ORGANIZE NOW FOR PAC

Now that school board elections are over, the UniServ office reminds all local presidents and LAT chairs that our PAC organizing campaign is well under way. Many of you have already met with either your UniServ rep or a consultant on this organizing campaign. As of yesterday's date, Trenton indicates that we have only increased our PAC contributors by three new contributing members. Gail and I would like to strongly urge you to do everything you can to get members to contribute to PAC. If you currently have PAC forms filled out, please send in what you have. Do not hold these while waiting for additional forms.

If you have already submitted forms to Trenton, please email us. If you need any further assistance from this office, please contact us immediately so that we can help you with this important organizing event.

2007 Summer Leadership Conference Mailing

A set of Summer Leadership Conference registration materials was recently mailed to you.

You may have already received these same SLC materials in an envelope with an incorrect name on the mailing label. This was due to a glitch in our computer system and we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. If you have questions, please contact Toni Boyle at 609-599-4561, ext. 2232, or email aboyle@njea.org.

NJEA REACHES AGREEMENT ON PENSIONS AND BENEFITS FOR MEMBERS

We would like to confirm that newspaper reports saying that NJEA has reached an agreement with the governor on key changes to members’ pensions and benefits are accurate. We'd like to share the details of that agreement with you. You will receive an email with this same information from NJEA officers shortly. Please refer to www.njea.org and use your member password for further details.

URGENT LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

At 4 pm on Friday afternoon, NJEA learned that by the end of the day, the Assembly was going to introduce a bad piece of legislation that will cap tax levies. To make matters worse (if that seems possible) the Assembly plans to vote on it on Monday afternoon. The Senate will introduce their version on Monday and is planning to put it up for a vote on February 5th. This legislation has the potential to have devistating and far-reaching impact on the collective bargaining process.

We have put an alert on the NJEA website, updated the Cyberlobbying Legislative Action Center with a pre-written message for members to e-mail the Governor and their legislators, and sent out a “Cyberlobbee News” to 65,000 members.

As always…. WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Please do your best to get this information out to your members. We need to put the pressure on by this afternoon. Perhaps you may want to have a quick cyberlobby activity immediately at the end of your workday. Click on njea.org at the right of the blog and then click on Cyberlobbying.

Many thanks for your support and your cooperation.

CONGRATULATIONS GIBBSBORO EA!!!

CONGRATULATIONS to the Gibbsboro Education Association on their recently ratified contract. This association was able to achieve a $51,000 start salary!!! This will be the first Camden County local to meet the NJEA goal of “$50,000 the first day.”

THANK YOU, CAMDEN COUNTY!!!

THANK YOU!!!


The Region 3 UniServ office would like to extend their sincere thanks and gratitude for your participation in the “Back-Off Rally” on December 11. In the usual Camden County style, you came through in record numbers. We realize that you made personal sacrifices on behalf of many, many people. You have our personal thanks for helping us to exceed our county expectations.

We would like to wish each of you a joyous holiday filled with peace, hope, and plenty of rest. You have surely earned it!!!

Donna Maurer and Gail Coudriet
Region 3

BREAKTHROUGH DEVELOPMENT

As you may know, the Legislature had announced its intention to push S-40 and A-2 through without adequate committee review and without adequate public comment. Together with the CWA and host of other unions, NJEA scheduled a news conference yesterday afternoon to denounce both the process and the legislation. That news conference was cancelled because there was a breakthrough development.

Governor Corzine told the legislators that the most harmful provisions of the legislation must be removed immediately so that he can negotiate them with the state public employee unions.
The following provisions of the bill will be removed:

--Moving part-time employees into a defined contribution plan
--Capping unused sick leave payouts at retirement
--Implementing the uniformity clause
--Eliminating the non-forfeitable right for new hires to their pensions
--Automatic pension forfeiture for public employees convicted of a crime
--Precluding public employees charged with a crime from participating in the pre-trial
intervention program
--Changing the highest average salary average for pension calculation from three to five years
and for vets from one to three years
--Moving accidental and ordinary disability coverage to a private carrier.

While these provisions will be removed from the bill, we still have challenges ahead with these concepts. There will be more battle to come, but we wanted you to know that the pressure we have already put on the legislature and our relationship with the governor is making a difference. We look forward to seeing you at our great rally on Monday!

NEW LEGISLATION

On December 4th Senator Richard Codey, Senate President (District 27) introduced bill #S-40. This bill, if passed into law, would implement some of the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Committee on Public Employees Benefits Reform which would affect certain conditions of employment for public employees. The bill is 131 pages long and is currently being researched by NJEA.

The Assembly version of the senate bill, A-2 is sponsored by Nellie Pou (District 35) and Tom Giblin (District 34). Again, this bill is approximately 131 pages and is also being analyzed by NJEA.

NJEA opposes many of the changes in these bills and will work diligently to protect the earned benefits of our members.

As more definitive information becomes available, NJEA will communicate with its members the impact this legislation will have on their employment.

PEN BEN MEETING ALERT!!!

The CWA has planned several regional meetings around the state to address the same issues as our rally on the 11th. We have been asked to supply some members to attend these events.

In the south, there will be two meetings, as follows:

12/5 @ the Holiday Inn on the Marlton Pike in Cherry Hill - 6 - 7:30 p.m.
12/6 @ the Clarion Hotel on the Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township - 6 - 7:30 p.m.

We are reaching out to you, as association leaders, to see if you or your LAT chairs will be able to attend one of these meetings.

Following are a few questions questions and answers you may have:

1. What should we do at the meeting? Just attend.
2. Are there any marching orders? Talking points will be distributed at our meeting on
Monday, Dec. 4.
3. Will any NJEA leaders be speaking? Those plans are being worked out as you are reading
this message.
4. What about LATs? They should be your first request.
5. What is the timeline for this? We would like a rough estimate of who is able to attend by
noon on Monday the 4th.

URGENT MEETING - HOLD THE DATE!

The Region 3 UniServ office is urging local presidents and LAT chairs to hold Monday, December 4, for an urgent meeting regarding the unprecedented attack on our pensions and benefits.

This meeting will be held at Ventura's restuarant at 4:30 p.m. All NJEA staff have been asked to clear their calendars to deal with this most crucial matter. We hope that our associations do the same.

More information on this meeting will be forthcoming. We promise to keep you updated as events unfold. Stay tuned for more details.

INITIAL RESPONSE FROM NJEA ON THE PROPOSALS FROM THE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION

The four committees of the Special Legislative Session officially released their recommendations on November 15. They will meet on November 20 to vote to approve those recommendations and close the Special Session. Many of the recommendations have been or will be put soon into legislation and debated through the normal legislative committee process. NJEA will testify extensively. We expect the pension and benefits proposals to be considered immediately. With the exception of the school funding formula, we expect most of the bills to be considered by the end of December.

Together, the committee reports, which are now posted on the Legislature’s website are about 800 pages. The talking points below are in response to an oral briefing NJEA received. They are not comprehensive. We will refine our response after analyzing the actual recommendations. Check this page for updates daily.

NJEA RESPONDS

For more than a decade, legislators and governors of both parties have badly mismanaged the state’s finances, beginning with Governor Whitman’s reckless income tax cuts and continuing with the annual under-funding of the state pension plans. Finally facing fiscal catastrophe, the Special Session of the Legislature has produced recommendations that will have far-reaching unintended consequences.

Taken together, the proposals seek to address the property tax problem all at once and largely at the expense of hard-working public employees.

While NJEA supports the committees’ recommendations that deal with ending pension abuses, among others, many of the recommendations would gravely damage public education in New Jersey, would undermine collective bargaining, and would make it more difficult to attract new teachers and school employees. Even proposing some of the changes to the pensions and post-retirement medical benefits may result in a mass exodus of teachers and school employees who are eligible for retirement.

Currently, 32,498 school employees are eligible to retire. That represents almost one in four, a stunning 23.3 percent. Many will leave before the end of this school year in order to be grandfathered and avoid paying the new premium on their post-retirement medical benefits. This could result in chaotic circumstances in the immediate future.

Big problems have far-reaching consequences. They need thoughtful analysis and careful scrutiny to ensure that any proposed solutions do not create new and more difficult problems in the long-term. NJEA will fiercely oppose those proposals that would be blatantly unfair to school employees, would make school employment far less competitive, and would damage the educational quality of our public schools. We will testify. We will lobby legislators in Trenton and in their district offices, and we will rally at the State House on December 11.

NJEA supports the following proposed concepts:

Providing incentives for the voluntary sharing of services.

Reducing property taxes by 20% with means testing.

Permitting no reduction in the state-paid employer contributions to the pension plans.

Use sound actuarial funding and accounting practices.

Eliminating the vote on school budgets that are under the cap.

Providing state support for full-day kindergarten in all districts and support for pre-school construction in A/B districts.

Providing some selective increase for in-district placement and inclusion of special education students if there is appropriate classroom support, class size reduction, and training.

Increasing bulk purchasing of pharmaceuticals.

Creating disease management programs, if carefully implemented.

Screening participants in the SHBP for eligibility.

Replacing the Homestead Rebate with credit on the property tax bill.

Respecting the collective bargaining process.

NJEA opposes the following proposed concepts:

Tiering the pension plan in any way because those benefits serve to attract and retain experienced employees. Two individuals doing exactly the same job should receive the same pension benefit.

Moving the early retirement age from 55 to 62 for new employees. This would also cost
districts more money in higher salaries and health insurance and contribute to higher property taxes.

Raising the retirement age to 62 for new hires. This also would cost districts more money in higher salaries and health insurance and contribute to higher property taxes.

Repealing new school employees’ non-forfeitable right to their pensions. In the 1990’s, NJEA gained employees’ “nonforfeitable right” to their pensions in return for withdrawing our legal challenge to the under-funding of the pension plan. The State should never renege on a deal it made with public employees.

Changing the pension formula calculation from an average of the three highest years to the five highest years. This amounts to an non-negotiated reduction in employees’ overall compensation package.

Moving n/55 back to n/60, a substantial reduction in benefits, for new hires. The state would be penalizing school employees for its fiscal mismanagement over the last decade. With ESEA and increased standardized testing, expectations of teachers have risen steadily. This is no time for what amounts to a decrease in teachers’ compensation.

Removing part-time employees making more than $5,000 from the Defined Benefit Pension plan and placing them in a Defined Contribution plan. Part-time school employees, such as food service workers, are career employees who serve their communities for a life-time. Although their pensions are very small, for many, their most important compensation is their pension and health benefits. With their low salaries, a defined contribution plan would not provide a dignified retirement, thus making those jobs less competitive.

Removing part-time employees making less than $5,000 from all pension plans. Part-time school employees, such as food service workers, are career employees who serve their communities for a life-time. For many, their most important compensation is their pension and health benefits. Removing those benefits will result in an unprecedented shortage of school employees in many important job categories.

Cap pensionable salary at $97,000 for 2007. Pension calculations should be based on actual salaries.

Reducing the level of benefits in the State Health Benefits Plan. We should be working to improve the health insurance available to all New Jerseyans, not trying to reduce that which is now available to some.

Requiring all active school employees to pay a premium on their health benefits now and in retirement.

Tiering health benefits for new retirees because those benefits serve to help retain experienced employees. This step would immediately create a mass exodus of employees.

Ten percent premium sharing for the new employees in the SHBP. This amounts to a “tax” on new participants in the SHBP. The state can negotiate this increase with the state employee unions, but such a change can only be negotiated for school employees at local bargaining tables.

Placing a $15,000 cap on sick leave buy-outs (to be put in place when current contracts expire). This directly undermines the collective bargaining process. It will most certainly result in litigation across the state.

Placing an even more restrictive cap on revenue and/or school budgets which could be raised only with a super majority of voters’ approval. There are serious emergencies and unanticipated conditions for which schools must be prepared to respond. Requiring a super majority of voters makes it almost impossible to remove the cap, even when it is the only responsible step to take.

Giving county superintendents enhanced authority over local budgets and out-of-district placements. This would reduce and undermine citizens’ control of their local public schools.

Moving school board elections to November. This move would politicize what is currently a non-partisan election process.

Applying the Abbott regulations to all districts. The applicability of each regulation must be analyzed and considered individually.

Providing grants to districts based on (test) outcomes. Scores are not an appropriate criteria because they put too much emphasis on superficial learning.

RECOMMENDATIONS OF SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION

We have just learned that the recommendations of the four committees participating in the Special Legislative Session officially will be released to the public tomorrow morning. A multitude of recommendations will be made concerning school funding, property tax reform, pensions, health benefits, regionalization, shared services, and constitutional reform. We are anticipating a worst case scenario, especially in the areas of pensions, benefits and regionalization.

Some of these recommendations will be put into legislation and debated in the Legislature, probably before the end of the year. We expect pensions and benefit proposals to be considered first, while it may take much longer to develop the school funding proposal.

In the weeks ahead, we will need all hands on deck to defeat what we believe will be an unprecedented assault on our pensions and benefits.

As soon as we have a copy of the recommendations, we will respond forcefully in the press and post information on our website. Check www.njea.org for the latest information and watch for the December Reporter and Review.

Mark your calendars now. In addition to our previously announced Lobby Days on December 4, 7, 14, we will be holding a massive rally, together with the other public employee unions, at the State House on December 11 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Details will follow soon.

Many Thanks from UniServ!!!

We would like to congratulate and thank you for your efforts this past weekend, as well as for the impressive attendance at last Thursday's LAT meeting. Local presidents organized their members in record numbers.

We remind you to get out tonight to vote. As you know, we are organizing in difficult legislative times. We believe this is just the beginning of some much needed grass roots organizing.

Please feel free to extend our thanks to all members who participated in these legislative events.

As always, you proved again that Camden county locals really do pull through when needed the most.

DON'T GET SICK! LEGISLATION PUTS HEALTH CARE AT RISK!

So did you hear about the bill that Senator Gormley and Assemblyman O’Toole introduced?

Their new bill (S-2282/A-3618) makes drastic changes to the State Health Benefits Plan (SHBP). Ouch!

The bill calls for a basic healthcare plan for active and retired members in the SHBP known as the “Essential Benefits Plan.” Active members who are in the current SHBP would be placed in this new healthcare plan after the expiration of their current contract and retirees’ in the SHBP would be placed in the new plan after the enactment of this bill into law.

The bill would:

Require a 5% contribution to the basic plan by the employee with riders that the employer would contribute a minimum of 10%.
Require a hospital co-pay not less than $250 per stay and a hospital admission review for any benefit expenditure.
Cap diagnostic testing, wellness and preventive care, and doctor visits for injury and mental illness.
Cover thirty specific items only—employees would have the option of buying additional riders if they want better coverage than the basic plan.
Mandate mail order prescription purchasing.

A CUT IN BENEFITS IS A CUT IN PAY!

Tell Senator Gormley and Asemblyman O’Toole that you oppose this bill! Here’s how:

Go to http://www.njea.org/. Click on Legislative Action/Cyberlobbying and enter your PIN (it’s on your membership card) and password (the last 4 digits of your Social Security number) to log in. You will see an action alert entitled “Don’t get sick!” Click “Take Action” and follow the instructions to send e-mail to Senator Gormley and Assemblyman O’Toole today!

180 West State Street Trenton, NJ 08607-1211 (609)599-4561 http://www.njea.org/

State Health Benefits Program

Proposed Legislation by Senator Gormley

Senator William Gormley (R-Atlantic) has proposed a bill which would make drastic changes to the State Health Benefits Program. While the text of this legislation is not yet available, we know that several of its provisions are highly objectionable. The proposed legislation would mandate premium sharing by employees and would eliminate NJ Plus and the traditional components of the state plan in favor of a PPO (preferred provider option).

The bill, S-2282, would affect state, county, municipal, and school employees within the SHBP. As soon as GR and Research can analyze the full text of this bill, we will share additional information. S-2282 is not expected to be considered until such time as the current special session is concluded in mid-November.

NJEA members should contact Senator Gormley’s office via phone, letter, fax or email to let him know their strong objections to his proposed legislation.

SENATOR William Gormley, R
Hamilton Mall, Suite 108
Black Horse Pike
Mays Landing, NJ 08330
(609) 646-3500 (609) 646-6735 FAX
SenGormley@njleg.org e-mail address

October 18 Pension and Benefits Reform Committee Hearing

Topic: Pension and Health Beneftis Reform
Date: October 18, 2006
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Gloucester Community College (College Center)

Here we go again!!!

There will be a joint legislative committee hearing on Health Benefits and Pension Reform (details are listed above.) As you are aware, the issues being heard by this committee can have devastating and far reaching impact on you and your members. It is imperative that we recruit as many members as possible to attend this hearing.

We again realize that this is short notice; however, this is part of the legislaters' game plan. Email us ASAP with a list of members who will attend. We will supply you with directions.

Again, our thanks.

Donna, Gail, Gale, and Dawn
Region 3

State Health Benefits Changes for 2007

October 2, 2006

State Health Benefits Commission Changes Benefits & Rates for 2007

More actions expected in coming months

Despite extensive lobbying by NJEA, the State Health Benefits Commission (SHBC) voted on Sept. 5, 2006, to make major changes to benefits in the State Health Benefits Plan (SHBP). In addition, beginning Jan. 1, 2007, board-paid premiums will increase in the Traditional, NJ PLUS, HMO, and the SHBP Prescription Drug Card plans. In addition, rates were adopted for under age-30 dependents.

When news leaked out about the commission’s plans to adopt benefits changes, NJEA members, including a large contingent of retirees, packed the commission’s recent meetings. The commission, however, rejected the issues raised by public employee representatives about the negative impact of the proposed modifications to the plan.

The commission-adopted SHBP rates are based on the following modifications to the state plan:

· Eliminating dual coverage, known as coordination of benefits, in the SHBP when a husband and wife or domestic partners are both eligible for coverage whether active employees or retired. This means that if both individuals are eligible for enrollment or participation in the SHBP, one can enroll for single coverage and the other for parent/dependent coverage. The two individuals would no longer both be able to enroll for family coverage with each covering their spouse/partner and eligible dependents. While included in the rate action, this proposal will not take effect until adopted as regulation under the Administrative Procedures Act, following a 60-day public comment period.

· Increasing the NJ PLUS/HMO office visit co-payments from $5 to $10 for both active employees and retirees.

· Increasing the SHBP Prescription Drug Card program co-pays for active employees from $1 for generic/$5 for brand names at retail and mail-order pharmacies to $3 for generic/$10 for brand names at retail stores and $5 for generic/$15 for brand names through mail-order.

· Increasing the Retiree Prescription Drug Card Program out-of-pocket maximum from $1,000 to $1,082 in 2007 and increasing by $1 certain prescription co-payments for retirees.
Proposed changes to be adopted through regulatory process

Change in dependent premium sharing ---

Under current regulations, all employees in a school district must be treated the same in terms of premium sharing for dependents (the benefits and additional cost an employer must pay for dependent coverage.)

The State Health Benefits Commission is proposing to allow public employers, including school boards, to bargain different premium-sharing arrangements for dependent coverage for different categories of employees. If this change passes a board could choose, for example, to provide free coverage for the chief school administrator’s spouse and try to bargain 50 percent premium sharing for other school staff.

These proposed changes to the administrative code are being published in the New Jersey Register for official public notification. There must be a 60-day public comment period prior to final adoption.

Plan to mandate generic and mail-order drugs delayed until January
The commission tabled until its January meeting further discussion of a proposal for mandatory substitution of generic and mail-order drugs for prescriptions.

The N.J. Division of Pensions and Benefits has stated the delay will give it time to develop an education program for plan participants prior to the proposal’s implementation. The division indicated it intends to seek commission approval for this change in January.

NJEA’s response ---

A group of NJEA officers, staff, and attorneys are meeting to review the legality of the commission’s actions in adopting changes in the SHBP, particularly those which were not published in advance nor adequately advertised to allow for public comment.

An advisory outlining the actions of the SHBC will be sent to NJEA UniServ staff to assist them in providing guidance to NJEA affiliates.

SHBP fiscally sound, commission’s actuary says ---

The changes come at a time when the commission’s actuarial firm, Aon, Inc., reported that the SHBP’s medical claims experience has been much lower than the benchmark values from Aon’s national trend survey. This means that the claims filed through the SHBP are increasing at a lower rate than comparable plans nationwide, a trend that has continued for at least the past two years.

According to Aon, Inc., the SHBP local employer group is financially solvent, with a projected cumulative surplus of approximately $247 million or about two months of projected plan expenses.

NEWS FROM THE SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION

EYE ON TRENTON
News from the Special Legislative Session

>Contact your legislators

>Read more on njea.org's Special Session page

MISINFORMATION ALERT!
Senator Cardinale claimed that charter schools cost less per child and have higher test results. Here’s the National Assessment of Education Progress report card that shows charter school students’ performance lags behind their public school counterparts. Read more on the committee’s proceedings.

NJEA Launches Newsletters on the Special Session
NJEA is launching an e-newsletter for staff and a similar one for members about the special legislative session. This first issue provides extensive background about developments since July. Future editions will be very brief updates e-emailed regularly. Each issue will also be available for staff on the home page of the NJEA intranet and for members in the pen-ben section of www.njea.org.
Governor Corzine Calls Special Session of the Legislature
On July 28, 2006 Governor Corzine addressed a joint session of the New Jersey State Legislature. Read his speech

He called upon the Legislature to meet in a “special session” to create a plan to reform and reduce property taxes. The Legislature created four bi-partisan, bi-cameral committees to address issues related to tax reform. These committees met throughout August and will continue to meet weekly throughout the fall. Each committee has been charged with the task of developing a report and recommendations by mid-November. Read more information on Corzine’s expectations from the special session.

The committees are known as:
The Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform
The Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services
The Joint Legislative Committee on Public Employee Benefits Reform
The Joint Legislative Committee on Constitutional Reform and Citizens Property Tax Constitutional Convention
Read more about each committee’s charge

So far, only the Joint Legislative Committee on Public Employee Benefits Reform and the Joint Legislative Committee on Constitutional Reform and Citizens Property Tax Constitutional Convention have heard public testimony. NJEA officers and leaders have testified before each of those committees.

NJEA leaders and members need to be aware of these deliberations and contact lawmakers to provide input into these important policy decisions.

After reading NJEA’s positions below, let your legislators know what you think.

Public School Funding ReformDOE refuses to make school funding formula public

The Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform will be developing a new school funding formula. Clearly, New Jersey’s current school funding formula is outdated and unfair. NJEA supports the creation of a new school funding formula that will provide the necessary resources to ensure a high quality education for students in all districts, regardless of zip code.

The Department of Education has been working on a new formula, but has been unwilling to share its plan publicly. NJEA believes that the administration’s plans should be shared with the education community and the public now.

As of Oct. 4, the Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform has held eight meetings. Five more meetings are scheduled for October.

So far, the committee has heard testimony on school funding litigation and funding formula types, CEIFA and S-1701, cost-cutting measures, No Child Left Behind, approaches to determining the cost of education, and the New Jersey Quality Single Continuum (NJQSAC) law. Read more on this committee.

On Tuesday, September 5, NJEA President Joyce Powell and other NJEA leaders testified before the committee on cost-cutting measures. Read testimony.

On Tuesday, Oct. 10, President Powell and other local leaders will be presenting testimony at the committee’s first public hearing.

Government Consolidation and Shared Services
NJEA: No compromise on school quality

The Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services will be developing recommendations on sharing services and regionalizing functions at all levels of government, including schools. NJEA supports efforts to create efficiencies. However, NJEA also believes that regionalization should be voluntary and considered on a case-by-case basis, not as a statewide mandate or policy.

Most importantly, any plan to consolidate or regionalize services must not diminish educational quality just to cut costs.

As of September 30, 2006, the Joint Legislative Committee on Government Consolidation and Shared Services has held five meetings. View the proceedings.
Public Employee Benefits Reform

The Joint Legislative Committee on Public Employee Benefits Reform has been charged with developing proposals to control the cost of public employee benefits and address pension and benefits abuses. While NJEA supports eliminating abuses to the system, lawmakers need to understand that our members are not the problem!

In the FY 2007 State Budget, lawmakers made the first significant pension contribution in a decade—ending a nine year “pension holiday” during which the state skipped making its required payments. While the State was enjoying its pension holiday, public employees continued to make their required contributions out of each pay check. Now the fund is running low and some lawmakers want to scapegoat public employees as having caused this problem.

As of September 30, 2006, the committee has held six meetings. View the proceedings.

On Tuesday, September 19, more than 200 NJEA members and members of other public employee unions attended the committee’s meeting in Clifton High School. NJEA speakers Joyce Powell, Jacqui Greadington, and Joe Coppola, Jr., received standing ovations from the audience. Read their testimony.
Constitutional Reform and Citizens Property Tax Constitutional Convention

The Joint Legislative Committee on Constitutional Reform and Citizens Property Tax Constitutional Convention has been charged with developing proposals to address property tax reform through amendments to the New Jersey State Constitution. They also must consider the possibility of a constitutional convention.

New Jersey has relied too heavily on property taxes to fund our schools for too long. Schools and school employees are being targeted for the legislature’s failure to fix the broken property tax system. We need reform and we need it now. The legislature has the responsibility and the expertise to get the job done. They should do their job and not abdicate their responsibilities to a citizens’ convention which would not be able to provide reform until 2008 or 2009.

NJEA believes that the Legislature can and should reform property taxes without penalizing public schools. Legislation like the SMART bill would shift the burden from property taxes to income taxes for school funding, which would be a fairer system of taxation.

To read more about the SMART bill go to http://www.reformschooltaxes.com/.

As of September 25, 2006, the committee has held five meetings. NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Wendell Steinhauer provided NJEA’s official testimony to the committee on September 21. On September 28, four NJEA leaders testified at another committee meeting and reiterated NJEA’s position. Read NJEA’s testimony. More on this committee.


180 West State Street Trenton, NJ 08607-1211 (609) 599-4561 http://www.njea.org/

PUBLIC HEARING - TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10th

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

October 10, 2006 -- Collingswood Scottish Rite Auditorium
315 White Horse Pike
Collingswood

The Joint Legislative Committee on Public School Funding Reform will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, October 10, 2006 from 5:30 to 9:00 PM at the Ballroom and Theater at Collingswood.

We need to recruit 125 – 150 members to fill the auditorium!!!!

Thanking you in advance for your assistance.

URGENT MESSAGE REGARDING SPARKS AND THE OVERNIGHT WORKSHOP

Approximately one week ago, all local presidents received a mailing from our office regarding a SPARKS pilot which is being held at the Camden County Overnight Workshop. After speaking with several local association presidents, it appears that there is some confusion with the timing of this announcement. This pilot is a special and unique opportunity for associations in Camden County only.

It is our understanding that you also recently received a SPARKS nomination form which is being returned to Nancy Volpe. These are two separate and non-related experiences. Nancy Volpe's mailing deals with a statewide experience and is completely unrelated to this overnight pilot referenced above.

We are strongly encouraging you to nominate a new member for the SPARKS pilot at the Camden County Overnight Workshop. The SPARKS nominees must return their surveys to Region 3 no later than Thursday, October 5.

We hope that this communication clarifies any confusion you may have had. Please contact the Region 3 office with any questions or concern you may have.

Our sincere thanks for helping to make this experience possible.