We have to stay afterschool
COLUMNIST
If Governor Christie is sincere about wanting to improve New Jersey's education system for everyone then supporting successful afterschool programs has to be part of the solution. Yet after cutting its original funding from $10 million to $3 million for the current school year, the state's proposed budget fails to include any money at all for a popular and successful educational initiative.
New Jersey After 3, a statewide non-profit, uses public and private resources to fund afterschool programs. Some of the activities kids get at these centers include help with homework, health and safety lessons, arts, recreation, chess, community service projects and learning studying skills. The cuts in funding means that among other local programs, the Bergen Family Center's afterschool center inEnglewood is in jeopardy of being eliminated.
We've all heard the Governor's standard "there's no money for anything, share the sacrifice, etc, etc, etc." Yet the state announced that it collected at least an additional $500 million in tax revenue. The surplus could actually be hundred of millions higher than that estimate.
So there is apparently some money somewhere. And part of it should be invested in improving the state's education system by funding afterschool programs. If the original $10 million can't be restored then at