ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 42

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

By Assemblyman DALTON

An Assembly Resolution urging the Commissioner of Education to conduct a study on the feasibility of regionalizing the school districts in Camden and Gloucester counties.

Whereas, Camden and Gloucester counties have 69 school districts serving approximately 117,000 students; and

Whereas, 41 of these school districts serve fewer than 500 students; and

Whereas, There is general agreement in the educational community that 500 students is the minimum size for the effective operation of a school district and that districts with populations below that level have disproportionately higher administrative and non-instructional expenditures when compared to other districts; and

Whereas, It is also generally acknowledged within the educational community that school districts which offer a K-12 curriculum are able to provide a more comprehensive and integrated educational experience to their students and to provide students with an array of educational and extra-curricular programs and services in a more efficient and cost-effective manner; 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, Camden and Gloucester counties are contiguous in location which makes the provision of regionalized educational services by the school districts within those counties, in particular those school districts which have student enrollments of less than 500 or which do not offer a K-12 educational program, an issue which merits consideration and serious study; now, therefore,

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

    1. The Commissioner of Education is urged to conduct a study on the feasibility of regionalizing the school districts in Camden and Gloucester counties as a mechanism to provide more comprehensive and cost effective educational programs within those counties.

    2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof shall be transmitted to the Commissioner of Education and the members of the State Board of Education.

STATEMENT

    This resolution urges the Commissioner of Education to conduct a study on the feasibility of regionalizing the school districts in Camden and Gloucester counties.

Urges the Commissioner of Education to conduct a study on the feasibility of regionalizing the school districts in Camden and Gloucester counties.