P'burg
not giving up on Abbott money
Will request funds despite
cutoff. Attorney advises town, other districts to ignore
rule change.
Thursday, March 30, 206 • By SARAH CASSI • The
Express-Times
Phillipsburg School District and its
counterpart Abbott districts will press ahead for additional
state money, despite legal maneuvering by Gov. Jon Corzine's
administration to cut off the requests.
Phillipsburg officials headed to Trenton
on Wednesday to meet with other Abbott and urban school
superintendents. Gordon MacInnes, the department's assistant
commissioner for Abbott implementation, attended part of the
meeting and addressed the new regulations.
Acting Commissioner of Education Lucille
Davy told Abbott districts last week not to request
discretionary aid. The details of the change were spelled
out last week in what some are calling the "Friday night
surprise."
Phillipsburg's attorney, Richard Shapiro,
said he's advised the 12 Abbott districts he represents to
ignore the regulations.
"The last-minute regulations toward the
end of the budget process are in direct contrast with the
Supreme Court," Shapiro said.
Shapiro said the regulations were very
unusual because the department issued them without the state
Supreme Court's approval. Shapiro said education department
officials are filing the regulations for the court's
approval next week.
If the Supreme Court approves the
regulations, Shapiro said Abbott districts could face
"massive reductions in staff and services."
The state has 31 Abbott districts -- poor
school districts named after the landmark case Abbott v.
Burke that ordered equitable per-pupil financing.
MacInnes was unable to provide comment,
but Department of Education spokesman Jon Zlock said the
department is sticking with the new regulations due to the
state's financial crisis.
Zlock said he was unaware if the
regulations will preface reviewing districts' Abbott
status.
Phillipsburg Business Administrator Bill
Poch attended the meeting and said most of the districts
indicated they will ignore the regulations and submit their
aid requests.
Poch said most districts received the new
regulations Friday night.
"Some called it the Friday night
surprise," Poch said.
Phillipsburg is requesting $8.8 million
in supplemental funding for its $65.9 million spending plan,
13.4 percent of its budget. The supplemental aid would fund
about 30 new positions and programs such as an alternative
education program at the elementary level.
Phillipsburg School Board President Rod
Pianelli said he wasn't surprised by the department's
actions and the Abbott districts may be forced into another
court battle.
"I would hope that doesn't happen. That
doesn't do anyone any good," Pianelli said.
Reporter Sarah Cassi can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by
e-mail at scassi@express-times.com.
© 2006 The Express-Times. Used with
permission.
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