Statewide summit to focus

on educ. funding, reform

School officials from around the state will attend a summit next week in East Brunswick to discuss the way New Jersey funds education and how it can be reformed.

The event, called "Public Support for Public Education," is being sponsored by the Garden State Coalition of Schools (GSCS) and will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of East Brunswick High School, 380 Cranbury Road.

Hazlet Township Superinten-dent of Schools Renae LaPrete is hoping she can get district parents to the summit.

LaPrete is renting two buses to transport district parents to the event.

The superintendent said she wants to educate the district’s parents as much as possible regarding the school budget process.

Items of discussion at the summit will include finance issues, revenue sources and potential reforms for a more equitable funding system for public school districts in New Jersey.

"Through the summit, we intend to increase public awareness about the concern for school funding," said Jamie P. Savedoff, superintendent of schools in East Brunswick and the president of the GSCS. "Our goal is to continue to launch a statewide practical conversation that is focused on the perspective, problems and potential for quality education."

The summit will include presentations from GSCS leaders and members, the Association of Middle Income Districts, and from school finance and state revenue experts.

State leaders and legislators, who are expected to attend in order to listen to their constituents, will also be given the opportunity to speak on the issues at the end of the program.

"We are expecting a large turnout," said Lynne Strickland, GSCS executive director. "Many districts are planning to bring buses of people to the program."

The all-volunteer GSCS is made up of parents, community members, school board members and school administrators from around the state.

Understanding the school budget process better will be helpful to parents, the Board of Education and district administrators, LaPrete said. We couldn’t agree more.

Working together to create a school budget that will benefit the students is extremely important.

LaPrete is certainly doing her part to bring the school community together.