SENATE, No. 1040
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
INTRODUCED MAY 2, 1996
By Senators RICE, LESNIAK, Girgenti, Kenny, O'Connor, Scott, Bryant, Palaia, Lipman and LaRossa
An Act concerning public school facilities and supplementing chapter 20 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The board of education of each school district that meets the criteria established pursuant to subsection b. of this section may ensure that at least one half of the public elementary school playgrounds, gyms and other facilities owned, maintained and managed by the board either separately or in conjunction with the governing body of the municipality are kept open after regular school hours, if the governing body of the municipality by ordinance permits such activity by the board. These facilities shall be utilized for the provision of organized recreational and academic enrichment programs for public school pupils.
b. The provisions of this act shall apply to school districts which: (1) as of January 1, 1988, have failed to achieve certification as providing a thorough and efficient education pursuant to section 14 of P.L. 1975, c.212 (C.18A:7A-14), are located in a municipality which had a population of more than 15,000 according to the 1980 federal decennial census and qualifies for State aid pursuant to P.L. 1978, c.14 (C.52:27D-178 et seq.); or (2) are located in a municipality which had a population of more than 100,000 according to the 1980 federal decennial census and qualifies for State aid pursuant to P.L. 1978, c. 14 (C.52:27D-178 et seq.).
2. In order to comply with the provisions of section 1 of this act, each board of education shall prepare a comprehensive plan which shall include, but need not be limited to, the following:
a. The goals and objectives of the programs and the way in which they will serve the needs and interest of the residents of the municipality;
b. A detailed description of the recreational and academic enrichment programs that will be provided to the students;
c. The background and qualifications of the personnel who will direct and supervise the programs;
d. A specific annual schedule showing the days and hours during which the programs will operate;
e. The criteria which will be utilized to determine eligibility for student participation in the programs;
f. An estimate of the number of students who will be served by the programs;
g. An estimate, by line item, of the annual budget for the operation of the programs; and
h. Any other information which the board determines to be necessary.
3. A plan which is not approved by the majority of the board’s members shall be revised for review and approval of the board.
4. a. Each board of education, in conjunction with the governing body of the municipality, shall determine the method by which these programs are to be funded and may apply for any available State or federal funds to carry out the purposes of this act. The board of education, in conjunction with the governing body of the municipality, shall conduct two public hearings on any proposal to establish the programs pursuant to this act.
b. Any funds provided for the establishment of programs pursuant to this act shall be dedicated for that purpose.
5. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that school districts which meet the criteria established by the bill are required to keep at least one-half of the elementary school playgrounds, gyms and other facilities open after regular school hours, if the governing body of the municipality by ordinance permits such activity by the board. The facilities will be used for structured recreational and academic enrichment programs for public school pupils and will be supervised by qualified personnel. The board of education is to prepare a comprehensive and detailed plan for the programs to be provided.
The provisions of this bill apply to districts in Level II or Level III monitoring as of January 1, 1988 in municipalities which are eligible for urban aid pursuant to P.L.1978, c. 14 (C.52:27D-178 et seq.) and which have a population of more than 15,000 or districts in municipalities which are eligible for urban aid and which have a population of more than 100,000. The following districts meet those criteria at this time: Asbury Park, Atlantic City, Camden, Elizabeth, Irvington, Jersey City, Newark, Passaic, Paterson, Plainfield and Trenton City.
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Permits establishment of after school recreational and academic enrichment programs in school facilities in certain school districts.