State Continues to Fund School Projects in Suburbs, While Leaving Poor Districts Stranded

Section 9 aid is a local school construction bond which is appropriated each year by the Legislative from the property Tax Relief Fund in the State Budget. Only non-Abbott districts are able to obtain local bonds to finance school construction. State school construction programs now only fund projects in upper and middle income suburban districts. Their are over 100 urban schools in desperate need of Section 9 aid and Legislation refuses to help these poor districts.
The refusal to fund stalled projects prompts Abbott Court action. They asked N.J. Supreme Court to set December 31 as the deadline for Legislation to provide funding to restart stalled construction projects. These school districts pleaded with Governor Corzine to help, but he has taken no action. It is unfair to the children that attend these overcrowded unsafe schools. As a teacher I believe before anything else safety is the most important thing for our students and by not fixing up the schools there are many dangers surrounding them each day. It is just not fair!