Major budget cuts in the state of NJ are leading to school districts making hard decisions. Will this lead to the end for HS sports? See the link below:
http://www.northjersey.com/spo...st_losing_games.html
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It's a very tough time in New Jersey. You will see socioeconomics play the key role in what school boards can do. In affluent communities, pay-to-play fees will be instituted and in special cases when a family may not have the funds the booster clubs will step up and pay for student-athletes. It's the urban centers, where paying the rent and the heat are difficult, that will pay the price for the governor's cuts in state aid. Families simply cannot absorb athletic or activity fees and programs and coaches will be eliminated. New Jersey is not the first state to grapple with a state budget in disarray, but the severity of these cuts are startling and immediate, leaving school boards and families reeling from the impact.
Here in my town the prior administration (Superintendent and his right hand money man) left for greener pastures and left us a present...a budget that had a formula error which led to a 3 million deficit this year and a 6 million one next year. So needless to say the athletic department got whacked hard with cuts! Next year it looks like there will be a pay to play fee added. $150 per sport with hockey being $500 and cheerleading and something else being $100. Next round of cuts will certainly lead to the loss of the middle school programs and possibly the freshman programs.
My son is a 3-sport athlete so we will be coughing up $450 next year to represent his school in athletics. Thankfully he doesn't play hockey...lol
My son is a 3-sport athlete so we will be coughing up $450 next year to represent his school in athletics. Thankfully he doesn't play hockey...lol
I read this morning that our Board of Education passed its 2010-2011 budget that calls for a 4 percent tax increase on homes assessed at $180,000. I'm paying about $22,000.00 (not a typo for those not living in New Jersey) in property taxes now, so that's $800 more plus any pay-to-play fees to be implemented. My guy plays football and baseball, so at $150 each I'm looking at $1,100.00 out the door. Thankfully we can figure that out, but there are families who will not be able to. Our town has a great booster organization and people willing to help each other, so our athletes will be ok with the fees. Other communities without that safety net, so to speak, will have tough times ahead. I feel for them.
Woodbridge TWP already cut all freshman sports and other programs. Sports are the least of the problems NJ is facing. The NJEA will not hear of reopening the contract in order to save teaching jobs and their leaders have been told the taxpayers are spent and the union leaders have said "the taxpayer better find the money" instead of dealing with cutbacks like the real world does. Meanwhile, the fat-cat administrators are raping the system and the only answer is to continue to raise taxes at the municipal level and continue to pickpocket the taxpayers.
Meanwhile, many school districts have surplusses they're supposed to tap into to make up for what the state isn't coughing up but they're up in arms about it.
It's a mess..That article don't even scratch the surface of the real problems in NJ such as Abbot districts or poor school systems getting funded by the suburban schools and everytime there are cuts, the suburban school systems take the biggest hits. Woodbridge, like many other non-urban school systems are getting hammered...I wouldn't even know where to begin.
Maybe more people should become aware when school board elections are held. Maybe move them to November instead of some time in March or April when people have no clue..However, if they do care, they should know. I know when the elections are every year so there's no reason not to if people care that much about it since it's everybody's money at stake.
But it's for the children
Meanwhile, many school districts have surplusses they're supposed to tap into to make up for what the state isn't coughing up but they're up in arms about it.
It's a mess..That article don't even scratch the surface of the real problems in NJ such as Abbot districts or poor school systems getting funded by the suburban schools and everytime there are cuts, the suburban school systems take the biggest hits. Woodbridge, like many other non-urban school systems are getting hammered...I wouldn't even know where to begin.
Maybe more people should become aware when school board elections are held. Maybe move them to November instead of some time in March or April when people have no clue..However, if they do care, they should know. I know when the elections are every year so there's no reason not to if people care that much about it since it's everybody's money at stake.
But it's for the children
Wow....that is incredible!
You guys need to come check out our part of Texas. No state tax, and our local rate is 1.04%. Plus we just built a 3 mil. facility at a school of about 400. Economic times did not hit equally as hard in all parts of the country and I am thankful that things are still good here.
You guys need to come check out our part of Texas. No state tax, and our local rate is 1.04%. Plus we just built a 3 mil. facility at a school of about 400. Economic times did not hit equally as hard in all parts of the country and I am thankful that things are still good here.
D8, it's good to hear that things are going well in Texas. These are very difficult times and Zomby is spot on with his take on things here. Count your blessings while we count the dollars we are being taxed.
Many school districts in PA have eliminated middle school sports. Many school districts in MA are changing substantial amounts to play sports. Football and hockey can cost close to $1,000 per season.