opal Frustrated with Lack of Movement on Funding Negotiations

June 21st, 2017

Long Branch - After the release of the Prieto-Sweeney funding compromise, no more details have emerged over how districts that received inadequate funding or lost funding will be fixed. Vin Gopal, candidate for State Senate in LD11 expressed his concern:

“I’m frustrated that another day has gone by in Trenton and nothing has been done to address the flaws in the original school funding proposal. Like I said when this proposal was first released, while this plan helps some districts within Monmouth County, others are left struggling and that is completely unacceptable.

“I have made my concerns very clear to Democratic leadership and called on them to do everything they can to minimize the negative impact. Based off of promised state aid numbers, schools in the 11th District have already hired teachers, made significant strategic investments in buses and technology for the upcoming school year, and having to make cuts after their new school year starts on July 1st, puts the education of students at risk."

“Beyond that, we need to continue to focus on a long-term solution like the ones my runningmates, Assemblymembers Downey and Houghtaling have supported, that fully funds our schools. Every student needs to get their fair share, and even after the Preto-Sweeney compromise, we are far from that.”