Testimony Before Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services

[Dollar$ and Sense]

Dollar$ and Sense is an organization that came together 3 years ago with the purpose to provide research and constructive solutions. During the process of these Special Sessions, we have offered testimony to three of the four committees. We are very conscious of the need to sacrifice and we are certainly aware of the urgency. We also know that the greatest responsibility we have is to not throw the baby out with the bath water.

The very nature of compromise means that a one size fits all is not the most effective approach. We have learned from examples of best practices and from many past Legislative studies that flexibility is the most effective approach. Consolidation works some places, sharing is better in others. You have heard from Pennsylvania’s Intermediate Units. Dollar$ and Sense visited with Dr. Baillie. We saw first hand how their approach could benefit fiscally and educationally. You have heard from Middlesex County and from Bergen County’s special education regions. You received our report about curriculum sharing in Bergen’s Northern Valley. These are terrific programs that answer the question of the day.

We a re hearing very clearly that a broad brush is painting our Superintendents in a bad light that categorizes them as superficial. These are not strictly administrative positions. We of Dollar$ and Sense are very well traveled around the state’s education world. By a long measure, our Superintendents add leadership and educational insight to the high quality of our schools.

We have offered specific constructive solutions to the Joint Legislative Committee for School Funding. These suggestions are attached to this testimony.

The public is being asked to consider the model from Maryland. Before any of us can consider this alternative, we must recognize that a dollar spent in Maryland is not the same as a dollar spent in New Jersey. We fight this same fight with the Federal Government regarding poverty levels and transportation cost reimbursement. From the US Census, the median cost of a home in New Jersey is $333,900.00. In Maryland, the median is $280,200.00. In New Jersey, our teacher’s average salary is $50,878.00. In Maryland, the teacher’s average is $43,720.00. Of course it costs more to educate children here. It costs more to do everything here. Maryland has 15.7 pupils per teacher; New Jersey has 12.1 per teacher. This increases costs but helps children.

Now, we must look at the value of having our Superintendents in our districts and accessible to our parents. The return on our investment tells the tale. Statistics provided by SchoolMatters, the service from Standard and Poors, for national reading tests in 2004 show New Jersey, at 78.7%. Maryland is at 70.4%. For the math proficiency, New Jersey is at 70%. Maryland is at 62.8%. We call that a healthy return on investment. Since we all agree that education is the most critical of all goals, we must keep what works.

It would be irresponsible to look at finances first and then hope to achieve whatever standard we can afford. We must find a way to set standards first, and then address the finances. We of Dollar$ and Sense, and many others are here to help you protect what exists that is good, and then rid ourselves of the bad. We hope that you will take advantage of the resources we are offering.