A.G. Dow to Investigate School Lunch Fraud in Elizabeth
Expose by Star-Ledger Uncovers Fraud at Highest Levels
Senator Michael Doherty, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, has sent a letter to New Jersey Attorney General Paula Dow asking her to investigate allegations of corruption and fraud in the National School Lunch Program in the Elizabeth school district. According to published reports in the Star-Ledger, the president of the Elizabeth Board of Education, a school principal, and a supervisor of custodians, all have children enrolled in the free or reduced price lunch program, even though their incomes appear to significantly exceed the level needed to qualify for the program.
Click here to view a PDF of the letter from Doherty to Dow.
Doherty stated, “If the Star-Ledger story is true, it appears that highly paid school officials in Elizabeth are gaming the system for their own personal enrichment. Perhaps of greater importance, under New Jersey’s system for funding schools, enrolling a student in the free and reduced price lunch program triggers an “At Risk” designation for the student, which results in an additional $6,000-7,000 of state school aid for each student enrolled in the program. This additional school aid, which can exceed hundreds of millions of dollars per year, is collected from taxpayers throughout the state.”
Doherty Secures Funds for Open Space Acquisition
Senator Michael Doherty, a member of the senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, announced today that he has secured additional funds for open space acquisition, farmland preservation and historical preservation in Warren and Hunterdon Counties. Governor Christie signed the bill authorizing the transfer of the funds Wednesday.
Doherty to Present His “Fair School Funding” Plan at Milton Friedman Day Luncheon
Plan Would Provide Equal Aid to All Students Per the NJ Constitution
Senator Michael Doherty, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, will deliver a presentation at the Milton Friedman Luncheon to be held at Vitale’s restaurant in Teaneck, New Jersey. The luncheon will honor what would have been Professor Friedman’s 99th birthday.
In response to the State Supreme Court’s decree, earlier this year, that the taxpayers of New Jersey spend an additional $500 million on chronically failing inner city schools, Senator Doherty is advancing a school funding plan based on a provision in the state constitution. The “Fair School Funding” plan would guarantee that every child equal school aid, regardless of their place of residence.
Doherty Praises Borough of Oceanport’s Support of Fair School Funding Solution
Senator Michael Doherty, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement regarding the Borough of Oceanport’s support of his Fair School Funding Solution:
“The Borough of Oceanport’s officials elected by the taxpayers to represent their interests have passed a resolution supporting a fair school funding formula that treats all children across the state equally. Those duly elected officials of the Borough of Oceanport in Monmouth County have acknowledged the language in the state constitution is clear: state aid must be distributed equally on a per student basis.
Doherty Praises Borough of Closter’s Support of Fair School Funding Solution
Senator Michael Doherty, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement regarding the Borough of Closter’s support of his Fair School Funding Solution:
“The Borough of Closter’s officials elected by the taxpayers to represent their interests have passed a resolution supporting a fair school funding formula that treats all children across the state equally. The elected officials of Closter in Bergen County have acknowledged the language in the state constitution is clear: state aid must be distributed equally.
Doherty Praises Borough of Tenafly and Saddle Brook Board of Education’s Support of Fair School Funding Solution
Senator Michael Doherty, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement regarding the Borough of Tenafly and the Saddle Brook Board of Education’s support of his Fair School Funding Solution:
“The Borough of Tenafly and the Saddle Brook Board of Education, elected by taxpayers to represent the interests of their constituents, have passed a resolution supporting a fair school funding formula that treats all children across the state equally. The elected officials in Saddle Brook and Tenafly have acknowledged the language in the state constitution is clear: state aid must be distributed equally.
Doherty Announces Senator Gerald Cardinale Joins the “Fair School Funding Act” As Co-Sponsor
Senator Michael Doherty, a member of the Senate Budget and Appropriation Committee, announced today that that the Senior Republican member of the Senate Judiciary Committee agreed join him as a co- sponsor of SCR-162, “The Fair School Funding Act.”
