Destruction of the Temple
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The New Jersey School Funding Formula is Broken
Montclair receives 83% of state aid required by the New Jersey School Funding Reform Act (SFRA), according to the Education Law Center (ELC) – a two million dollar shortfall, this year alone. Is it surprising? New Jersey’s municipal finance is in a continuous state of low-grade financial crisis – like having
Fair Funding For Montclair
I recently compared the Montclair school district to Milburn and Cedar Grove. In each case, I found relative inequities in funding for Montclair. Friends suggested, if you want it to be meaningful, it needs to be broader. So I compared Montclair and Essex County to every school district in New
Montclair Schools - Fight for Funding
Financial mismanagement isn’t the only story in the Montclair School District. Yes, the district screwed up, and it’s hard to believe the business administrator received a performance bonus when she allegedly hid unpaid invoices in her desk drawers, so she could meet her targets. But the story is
Yes/Yes in Montclair
The desk-drawers were stuffed with unpaid bills. It's occupant, the business administrator, had left, and the new superintendent was left holding evidence of more than $12.6m in outstanding, unbudgeted obligations. The Montclair school district owes $12.6m in accumulated deficits and is facing a $7.6m structural