July 3, 2014
The New Jersey office of OU Advocacy, the non-partisan public policy arm of the Orthodox Union, applauds Governor Christie, Senate President Steven Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, Senate Budget Chairman Paul Sarlo, Assembly Budget Chairman Gary Schaer, and Senator Peter Barnes for the substantial increase in technology and nursing aid available to non-public schools in the state’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget, signed by Gov. Christie yesterday.
With the additional $12 per student for technology—an increase of 60% over last year’s state budget—non-public schools will have the means to provide their students with state-of-the-art instruction and access to the latest equipment, both critical for learning and getting the tools for success. The additional $17 per student for nursing services—an increase of 22% over last year’s budget—will allow non-public schools to finally be able to employ full-time nurses, so that students with serious health conditions can receive the appropriate level of care necessary for their well-being.
“Assembly Budget Chairman Gary Schaer of Passaic was instrumental in bringing these funding areas for non-public schools to the attention of New Jersey’s legislative leadership. In his first year as Assembly Budget Chairman, his devotion to Jewish day school and yeshiva families made this funding one of his signature issues in Trenton—and the results are remarkable,” said Josh Pruzansky, New Jersey Regional Director for OU Advocacy.
To read the rest of this article in the Jewish Link of Bergen County, click here.