ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 127

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 14, 1996

 

 

By Assemblymen MALONE and COTTRELL

 

 

An Assembly Resolution establishing the Assembly Task Force on School District Regionalization.

 

Whereas, The positive and negative consequences of the establishment of regional school districts has been the subject of study and debate for some time; and

Whereas, The concept of regionalization has historically been supported and advanced as a mechanism through which smaller school districts can come together to avoid duplication of efforts and to take advantage of the cost savings which can be realized when various aspects of the educational endeavor are conducted on a larger scale; and

Whereas, One of the most difficult issues in public school finance is the widely varying level of resources among different communities, especially when communities join together to form a regional school district; and

Whereas, There are a number of school districts within the State which have experienced difficulty with the limited- or all- purpose regional school district relationship in which the district is involved; and

Whereas, It would be in the best interests of the operation of regional school districts and the education of the students within those districts to test possible solutions and gather information on the manner in which the difficulties of such relationships might be resolved; and

Whereas, It is appropriate for the Legislature to examine and develop recommendations concerning issues associated with the regionalization of school districts; now, therefore,

 

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

    1.    There is hereby established the Assembly Task Force on School District Regionalization. The task force shall consist of 11 members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly as follows: seven members of the General Assembly, with no more than five members representing the same political party; and four members of the public all of whom shall have expertise in school finance or operations.

    The task force shall organize as soon as may be practicable after the appointment of its members. The Speaker shall select a chairperson from among the members. The members shall select a secretary, who need not be a member of the task force.

 

    2.    It shall be the duty of the task force to examine and develop recommendations concerning issues associated with the regionalization of schools, including, but not limited to: apportionment of costs; incentives and disincentives for regionalization; the financial impact of State aid in regionalization; and cost savings to taxpayers.

 

    3. The task force may meet and hold hearings at the places it designates during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature and shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of officials and employees of any State department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes.

 

    4.    The task force shall issue a report to the Speaker and the General Assembly containing its findings, conclusions and recommendations within 180 days of the effective date of this resolution.

 

    5.    This resolution shall take effect immediately and shall expire 30 days after the task force submits its report, as prescribed in section 4 of this resolution.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

    This resolution establishes the Assembly Task Force on School District Regionalization. The task force would be comprised of 11 members appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly as follows: seven members of the General Assembly, with no more than five members representing the same political party; and four members of the public, all of whom shall have expertise in school finance or operations.

    It is the duty of the task force to examine and develop recommendations concerning issues associated with the regionalization of schools, including, but not limited to: the apportionment of costs; incentives and disincentives for regionalization; the financial impact of State aid in regionalization; and cost savings to taxpayers.

    The task force is directed to issue a report to the Speaker and the General Assembly containing its findings, conclusions and recommendations within 180 days.

 

                             

 

Establishes Assembly Task Force on School District Regionalization.