NJASA Sample Phone Script January 18, 2007 Dear NJASA Members: Listed below for your information and use is a sample phone script that can be used by you when contacting your State Senator about A4/S10.
It is critically important that members contact their Senator between now and Monday, January 22, 2007.
Hello, my name is ____________________, Superintendent of ____________________ School District. Is Senator ____________________ available?
If the Senator is not available, ask to speak with the Legislative Aide. Senator / [Aide] ____________________ I am calling about the “CORE” Plan A4/S10. As you are aware, the “CORE” Plan legislation is scheduled to be considered by the Senate next Monday.
The New Jersey Association would like to bring to your attention the following items:
The “CORE” Plan which creates politically appointed “Executive County Superintendents” with quasi-dictatorial power over local school district budgets will do nothing to reform property taxes but...
...will result in a new bloated county level bureaucracy resulting in higher taxes
...will undermine citizen’s control of their local public schools
...will radically change the governance structure of New Jersey’s excellent public schools while leaving too many questions unanswered
I ask you
-WHAT ARE THE REQUIRED PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF EXECUTIVE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT?
-AS AN APPOINTEE OF THE GOVERNOR, DOES THE EXECUTIVE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT REPORT DIRECTLY TO THE GOVERNOR?...SOMEONE ELSE? DOES THIS MEAN THE GOVERNOR WILL BE DIRECTLY INTERVENING IN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT DECISION- MAKING?
-WHAT CRITERIA WILL GUIDE THE EXECUTIVE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT’S DECISION WHETHER TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE THE HIRING, COMPENSATION AND BENEFIT PLAN OF A LOCAL SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT? WILL THIS BE DONE IN CONSULTATION WITH THE LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION?
-WHAT CRITERIA WILL BE USED TO DETERMINE WHAT CONSTITUTES “EXCESSIVE” NON- INSTRUCTIONAL EXPENSES?
-WHAT IS THE “TRIGGER” FOR AUTHORIZING FORENSIC AUDITING OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES?
-WILL THERE BE RECOGNIZED STANDARDS FOR JUDGING ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES? IF SO, WILL THEY BE STATEWIDE STANDARDS...REGIONAL STANDARDS OR...?
-WHAT WILL BE ACCEPTED AS VALID DOCUMENTATION THAT A DISTRICT ATTEMPTED TO SHARE ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES?
-IF K-12 SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE CREATED THROUGH REFERENDA, WHAT HAPPENS TO LOCAL CONTROL?...WHAT HAPPENS TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOL CONCEPT?
-WILL THERE BE AN APPEAL PROCESS FOR LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO CONTEST THE EXECUTIVE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT’S DECISIONS?
-IF YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT CONSOLIDATES, WHAT WILL BECOME OF LOCAL CONTROL? WHO WILL DETERMINE THE COURSES THAT WILL BE OFFERED AT YOUR CHILD’S SCHOOL, THE PROGRAMS THAT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED, OR THE TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WHO WILL BE EMPLOYED TO WORK WITH YOUR CHILDREN? WHO WILL THE DECISION- MAKERS BE?
-WHAT RECOURSE WILL YOU HAVE IF YOU DISAGREE WITH A DECISION REGARDING YOUR CHILD OR YOUR CHILD’S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM THAT IS MADE BY A REGIONAL AUTHORITY OR BY YOUR COUNTY’S EXECUTIVE SUPERINTENDENT? TO WHOM DO YOU GO FOR ASSISTANCE?
-WILL CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS ULTIMATELY LEAD TO HIGHER SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION COSTS AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION-RELATED ISSUES?
-ON THE SURFACE, SCHOOL DISTRICT CONSOLIDATION SOUNDS LIKE A REASONABLE STEP TO TAKE TO REDUCE SPENDING, BUT HAVE ANY QUANTITATIVE STUDIES ACTUALLY BEEN DONE THAT DEMONSTRATE A GENUINE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONSOLIDATION AND LOWER COSTS?
-ARE THERE ELEMENTS OF YOUR CHILD’S EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM THAT YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO SACRIFICE IN THE NAME OF PROPERTY TAX REFORM?
-UNTIL THESE QUESTIONS AND OTHERS CAN BE ANSWERED, I BELIEVE THIS BILL SHOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD.
Specifically, ask the Senator/Aide to support the Association’s position.
Thank you for discussing these important issues.
Information to record and report back to Tom Dunn ASAP: With whom you spoke. What issues where discussed and any indication of their support /stance on the bill. Relevant information/concerns about the bill.
Tom Dunn, Jr. NJASA Director of Legislative & Urban Affairs
I wonder how many superintendents made those calls while at work and on the taxpayers dime???
-- Edited by Jay R at 21:16, 2007-01-22
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