STATE AID REQUEST FOR SCHOOL FUNDING REGARDING THE NINE SEASIDE PARK STUDENTS ATTENDING TOMS RIVER HIGH SCHOOL
Berkeley Township is seeking approval of the "special circumstances request", made by the School Business Administrator of the Central Regional School District, regarding the nine students that reside in the Borough of Seaside Park, who currently attend Toms River Regional Schools, without payment of tuition or transportation costs, to be included in the in the October 15, 2010 Application of State School Aid, commonly referred as the (ASSA count) for the Central Regional School District.
On that behalf, and acting in the foremost interests of our Berkeley Township citizens and taxpayers, the Berkeley Council, on Tuesday, Feb. 22nd, by resolution, authorized our special legal counsel, Mr. Frank Campbell, to file an action before the New Jersey Commissioner of Education, regarding this matter. We, in Berkeley Township, are committed to doing our part to protect Berkeley Township taxpayers from any increase in taxes that may result as part of this siphon scheme.
Legal action by the Berkeley Township Council is significant to the economic well-being of the Central Regional School District, and the taxpayers of Berkeley, as the 9 students not in Central's ASSA count would put an undue financial hardship on Berkeley Taxpayers. The four other municipalities would also be required to make up the loss of $421,000 starting July 1st.
Berkeley's portion of the $421,000 in lost aid would result in a $340,000 tax increase, which is totally unjust and unacceptable. I want Berkeley taxpayers to know that council will continue this fight to make sure our valued Berkeley citizens are held harmless.
On March 8, the Berkeley Township Council approved a resolution to recognize the observance of the month of March, designated as “Women’s History Month".
American women of every race, class and ethnic background have made historic contributions to the growth and strength of our Nation in countless recorded and unrecorded ways, and have played, and continue to play, a critical economical, cultural, and social role in every sphere of the life of the Nation by constituting a significant portion of the labor force working inside and outside of the home. American women have played a unique role throughout the history of the nation by providing the majority of our volunteer labor force. American women were particularly important in the establishment of early charitable, philanthropic, and cultural institutions in our nation.
American women of every race, class, and ethnic background served as early leaders in the forefront of every major progressive social change movement; American women have been leaders, not only in securing their own rights of suffrage and equal opportunity, but also in the abolitionist movement, the emancipation movement, the industrial labor movement, the civil rights movement, and other movements, especially the peace movement, which creates a more fair and just society for all. Despite these contributions, the role of American women in history has been consistently overlooked and overvalued, in the literature, teaching and study of American History.
Berkeley Township Council president, Karen Davis, requested to issue this proclamation, calling upon the people of the United States to observe this designated month with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities.
Bayville Volunteer Fire Company Receives AFG Grant
$41,418 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. As Chairman of the Council's Public Safety Committee, I am extremely pleased to receive word from Congressman Jon Runyan's (NJ-3) office that the Bayville Volunteer Fire Company has been awarded a Federal grant this week. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration, awarded Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) grant to the Bayville Volunteer Fire Company, in the amount of $41,418, along with two other district fire companies. AFG grants are awarded directly to fire departments and EMS organizations that are unaffiliated with hospitals, to help enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of the public. The grants are competitively distributed to eligible applicants. I congratulate the Bayville Volunteer Fire Company in receiving this grant, and want to thank them for their dedicated service to our community. I wish them continued success. I also wish to thank Congressman Runyan for notifying us of the grant award. I look forward to working together with Congressman Runyan in the future for continued support to benefit of the citizens of Berkeley Township.