School System Solutions within the 22nd District

Because of how important our schools are, I wanted to take this opportunity to discuss some examples of the problems within our schools that I have been able to help resolve.

When the new school funding formula came out, I sat down with Superintendents in my district, including Dr. Bailey of Plainfield, and we were able to discuss our differences and ensure that the new funding formula did not hurt the children of the 22nd district.

There was an emergency problem with Plainfield High School needing some major repairs. Because Dr. Bailey and I were able to work together to clarify the problems, the state gave us $600,000 for these emergency repairs.

Before Dr. Bailey became the interim school superintendent, this level of communication did not exist. This lack of communication created other problems. For example, when the state recently determined funding for school construction in Plainfield, a lack of communication between Superintendent Carter’s administration, the School Board and those of us representing this area in Trenton resulted in the state using its own determinations to fund critical repairs for Woodland Elementary and Cook Elementary Schools, rather than meeting the desires of the citizens of Plainfield for funding for the high school or middle schools.

This was not an acceptable situation to me or Senator Nick Scutari. This missed opportunity puts us in a position where we will be receiving less money than we had anticipated.

So far, the state has committed $17+ million which can be used for Woodland or Cook Elementary School. I’m hoping to have open lines of communication with the Schools Development Authority and with the Plainfield Board of Education on how to best spend the $17+ million on either or both elementary schools. The agreement between Plainfield and the state for this money means that right now, funding for the high school and middle schools is not a top priority. I’m working with the current Superintendent and Members of the School Board to deal with school construction so that a lack of communication will not occur again as it had in the past.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Bailey for reaching out and working with me, and with state and county officials to help move the Plainfield school district in the right direction. Also, I have met the current superintendent, Dr. Gallon, and I am very impressed with his vision for the education of the children of Plainfield. I am hoping that the Board of Education and community will work with him to carry out his vision.