Dollar$ & Sense Education Advocacy

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Dollar$ and Sense Testimony on the Fiscal Year 2011 State Budget

To the Honorable Members of the Assembly Budget Committee:

The 11th Commandment: THOU SHALL NOT HURT CHILDREN!

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Added by Dollar$ and Sense on April 21, 2010 at 1:00pm — No Comments

Dollar$ and Sense Charlie Reilly speaks for all of us at the Facts and Figures Forum

Governor Christie’s proposed cut in direct school aid for next year of over $800 million is the most irresponsible, insensitive, and reckless public act by a public official that I have ever witnessed. And it cannot be justified even in today’s dire economic conditions.


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Added by Dollar$ and Sense on April 7, 2010 at 9:00am — No Comments

Dollar$ and Sense ADEQUACY and EQUITY: THE BASIS FOR SFRA and 2010/2011 EDUCATION AID

We take this opportunity to present to you Chapter 2 from our recent publication called SOLUTIONS. It has become particularly relevant because we are told that education aid for the 2010-2011 school year will be based on a district’s “Adequacy Budget.”

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Added by Dollar$ and Sense on March 2, 2010 at 8:30am — No Comments

Dollar$ and Sense Dollar$ & Sense Education Advocacy Presents to the Senate Education Committee

To the Senate Education Committee: We make the assumption that all want the best possible education for all children, and that all seek educational quality as well as fiscal efficiency. Our comments will recognize that other education advocacy organizations will discuss the issues of the 4% cap, burdensome regulations, the use of surplus in lieu of aide, salaries and benefits, NJQSAC, charters, vouchers, and even the dollars that public schools pay to parents for busing to private schools. It… Continue

Added by Dollar$ and Sense on January 31, 2010 at 4:30pm — No Comments

Dollar$ and Sense Dollar$ & Sense Meets With Governor-Elect Christie's Transition Team

To: Governor-Elect Christie and the Education Transition Team, Dollar$ and Sense is known for doing our homework and never being disrespectful. Now, when we need answers, the doors are open. Recognizing the importance of sharing information and insights with the Education Transition Committee, we turned to a few of the greatest experts New Jersey has to offer. Experience has taught us that leadership must have vision, and the best vision looks forward and back. To ignore the value of past expe… Continue

Added by Dollar$ and Sense on December 16, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

Dollar$ and Sense "The prevailing wage bill is another mixed message"

To: The Honorable Members of the Senate Labor Committee: My name is Richard Snyder. I am the Executive Director for Dollar$ and Sense. Our organization was founded seven years ago with the purpose of providing research and constructive solutions to accomplish quality education and efficient spending. We have represented up to 42 school districts across a wide range of issues and we work as closely as possible with other organizations, both urban and suburban. We are absolutely a special intere… Continue

Added by Dollar$ and Sense on November 23, 2009 at 8:30pm — No Comments

Dollar$ and Sense Separate The Rhetoric From The Realities

Education advocates from suburban, rural, and urban schools have a common goal. We all want the very best for our children. It is imperative that this common thread is used to tie together all education advocates within New Jersey. New Jersey, like all states, faces the challenges of educating and education reform. We, however, face an additional problem. Our Governor, our Legislature, and probably most of the state’s adults want the problems of public education off the table. The burdens of fu… Continue

Added by Dollar$ and Sense on July 21, 2009 at 8:00pm — No Comments

Dollar$ and Sense Testimony Before The New Jersey Department of Education

Dollar$ and Sense is an organization that looks to provide constructive solutions. With this approach in mind, I actually read the 215 pages of Chapter 23A. When I finished, I was firm in my conclusion that our Department of Education (DOE) has become a Department of Regulations. Considering the goals of education and fiscal efficiency, the regulations are counterproductive. The degree of micro managing is contrary to successful organizational models. On the surface, it just doesn’t make sens

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Added by Dollar$ and Sense on June 1, 2009 at 3:00pm — No Comments

Dollar$ and Sense Spending Reform: The Next Step

The attached report is the result of research compiled by Dollar$ and Sense over a four year period. The purpose is to offer a constructive solution to the most serious question that faces New Jersey. How can we effect economies, protect the great successes we have accomplished, and prepare for the future?

This report is not intended to be a brief assessment of where we have been. It is the full effort to show where we must go. We have recognized that economic practicality is critical

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Added by Dollar$ and Sense on May 5, 2009 at 3:00pm — No Comments

Dollar$ and Sense Testimony Before Assembly Education Committee

Assembly bill A-3185 does not solve any issue. It creates new ones. We are to have a mandated model contract, a one size fits all intended to reign in abuses. Variations are allowed with the Commissioner’s approval. Will she have the time to review all possible variations? With all of the challenges we are facing, is that good use of her time? Or will she make it easy by simply saying no?

Accomplishing uniformity has it’s own problems. A-3185 specifically states: “The model con

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Added by Dollar$ and Sense on January 26, 2009 at 8:30pm — No Comments

Dollar$ and Sense November Election Testimony

My name is Richard Snyder. For five terms I have been a Board of Education member. At least once in each of those terms, the issue of moving school elections has become a hot topic. I have come to understand the many different perspectives.

I believe that there are very sound management reasons not to have Board of Education elections in November, but there is a more telling reality. Year after year, in Ramsey, 13-18% of our voters go to the polls. We all agree that this is a very smal

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Added by Dollar$ and Sense on December 8, 2008 at 8:30pm — No Comments

Dollar$ and Sense Senate Education Committee Testimony

My name is Richard Snyder. For fifteen years, I have been a Board of Education member and an active member of the New Jersey School Boards Association. I am also the Executive Director of Dollar$ and Sense. Our organization came together five years ago to provide research and advocacy. We have prepared issue papers, and we have often offered testimony.

My very educated opinion, and I say this respectfully, sees the current Legislative focus and the Department of Educations micromanagin

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Added by Dollar$ and Sense on October 16, 2008 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Dollar$ and Sense “Who does this process serve?”

This presentation will address the issues surrounding special education conflict resolution. The goal is to do the best we can for our children by lessening adversarial relationships, which will ultimately cut costs and save taxpayer dollars. Confrontations between school districts and the parents of special education students have become an unfortunate part of our reality. Litigation, as a method to resolve the issues, does not serve the children, the parents, or the school. The Fifth and Fou… Continue

Added by Dollar$ and Sense on September 7, 2008 at 8:30pm — No Comments

Dollar$ and Sense Assembly Education Committee Testimony

August of 2007, KPMG released New Jersey Department of Education “Performance Report.” It said that the D.O.E. has too much to do, not enough people to do it, and not enough funding to achieve proper results.

To my knowledge, the only way for serious micromanaging to succeed is for the management team to perform in spectacular fashion.

Dollar$ and Sense does not now or ever, speak disrespectfully. We are certain that many improveme

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Added by Dollar$ and Sense on June 12, 2008 at 9:30pm — No Comments

Dollar$ and Sense Assembly Education Committee Testimony

Dollar$ and Sense began working for a new school funding formula four years ago. At that time, we recognized that there are indeed regional cost of living differences across this state. We knew when the school construction bill said that it cost $135 per square foot to build a school that it was not talking about where I live. Since that time, every time I saw Commissioner Librera or Commissioner Davy I asked if a new formula would account for regional cost differences. The need was an easy poi… Continue

Added by Dollar$ and Sense on January 22, 2007 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Dollar$ and Sense The DOE Funding Formula

My name is Richard Snyder. I am the Executive Director of a grassroots advocacy group we call Dollar$ and Sense. Our role is to provide constructive solutions. From the very beginning of Dr.Augenblick's presentation to the Joint Legislative Committee for School Funding Reform it was apparent that this was a very bright person with very good ideas. There was no doubt that we were listening to the basis for New Jersey's new school funding formula. The concept of establishing a model district, des… Continue

Added by Dollar$ and Sense on December 18, 2006 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Dollar$ and Sense Blueprint for a County Super-Superintendent

Terrific ideas can get lost if the details don't reflect the needs of all effected. As always, "the devil is in the details". The question is, what has to be done to get the goals accomplished. What will make an idea with great potential a saleable product? Speaker Roberts and the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services have recognized a model that has proven successful. Expanding the role of a County Superintendent with the objective of reducing costs and fa… Continue

Added by Dollar$ and Sense on December 7, 2006 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Dollar$ and Sense The Key Roles of a District Superintendent

Dollar$ and Sense has consistently maintained that constructive solutions represent the value of our organization. As a group, we have extensive experience in New Jersey's K-12 public educational world. This is the result of many years of hard work and on the job experience. We have also expended great efforts around the State and in Trenton. Our suggestions and observations are educated and worthy. Throughout the process of the Special Sessions, we have attended, testified, listened, watched a… Continue

Added by Dollar$ and Sense on December 1, 2006 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Dollar$ and Sense Testimony for Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services

Good evening. My name is Sheila Brogan. I am a member of the Ridgewood Board of Education and I am in my eleventh year of service to the Board. I am also a member of Dollar$ and Sense. Ridgewood is the largest school district in Bergen County with an enrollment of 5,613 students K through 12. We are a J district and one of New Jersey’s “lighthouse districts”. Our students consistently score well on the SATs (1168 combined math and English scores in 2005) and outscore most of the I and J distric… Continue

Added by Dollar$ and Sense on November 20, 2006 at 7:00pm — No Comments

Dollar$ and Sense Regionalization of Schools/Shared Services

In 1995, the Demarest school system, along with six other K-8 districts, and the Northern Valley Regional High School studied the feasibility of becoming a regional K-12 district. It was a logical review to do. As far back as 1961 our schools have worked together and shared services. The lessons learned in the Northern Valley stand today as a model for all of New Jersey. The Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services has been given the following charge: "It is t… Continue

Added by Dollar$ and Sense on November 15, 2006 at 7:00pm — No Comments

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