BECK CALLS FOR UNCLAIMED LOTTERY MONEY TO BE DEDICATED TOWARDS DISTRICTS BELOW “THOROUGH AND EFFICIENT� STANDARDS

Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck today requested a draft of legislation which would dedicate the recently expired multimillion dollar lottery prize to districts which are currently funded below the level considered “thorough and efficient�, the standard required by state law.

 “The proceeds of the lottery are constitutionally dedicated to education�, said Beck. “At a time when budget dollars are scarce, what better use of found money that to bring those schools that are being underfunded by the state up to the level required by law?� 

 Beck’s district includes Freehold Borough, whose school district is one of a list of twelve schools funded below a level considered thorough and efficient by law. Beck recently arranged for a contingent of Freehold Borough parents, teachers and Board of Education members who attended an Assembly Budget Committee hearing, to meet with the chairman and ranking Republican member of the committee, as well as Education Commissioner Lucille Davy. 

“Freehold Borough has been the victim of a perfect storm�, said Beck. “They’ve been flat funded for 5 years, they’ve had a tremendous increase in enrollment, including many non-English speaking students, and now their ability to fund the budget through tax revenues has been capped. They need relief. Their class sizes are bigger than most parents and teachers are comfortable with and they’ve consistently done more with less. It’s time the state does its fair share, and this lottery money is a perfect way to do it.� 

Beck concluded by saying “The legislation I’m proposing would give Freehold Borough and the other eleven underfunded schools the aid level that they deserve. I urge Assemblyman Panter and Senator Karcher to join me in sponsoring this legislation so that Freehold Borough can reinstate the 12 positions they are being forced to eliminate in this years budget. The children of Freehold Borough deserve the same level of funding and the same educational experience as every other child in New Jersey. This legislation will accomplish that.�                                          

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