Though a board member for the Edison public schools, I write this letter as an individual, and it does not necessarily represent the views of board members.
Edison taxpayers and students are being cheated by the New Jersey state Legislature by its failure to implement the School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) of 2008. Based on the state’s “estimated” 2016 student enrollment of 14,758 (actual enrollment is 15,680 as of Sept. 30, 2016), Edison’s equalized valuation of $15,665,351,307, and the aggregate income of $3,985,987,941, the Edison School District should receive for 2016-17 “uncapped aid” of $37,051,030, according to the SFRA law passed by the Legislature in 2008. However, the Legislature has given Edison “capped aid” of $14,035,490, or a deficit of $23,015,540.
Looked at from another perspective, Edison schools receive actual state aid per student of $951, instead of their “uncapped aid” per student of $2,511, a deficit per student of $1,560. Edison gets 37.9 percent of the uncapped aid we are entitled to by the SFRA.
Where does all this money go to that is withheld by the state from Edison taxpayers and students? Most of it is directed to “adjustment aid,” a $600 million “discretionary” fund used by legislators for “hold harmless” aid for districts that would have lost money under the SFRA, or to fund pet educational projects of legislators.
The Edison School District is not the only district being shortchanged from their entitlement state aid. But of the 592 districts receiving aid, Edison is one of the lowest 50 districts in the state on the basis of receiving only 37.9 percent of their SFRA entitlement aid. On the other hand, there are favored districts that receive 200 percent or more of their uncapped aid. For example, Asbury Park gets $10,929 aid per student over their SFRA entitlement, and their wealthy next-door neighbor district of Deal Boro receives $9,839 in additional aid per student.
No wonder there are screams to reform the “reform” funding system of state aid. There is no need for more “reform.” Execute the School Funding Reform Act of 2008, and you will have a “fair” system of funding state aid.
Being cheated of $23 million dollars in state aid year after year after year restricts our ability to provide for the needs of our students and our greatly overcrowded school facilities.
Here’s a message to New Jersey state legislators: Stop flouting the law, abolish adjustment aid and implement the SFRA law now. Our students and taxpayers of Edison and the “unfavored” districts of the state deserve no less than the “favored” districts.
Frank Heelan, Ed.D.
Edison
