Schneck Urges Fair School Funding in Manasquan

A local assembly candidate urged the governing body of the borough of Manasquan on Monday to consider adopting a resolution calling for a new school funding formula.

David Schneck, a Belmar resident who is the Libertarian Party's state assembly candidate for New Jersey's 30th legislative district, spoke to the Manasquan mayor and council during the public portion of their Oct. 3 meeting. 

"The school funding formula we have now is unconstitutional," Schneck said. "I respectfully urge you to take a look at this."

Schneck offered the governing body a sample resolution to consider for adoption. The resolution calls for support of a Fair School Funding Bill sponsored by New Jersey Senator Mike Doherty (R-23).

The Fair School Funding Bill calls for the equal distribution of state educational aid. According to Doherty's www.fairschoolfunding.com, that would equal approximately $7,500 per student in the state. 

Schneck explained that, under the new funding formula, Manasquan would stand to gain in excess of $6.7 million in school funding.

Resolutions in support of Fair School Funding have been passed by governing bodies of both Sea Girt and Belmar.

In June, Schneck wrote an , explaining why he felt the measure was good for the borough of Belmar.

The sample resolution reads as follows:

WHEREAS, the ___________________ believes that every child should have equal resources of state aid distributed by the legislature for an education in the State of New Jersey by utilizing a fair school funding mechanism; and

WHEREAS, the current distribution of state aid for education to the schools has not been distributed in a fair and equitable manner to provide property tax relief to all the citizens of the State of New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, Article JIL, Paragraph 1, of the New Jersey State Constitution states, "The powers of government shall be divided among three distinct branches, the legislative; executive, and judicial. No person or persons belonging to or constituting one branch shall exercise any of the powers properly belonging to either of the others, except as expressly provided in this Constitution;" and

WHEREAS, Article VIII, Section IV, Paragraph 1, of the New Jersey State Constitution states, "the Legislature shall provide for the maintenance and support of a thorough and efficient system of free public schools for the instruction of all children in the State between the ages of five and eighteen year;" and

WHEREAS, Article VIII, Section IV, Paragraph 2, of the New Jersey State Constitution states, "the fund for the support of free public schools ... shall be annually appropriated to the support of free public schools, and for the equal benefit of all the people of this State;" and

WHEREAS, Article VIII, Section I, Paragraph 7.a. of the New Jersey State Constitution states, the income tax is to be "annually appropriated ... exclusively for the purpose of reducing or offsetting property taxes;" and

WHEREAS, this body can no longer bear the burden of the continued diversion of its fair share of state school aid for the students between the ages of five and eighteen years of age who reside within this jurisdiction.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the ____________ do hereby call upon the Legislature of the State of New Jersey to fulfill its constitutionally assigned duty to distribute the state aid for education to the school districts in this state in a fair manner that is for the equal benefit of all the people of the state and not by means that are prejudiced by the actions of special interests that may have been presented before the Court or other venue.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Clerk of this entity is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to Governor Chris Christie, Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean Jr., Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce.