Mayor to testify before Joint Committee on Public Schools   

ORANGE, NJ — On Monday, June 20, city of Orange Township Mayor Dwayne D. Warren will lead a coalition of determined parents, children, community advocates and public school administrators to testify before the Joint Committee on the Public Schools.

His testimony will address the loss of more than $12.6 million in state school funding in the city of Orange Township public school system. Based on a 2008 New Jersey Supreme Court decision, the state of New Jersey adopted a law to make educational funding fair to urban districts. According to the School Funding Reform Act law, a funding formula was used to determine the amount of money needed for “education adequacy” for urban school districts.

According to Orange Board of Education Superintendent Ronald C. Lee, “the Orange school system is suffering from inadequate funding because the NJDOE has failed to utilize the required funding formula resulting in a shortfall of over $12.6 million in the school budget.”

Based on data from the Education Law Center, which was the attorney in the funded case, if the New Jersey Department of Education had used the funding formula as required in the current budget, the Orange school system would have received $86,620,695.00 in funding. This would have negated any need for a school tax levy increase. Instead, the state utilized a formula that only provided $74,020,695 for the Orange Board of Education. It is not possible to fully provide for our students’ educational needs at this funding level.

The loss of funding will eliminate afterschool and Saturday academic enrichment programs, and could result in a reduction in district teaching and administrative staff. Warren said, “Children should never fall victim to budget cuts. Denying them the education they deserve not only weakens our Orange community, it weakens our state and nation.” Lee stated, “The process of equality in school funding is concerning, I want the students who attend Orange public schools to have the opportunity to receive a quality education that will allow them to compete in a global economy.” Orange police Director John Wade said, “We have always said that education is the best crime prevention tool. Any reduction or elimination of education and enrichment programs frustrates our efforts in law enforcements.”

The Mayor’s Committee on Fair Education Funding is prepared to advocate until the funding disparity is addressed. The committee is committed to raising this issue during the current presidential race and the upcoming government race. It will unite with churches and have town hall meetings regarding the inequality facing the Orange community.

  Mayor Dwayne Warren, Superintendent Ronald C. Lee