Funding Advocacy Campaigns
2025
On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, LRHSD Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carol Birnbohm presented testimony to the New Jersey Department of Education’s Division of Finance and Business Services.
On Tuesday, January 14, 2025, LRHSD Board of Education Finance Chair David Stow presented testimony to the New Jersey Department of Education’s Division of Finance and Business Services.
LRHSD BOE President Charles Roseboro's letter to the New Jersey Department of Education’s Division of Finance and Business Services.
Originally developed by the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials, the report was tailored by LRHSD Business Administrator & Board Secretary Kara Huber to focus specifically on the district.
2024
- 4-15-24 Action Needed Now
- 3-19-24 Students Join Superintendent in Appeal to State Senate Over Cuts in State Funding
- 3-1-24 Important Message from Dr. Birnbohm
- 3-26-24 Momentum
- 3-1-24 Important Message from Dr. Birnbohm
4-15-24 Action Needed Now
LRHSD Students, Parents/Guardians and Staff,
Your action is needed!
The Senate has not (yet) moved on a bill which would help restore most of the state aid that is slated to be cut from LRHSD and 140 other school districts. Last week, the Assembly put forth Bill A4161 for full approval. The Assembly acted with the sense of urgency we need, as statutory deadlines to hold public hearings on the budget and renew staff are quickly approaching. Their swift actions are proof that our advocacy is working!
Now it is time for the Senate to act expeditiously to move their version of the bill (S3081) forward. The LRHSD has partnered with Save Our Schools NJ since 2018, and they have provided a simple solution for you to take action. Visit Save Our Schools NJ to send an email to all key senators. The entire process takes less than thirty seconds to complete.
The message below will be generated without the need to copy and paste. It can be sent without edits or modified to add your own comments. All key senators will receive the message upon clicking “Send Letter” found at the bottom of the page.
Remember, LRHSD Family, this is a legislative issue, and legislative issues require your activism.
Gratefully,
Dr. Carol L. Birnbohm
Superintendent of Schools
Lenape Regional High School District
Auto-generated message:
I'm contacting you today to urge your immediate action regarding bill S3081. It is imperative that this bill be posted to the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee without delay. Time is of the essence for school districts and the impact of this bill cannot be overstated.
Per New Jersey statute, school districts’ budgets must be passed on May 7th and staff MUST receive notifications about their employment status by May 15th. Without a sufficient funding solution to obtain the necessary revenue, 146 districts face massive staff layoffs, diminished student support and security, cuts to athletics, and increased fees for families already struggling financially.
I urge you to act today to prioritize the posting of bill S3081 to the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee. Your support in this matter is vital to the well-being and future success of our children in all of the S2 districts.
3-19-24 Students Join Superintendent in Appeal to State Senate Over Cuts in State Funding
Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD) Superintendent of Schools Dr. Carol Birnbohm spoke at the New Jersey Senate Budget and Appropriations Budget Hearing on Tuesday, March 19th at the New Jersey Institute of Technology in Newark, NJ. Dr. Birnbohm was joined by two 12th grade students, Samuel Levin and Daniel Leonard, of Cherokee High School.
Due to there being a limited number of speakers allowed at the Budget Hearing and knowing in advance that only one of the two students would be permitted to speak, the two classmates and friends collaborated on their testimony and decided that it would be Levin who would present while Leonard would be there in support.
Dr. Birnbohm and Levin spoke to the devastating effects that a proposed $4.69 million cut in State Funding would have on the LRHSD. This unprecedented reduction in State Aid in one year will inevitably impact programs and staffing.
Dr. Birnbohm was extremely proud of both of the students, “These young men exhibited leadership and courage as they advocated for their peers and our community. Their impassioned plea highlights their love for their teachers and their experiences in various clubs and activities, while at the same time demonstrates what a profound impact losing $4.69 million in State Aid would have on the people and activities they love. Their involvement is a true testament to the power that the voices of our youth can play in shaping the future.”
Governor Phil Murphy’s proposed State Budget calls for decreased funding for 140 school districts across New Jersey. Since 2018-2019, LRHSD has seen yearly decreases in State Funding totaling over $10 million.
3-1-24 Important Message from Dr. Birnbohm
Dear LRHSD Community,
Yesterday, we received the devastating news that our school funding for the 2024-2025 year will be gutted beyond what was ever anticipated. This is not the first time the school funding formula and subsequent legislation (Senate Bill S2) failed to provide for the students of LRHSD. For seven consecutive years, our district, along with around 200 others, has witnessed our local taxpayers' dollars being redirected to over 400 different school districts in NJ due to Senate Bill S2. It's disheartening, and it directly impacts our ability to provide for our students.
The S2 reductions were mandated to be gradual, to allow districts time to make incremental cuts to yearly budgets, which we have done. Despite implementing these gradual cuts, including but not limited to, reducing certain services, eliminating courtesy busing within 2 ½ miles, implementing neighborhood bus stops, pausing curriculum writing and textbook purchases, imposing athletic and activity fees, and the strategic reduction of staff through attrition, we are now facing an unexpected and substantial reduction in state aid of $4.69 million, almost 14 times more than what was mandated by Senate Bill S2!
To put this into perspective, our state aid, which was $29,261,292 in 2018-2019, has now plummeted to $18,931,779 for 2024-2025. With uncontrollable factors like increased healthcare costs, transportation, energy, inflation, and persistent underfunding of special education, our staff was already preparing for a budget hole in the millions. Now with this unprecedented reduction in state aid in one year, this canyon-sized hole demands that we reevaluate our plans and make deeper cuts that will inevitably impact programs and staffing. We will be communicating our new plans within the month.
While Governor Murphy claims his administration is the first to fully fund the formula, it's essential to know that this "full funding" involves taking millions of dollars in aid away from about 140 school districts, including ours. Many of you made the intentional decision to raise your families in the LRHSD region because of the first-class education provided here. Year after year reductions in funding made by our state leaders will jeopardize the high school experiences our students deserve.
We find ourselves at a critical juncture, and your voice matters. If you share my disappointment and frustration, I encourage you to reach out to our elected officials. Governor Murphy's proposed budget is not set in stone, and your input can make a difference. You can find all the necessary contact information on our Support Our Students page.
Let Governor Murphy and the chairs of the Budget, Appropriations, and Education Committees know how you feel about our school district losing $4.7 million. Enlist your local Legislative District representatives (7 & 8) to advocate for our students and ensure that no school district loses funding.
Your involvement has the power to positively impact the students of LRHSD, not just for now but for the future. Thank you for standing with us during this challenging time.
Thank you,
Dr. Carol L. Birnbohm
Superintendent of Schools
3-26-24 Momentum
Dear LRHSD Community,
Much has transpired since our last correspondence on March 1, 2024, regarding Governor Murphy’s proposed budget and the unexpected and substantial reduction in state aid of nearly $4.7 million.
Advocacy:
We appreciate the many parents, students, and staff who reached out to our elected officials. Many of you also contacted me directly to see what else you could do to correct this horrible injustice. It is truly remarkable to see our teenagers rise to the occasion during this endeavor and having them realize that their voices and actions are playing a critical role in the civic process.
We have been fervently communicating our message to those who have the power to enact change, as evidenced by our presentations at both Public Budget Hearings in the NJ Assembly and NJ Senate. Take a moment to view our Budget Advocacy video, and be sure to watch to the end to witness two LRHSD seniors who volunteered to passionately share their perspective with the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee (amazing!). We also testified at two separate hearings in front of the NJ Senate Education Committee. Members of our Board of Education had direct communication with elected officials and also attended meetings with school officials from dozens of other negatively affected districts.
Attention:
Your emails to elected officials are working…keep it going!
- Legislative District 7
- Senator Singleton met with us and voiced our concerns directly to the Acting Commissioner of Education and to his fellow leaders in his party. His office remains in constant contact with us to share his latest advocacy actions and news about bills he is sponsoring (S3058, S3072, S2434, S2071, S1410) to ensure all schools are funded appropriately.
- Legislative District 8
- Senator Tiver and Assemblyman Torrissi sent a letter on March 5, 2024, to Governor Murphy on our behalf and arranged meetings with our administrative and Board team.
- Assemblywoman Katz stays in constant contact with us and has joined sponsorship of a bill that would restore funding (A4160) to all 140 school districts, including LRHSD, that are losing state aid.
This is a legislative issue, and legislative issues require activism. We were reminded of this by LRHSD BOE Finance Committee Chair David Stow at our most recent Board of Education meeting, “We have one month to make our voices heard before I have to stand before this board again and give another presentation of our budget and talk about the numerous multiple cuts…the programs that we had to sacrifice and the devastation that happens not only to our staff but to our kids. It is not right. There is only one way to turn it around. Let your voice be heard. Go home and take that message to everybody."
Let your voice be heard and reach out to the key legislative leaders listed below and urge them to swiftly address the current crisis by fully reinstating our state aid. It's imperative this is done as soon as possible, in time for school districts to finalize their budgets in April. There will be cuts even if some or all of the state aid is returned to us, but those cuts will be less severe if our state aid is restored.
Senator Vin Gopal - Senate Education Committee Chair
(732) 695-3371
SenGopal@NJLeg.org
Senator Paul Sarlo - Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee Chair
(201) 804-8118
SenSarlo@NJLeg.org
Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt, Assembly Education Chair
(856) 435-1247
AswLampitt@NJLeg.org
Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin, Assembly Budget and Appropriations Chair
(973) 589-0713
AswPintorMarin@NJLeg.org
Gratefully,
Dr. Carol L. Birnbohm
Superintendent of Schools
3-1-24 Important Message from Dr. Birnbohm
Dear LRHSD Community,
Yesterday, we received the devastating news that our school funding for the 2024-2025 year will be gutted beyond what was ever anticipated. This is not the first time the school funding formula and subsequent legislation (Senate Bill S2) failed to provide for the students of LRHSD. For seven consecutive years, our district, along with around 200 others, has witnessed our local taxpayers' dollars being redirected to over 400 different school districts in NJ due to Senate Bill S2. It's disheartening, and it directly impacts our ability to provide for our students.
The S2 reductions were mandated to be gradual, to allow districts time to make incremental cuts to yearly budgets, which we have done. Despite implementing these gradual cuts, including but not limited to, reducing certain services, eliminating courtesy busing within 2 ½ miles, implementing neighborhood bus stops, pausing curriculum writing and textbook purchases, imposing athletic and activity fees, and the strategic reduction of staff through attrition, we are now facing an unexpected and substantial reduction in state aid of $4.69 million, almost 14 times more than what was mandated by Senate Bill S2!
To put this into perspective, our state aid, which was $29,261,292 in 2018-2019, has now plummeted to $18,931,779 for 2024-2025. With uncontrollable factors like increased healthcare costs, transportation, energy, inflation, and persistent underfunding of special education, our staff was already preparing for a budget hole in the millions. Now with this unprecedented reduction in state aid in one year, this canyon-sized hole demands that we reevaluate our plans and make deeper cuts that will inevitably impact programs and staffing. We will be communicating our new plans within the month.
While Governor Murphy claims his administration is the first to fully fund the formula, it's essential to know that this "full funding" involves taking millions of dollars in aid away from about 140 school districts, including ours. Many of you made the intentional decision to raise your families in the LRHSD region because of the first-class education provided here. Year after year reductions in funding made by our state leaders will jeopardize the high school experiences our students deserve.
We find ourselves at a critical juncture, and your voice matters. If you share my disappointment and frustration, I encourage you to reach out to our elected officials. Governor Murphy's proposed budget is not set in stone, and your input can make a difference. You can find all the necessary contact information on our Support Our Students page.
Let Governor Murphy and the chairs of the Budget, Appropriations, and Education Committees know how you feel about our school district losing $4.7 million. Enlist your local Legislative District representatives (7 & 8) to advocate for our students and ensure that no school district loses funding.
Your involvement has the power to positively impact the students of LRHSD, not just for now but for the future. Thank you for standing with us during this challenging time.
Thank you,
Dr. Carol L. Birnbohm
Superintendent of Schools
2021
- March 24th Marked as Day to Post on Social Media, Call and Email State Officials
- 3-11-21 Support from Elected Officials
- Resolution of OPRA Request & Possible Future Litigation Against State of NJ
March 24th Marked as Day to Post on Social Media, Call and Email State Officials
When: March 24, 2021
What:
- Call and/or Email Governor Murphy and NJ Legislators
- Use this sample email to contact New Jersey government officials
- Tag legislators on Twitter
- Use hashtags #NJSOS #StopStateAidCuts
- Make sure to use the @NJ_SOS tag along with tagging legislators
Let your voice be heard!
Why: To save the Lenape District and others from unjust budget cuts resulting from a flawed funding formula.
A Message from LRHSD Board of Education President Barry Fitzgerald
This is an unusual year and not a year for the “business as usual” attitudes from some elected officials when it comes to implementing state funding cuts. Throughout NJ and locally there have been some elected officials who joined us in our request to pause the cuts to our state funding, but not all. This is not a political party issue, it is a student issue, one that impacts every kid in the Lenape Region.
We are not alone in our demand for state funding for our students. We started a movement, right here in the Lenape region, a movement now which consists of over 130 school districts!
The Support our Students (NJSOS) group is calling March 24, 2021, Legislative Day for NJSOS. Let our voices be heard as we collectively send letters, use social media and make phone calls to our Governor’s office and NJ Legislators. Let them know we are not going away and we will be heard!
Here is a sample letter you can personalize to email, below are some short messages you can use for your brief phone call or tweets, and here is our website of email addresses, twitter handles and phone numbers.
Tweet or say them all or create your own:
- “COVID relief money is intended to make our schools safe for students and staff and to provide academic, emotional and social support for our students as we emerge out of this pandemic. COVID relief money cannot fill the hole created by your planned cuts to our state aid.”
- “Cutting state aid will have irrevocable and far-reaching consequences, hampering our ability to prepare students for success in college, careers and the workforce in a post-COVID-19 world.”
- “I am concerned about the negative impact S2 will have on our students. I urge all elected officials to take a positive action to address the critical issue of school funding by allocating full and fair funding for all.”
- “NJ is known for producing graduates prepared to succeed, the LRHSD is one of those districts which help NJ boast its recent #1 National Ranking. If our elected officials don’t find a better way to create revenue and to fix the flawed school funding formula, our district’s and our state’s great reputation for student success is at risk.”
- We ask for three things:
1. Pause state funding cuts caused by S2.
2. Work to update the antiquated school funding formula.
3. If a revised funding formula dictates the cuts are necessary, reestablish a better timeline for districts to manage the cuts within the capped tax levy.
- “S2 will not advance public education, it will not promote the achievement of all students and it is certainly not effective governance. Helping some students at the expense of others is wrong."
LRHSD Family, we need your help on March 24, 2021. Please mark your calendars and spend a few minutes that day to send an email, make a call or use social media to be heard.
Sincerely,
Barry Fitzgerald
President of the Board of Education
Lenape Regional High School District
3-11-21 Support from Elected Officials
Resolution of OPRA Request & Possible Future Litigation Against State of NJ
RESOLUTION OF THE LENAPE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION TO JOIN IN THE FILING OF AN OPEN PUBLIC RECORDS ACT REQUEST WITH, AND POSSIBLE FUTURE RELATED LITIGATION AGAINST, THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY CONCERNING THE CALCULATION AND ALLOCATION OF STATE AID
WHEREAS, the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 (SFRA), N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-1 et seq., reflects the current New Jersey law that governs State Aid to public school districts; and
WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey (State) has appropriated limited monies to fund such State Aid for public school districts; and
WHEREAS, the State arbitrarily determines how much State Aid to allocate to each school district, without regard to district need or ability to pay; and
WHEREAS, the Lenape Regional High School District is receiving substantially less State Aid than it otherwise should receive; and
WHEREAS, such disparate treatment is neither “equal” nor “equitable” and is without a rational basis; and
WHEREAS, the State should be transparent in how it calculates and allocates State Aid to each school district; and
WHEREAS, to protect the interests of its school children, each school district is entitled to obtain data and records from the State as to how the State calculates and allocates State Aid to each school district; and
WHEREAS, the Lenape Regional High School District Board of Education (the “Board”) believes that it is in the best interests of its residents, taxpayers, and school children to file an Open Public Records Act request with, and if subsequently determined necessary, related litigation against, the State of New Jersey, Department of Education and the Commissioner of Education (and such other parties as may be appropriate) for data and records as to how the State calculates and allocates State Aid to each school district.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board hereby joins in the filing of the attached Open Public Records Act (OPRA) request at no cost to the Board; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in the event the OPRA request is denied, the Board may subsequently elect join in the litigation against the State of New Jersey, Department of Education and the Commissioner of Education to obtain data and records from the State of New Jersey and its various Departments as to how the State calculates and allocates State Aid to each school district (“OPRA Litigation”); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Weiner Law Group, LLP (“Special Counsel”) is hereby appointed for the limited purposes of representing the Board in connection with the filing of the OPRA request jointly with other involved public school districts, and the potential future OPRA Litigation in connection with that OPRA request, if the Board elects to join in the OPRA Litigation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in the event that the Board elects to join in the OPRA Litigation, the Board hereby authorizes the Lenape Regional High School District Administration to cooperate with the Special Counsel to effectuate the Board’s role in the OPRA Litigation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that in the event that the Board elects to join in the OPRA Litigation, the Special Counsel’s fee for that representation shall be limited to $1,000.00, which represents the Board’s full share of the fees and costs associated with the OPRA Litigation, not including the cost of a subsequent appeal should that occur and should the Board elect to join in that appeal, pursuant to a retention letter to be executed between the Board and Special Counsel.
OPEN PUBLIC RECORDS ACT/COMMON LAW REQUEST
Please provide the following public record(s):
1. For each school year (beginning with the 2008/2009 school year, up to and including the 2019/2020 school year), provide the record(s), which reflect the calculations used to determine the Statewide (1) Property Value Rate and (2) Income Rate set forth in NJSA 18A:7F-52(c). Record(s) responsive to this request should include all numerical inputs and outputs for the calculations set forth in NJSA 18A:7F-52(c).
2. For each school year (beginning with the 2008/2009 school year, up to and including the 2019/2020 school year), provide the record(s), which reflect the calculations used to establish the Property Value Rate where equalization aid equals the Statewide available equalization aid for all districts determined according to the School Funding Reform Act had each school district’s local share equaled the product of the property value rate and the district’s equalized valuation and each county vocational school district’s local share equaled the product of the county vocational school district’s adequacy budget and the average local share, expressed as a percent, of the school districts located in the county. Record(s) responsive to this request should include all numerical inputs and outputs for the calculations set forth in NJSA 18A:7F-52(c).
3. For each school year (beginning with the 2008/2009 school year, up to and including the 2019/2020 school year), provide the record(s), which reflect the calculations used to establish the Income Rate where equalization aid equals the Statewide available equalization aid for all districts determined according to this act had each school district’s local share equaled the product of the income rate and the district’s income and each county vocational school district’s local share equaled the product of the county vocational school district’s adequacy budget and the average local share, expressed as a percent, of the school districts located in the county. Record(s) responsive to this request should include all numerical inputs and outputs for the calculations set forth in NJSA 18A:7F-52(c).
4. For each school year (beginning with the 2008/2009 school year, up to and including the 2019/2020 school year), provide the record(s), which reflect the calculations for Property Value Rate and Income Rate where the calculations did not result in equalization aid for all districts being equal to the Statewide available equalization aid. Record(s) responsive to this request should include all numerical inputs and outputs for the calculations set forth in NJSA 18A:7F-52(c).
5. In regards to requests 1 through 4 (above), if a computer program/software is utilized, please provide record(s) (beginning with the 2008/2009 school year, up to and including the 2019/2020 school year) detailing the algorithms or program coding used to compute the data.
6. For each school year (beginning with the 2008/2009 school year, up to and including the 2019/2020 school year), provide all adjustments made to the calculation of equalization aid (as calculated by N.J.S.A. 18A:7F-53) when EQAID (equalization aid) is less than zero. Please provide these record(s) for all school districts to which EQAID was calculated to be less than zero.
7. For each school year (beginning with the 2008/2009 school year, up to and including the 2019/2020 school year), provide the State Aid Notice(s) for each school district in New Jersey. Record(s) responsive to this request should include all “revised” notices as well.
2020
- 2-13-20 Lenape Region Community Forum Presentation
- 2-13-20 Lenape Region Holds Community Forum
- 2-13-20 LRHS Districts Unite for Community Forum
- A Message from LRHSD Board of Education President Barry Fitzgerald
- A Message from LRHSD Superintendent Dr. Carol Birnbohm
2-13-20 Lenape Region Community Forum Presentation
2-13-20 Lenape Region Holds Community Forum
Lenape Region School Districts Hold Community Forum to Address State Funding Cuts, Encourage Activism
Medford, NJ – The Lenape Regional High School District and all eight of the K-8 districts in the Lenape Region joined forces on Thursday night to raise awareness of how reductions in state aid through Senate Bill 2 (S2) impact nearly 21,000 students – and all taxpayers – in this region. Collectively, these Lenape Region districts will lose an estimated $23 million by the 2024-2025 school year under the state’s new public school funding plan.
Superintendents from Lenape Regional High School District, Evesham Township, Medford Township, Medford Lakes Borough, Mount Laurel Township, Shamong Township, Southampton Township, Tabernacle Township and Woodland Township addressed community members at an open forum, providing a sobering look at the near and long-term effects of funding cuts. Among other things, they warned of decreases in state aid leading to reductions in personnel, courtesy bussing, as well as fewer academic offerings and extracurricular activities.
“We are fiscally responsible districts, and we have worked even harder since the passing of S2 to institute cost-saving measures and think creatively to maximize our fiscal efficiency,” said Dr. Carol Birnbohm, Superintendent of the Lenape Regional High School District (LRHSD). “We are beginning to exhaust all options and know that reductions in school funding threaten to severely diminish the options and services we afford our students.
The superintendents urged all in attendance Thursday to get involved in advocating for a truly fair school funding formula to halt the drastic reductions in aid being made across the Lenape Region. All those interested in joining such efforts can visit www.lrhsd.org/JoinSOS to receive a template letter to government officials, a petition to sign and information about upcoming rallies.
Advocacy efforts are coordinated through the statewide coalition – the Support Our Students Advocacy Group – representing 1.4 million New Jersey public school students from more than 97 school districts statewide. This coalition was formed to create strength in numbers when spreading awareness of school funding cuts and working to urge state legislators to find a better way to fund New Jersey schools. The Lenape Region superintendents are founding members of SOS, with Southampton Superintendent Michael Harris the group’s leading organizer.
“Through our advocacy, we are urging our state’s leaders to work towards a solution that will ensure that every child and teen in New Jersey receives the education he or she deserves,” said Harris. “S2 as presently constructed is not the answer. It helps some students at the expense of others. We want a fair education for all. We want our region to continue priding itself on the reputation of its public schools.”
Since the passing of S2, the Lenape Region superintendents and other school leaders have worked together to advocate on behalf of their students. They most recently joined 59 other districts in class action OPRA requests to uncover how the funding formula for schools is now calculated. They pointed out that the formula is flawed, especially since aid is not increasing or decreasing proportionately to student populations. They specifically noted that LRHSD’s enrollment has decreased by 12% since the 2009-2010 academic year, yet uncapped School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) Aid decreased by 32%. Evesham’s enrollment decreased by 7.25% since the 2009-2010 academic year, but its aid decreased by 57%.
Revealing the hidden math behind the new school funding formula is among the top SOS advocacy goals. Those who join the effort by visiting www.lrhsd.org/JoinSOS will also help advocate for pausing the current cuts or extending the timeline to allow schools a longer adjustment period, as well as forming a Joint Committee to review the existing funding formula and consider solutions for moving forward to execute a fair education for all students throughout the state.
2-13-20 LRHS Districts Unite for Community Forum
Lenape Region School Districts Unite for Community Forum on February 13th to Address State Funding Cuts
Concerned Citizens Encouraged to Attend - Learn the “Facts” about Cuts and Suggestions for Activism
Medford, NJ - The Lenape Regional High School District and all eight of the K-8 districts in the Lenape Region – Evesham Township, Medford Township, Medford Lakes Borough, Mount Laurel Township, Shamong Township, Southampton Township, Tabernacle Township and Woodland Township – will join forces on Thursday, February 13th to host a Community Forum on state funding cuts negatively impacting these districts. Under the current state funding plan for New Jersey public schools, seven of these districts are set to lose more than a combined $23 million within seven years. The leaders among these districts have joined the statewide coalition –the Support Our Students Advocacy Group – representing all 1.4 million New Jersey public school students from more than 90 school districts statewide. This coalition was formed to create strength in numbers when spreading awareness of these cuts and working to urge state legislators to find a better way to fund New Jersey schools.
Event:
Community Forum on State Funding Cuts to Lenape Region School Districts
When:
Thursday, February 13th, 6:30 p.m.
Where:
Lenape High School Auditorium
235 Hartford Road Medford, NJ 08055
Details:
This Community Forum is open to all members of the community who are concerned about funding cuts to New Jersey schools, as well as members of the media. The evening will include remarks by the school district superintendents about the current state aid funding formula and its impact on the Lenape Region schools. It will also include time for sharing ideas to lobby legislators to consider a new plan that adequately funds ALL New Jersey schools.
A Message from LRHSD Board of Education President Barry Fitzgerald
I had the pleasure of participating in a conference call with other presidents of Boards of Education from throughout New Jersey last evening. This call reassured me that we are not alone in our demand for state funding for our students. We started a movement, right here in the Lenape region, a movement now which consists of 100 school districts! The Support our Students (NJSOS) group is conducting another phone and email blitz. Our calls bombarded the Governor’s office, and today, our calls will inform Senator Sweeney we are not going away, and we will be heard!
Please take two minutes out of your day to call and be heard, as the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee is holding their public hearings on the budget this week.
Those who participate should be calling Senator Sweeney’s West Deptford Office at: (856) 251-9801. To send an email, visit the Contact Your Legislator(s) link on Senate President Sweeney’s legislative biography page.
Here are some talking points for your brief phone call and email – pick one, say them all or create your own:
- “We have an allocation issue in NJ by sending dollars to programs other than all of our K-12 public schools. The students in New Jersey need to hear the Senator say he is going to shift funding to address the inequities created by the implementation of S2.”
- “I am concerned about the negative impact S2 will have on our students. I urge the members of the Senate work with the Governor and take a positive action to address the critical issue of school funding by allocating full and fair funding for all.”
- “NJ is known for producing graduates prepared to succeed, the LRHSD is one of those districts which help NJ boast its recent #1 National Ranking. If Senator Sweeney and the Governor don’t find a better way to create revenue and to fix the flawed school funding formula, our district’s and our state’s great reputation for student success is at risk.”
- “The Senator has stated that it was never the intent of S2 to negatively impact students, but that is exactly what is happening to half a million children in New Jersey.”
- “S2 will not advance public education, it will not promote the achievement of all students and it is certainly not effective governance. Helping some students at the expense of others is wrong.”
LRHSD Family, we need your help. Please invest a few minutes of your day TODAY and send an email and make a call.
Sincerely,
Barry Fitzgerald
President of the Board of Education
Lenape Regional High School District
A Message from LRHSD Superintendent Dr. Carol Birnbohm
The LRHSD Blitz!
Five days from today, the Governor of New Jersey will be giving his Fiscal Year 2021 Budget address in Trenton. Tomorrow we want a Lenape Region Blitz of phone calls to his office and emails to his staff. We are asking for everyone who cares about the current and future opportunities for our students to speak up!
We are not alone in this blitz as Freehold Regional, Toms River Regional, North Warren, Jefferson Township, Greenwich Township, Washington Township (Long Valley), Pitman Public Schools, and every district in Cape May County have already told me they are joining us. The LRHSD Blitz is now a Jersey Blitz!
We need everyone’s assistance tomorrow pertaining to state funding! Therefore, tomorrow I am requesting that you send an e-mail to the Governor and also place a phone call to the Governor’s Office.
Here are some talking points for your brief phone call – pick one, say them all or create your own:
“The students in New Jersey need to hear the Governor say he is going to increase funding to address the inequities created by the implementation of S2 during his FY21 Budget address.”
“I am concerned about the negative impact S2 will have on our students. I urge the Governor take a positive action to address the critical issue of school funding during his FY21 Budget address by allocating full and fair funding for all.”
“NJ is known for producing graduates prepared to succeed, the LRHSD is one of those districts which help NJ boast its recent #1 National Ranking. If the Governor doesn’t find a better way to create revenue and to fix the flawed school funding formula, our district’s and our state’s great reputation for student success is at risk.”
“S2 will not advance public education, it will not promote the achievement of all students and it is certainly not effective governance. Helping some students at the expense of others is wrong.”
LRHSD Family, we need your help. Please invest 10 minutes of your day tomorrow to send an e-mail and make a call.
Here is the contact information:
Governor’s Office phone number: 1-609-292-6000
E-Mail: constituent.relations@nj.gov
Feel free to use our sample letter (PDF or Word) or create your own, as I am sure there are many LRHSD voices and opinions that need to be shared!
Thank you for speaking up and joining this important endeavor,
Dr. Carol L. Birnbohm
Superintendent of Schools
Lenape Regional High School District
Word Doc - Sample Email to Governor Murphy
2019
- 2-13-19: Community Forum State Aid Impact on Lenape Region Letter
- Recap of Lenape Region Forum and State Aid Reduction for Faculty
- 2-27-19 Request to Get Involved to “Stop State Aid Cuts” Email
- 3-5-19: Rally at State House Annex, Trenton, NJ
- 4-30-19: Rally at State House Annex, Trenton, NJ
2-13-19: Community Forum State Aid Impact on Lenape Region Letter
Dear Parent (s)/Guardian(s):
I am writing on behalf of the Lenape Regional High School District to ask for your help. As you may know, the percentage of state funding the LRHSD receives annually has been drastically reduced over the past eleven years. In July 2018, we learned from the NJ Department of Education that our district would experience a $386,710.00 reduction in 2018-2019 state funding, in addition to the $574,746.00 loss in state aid we already had planned for in this year’s budget. That is a total loss of $961,456.00 for this fiscal year alone.
The Board of Education and our administrative team made the necessary reductions in expenditures this year to balance the 2018-2019 budget. Next year, as a result of the new state aid plan, we expect a reduction of approximately $681,736.00 in funding. The state outlined additional reductions for the next six years, bringing our district’s total amount projected loss within seven years to $8,308,950.00 ($8.3 million).
We are not alone in this funding challenge. Six of the K-8 districts in the Lenape Region are facing reductions in their funding as well. The Lenape Region will face a combined approximately $24 million in state aid reductions. Student programming, staffing and operations at every district in the region will feel the impact.
We do not want to sit back and simply “brace” for impact. We invite you to become part of our effort to find a solution for a long-term state-funding plan that is fair to all school districts – one that makes it possible to continue to deliver the highest quality education to our students.
Please join us on Thursday, February 21 at 6:30 p.m. for a Lenape Regional Community Informational Forum where you can get the “facts” about these reductions and the projected effects they will have on our schools and in turn, our communities. You will also learn about a statewide coalition – the Support Our Students Advocacy Group – consisting of more than 70 school districts representing 150,000 students who are impacted by this funding plan. You will learn how YOU can join the coalition’s effort to fight for our district and, most important, our students. Knowledge can be powerful, and together, we can effect change! #BetterTogether
Save the Date:
- Topic: Community Forum on State Funding Cuts to our Region
- When: Thursday, February 21, 2019
- Where: Shawnee High School-Large Group Instruction Room (LGI)
- Time: 6:30 p.m.
We truly look forward to seeing you at the forum on February 21st. Thanking you in advance for your concern, passion and participation in this initiative to protect and preserve the Lenape Region’s schools – a cornerstone of our communities.
Sincerely,
Carol L. Birnbohm, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools
Recap of Lenape Region Forum and State Aid Reduction for Faculty
2-27-19 Request to Get Involved to “Stop State Aid Cuts” Email
Good Afternoon Parents and Community Members:
At our recent Lenape Region Community Forum, over 400 people in attendance left the evening well informed about the following: our district’s efforts in being responsible stewards of available resources, the catastrophic nature of the impending cuts to operations and programs, and, well-armed with information to share with our community.
The projected loss of state aid within seven years for LRHSD is approximately $8.3 million. As members of the advocacy group, Support Our Students (SOS), whose mission is to ensure that the Governor and legislature provide equitable funding for every student and school district in New Jersey, we are requesting your assistance in communicating the urgent situation created by the planned state aid cuts.
How can you get involved?
- Write/call the governor’s office.
- Write/call our state legislators.
- Attend the SOS’s first rally on March 5th at the state capitol.
Sample letters, sample email messages and email addresses are attached which you could send if you wish to express concern regarding the impending state aid cuts. Send these or create your own messages. It is anticipated that there will be in excess of 2,000 people attending the rally. A strong and visual presence will have an impact on the legislators; it is imperative we maximize attendance.
If you would like to participate in the rally, please register at March5Rally. We can assist with transportation on a first come first served basis, if needed.
Our website www.lrhsd.org/SOS has a copy of our Community Forum presentation, details about the March 5th Rally and other related information.
Together, we believe, we can make a difference!
With gratitude,
Dr. Carol L. Birnbohm
Superintendent of Schools
Margaret M. Estlow
LRHSD Board of Education President