newjerseynewsroom.com

Barbara Keshishian, president of the 200,000-member New Jersey Education Association, said that Gov. Chris Christie's proposed FY2011 budget is "a disaster that would begin to dismantle the best public school system in America."

"This budget is a disaster for public school children and for older students who want to further their education beyond high school," said Keshishian. "On the other hand, this budget is an unconscionable gift to those earning more than $400,000 a year. Gov. Christie is slashing education in order to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy.

"According to published reports, not only is the governor cutting nearly $1.5 billion from state education aid this year and next, but he also wants to put a stranglehold on future education spending at the state and local levels," Keshishian added, referring to proposed constitutional amendments capping state and local government spending growth at 2.5 percent per year.

"At a time when the state is facing record unemployment, he wants to lay off thousands of teachers, school employees, and college faculty and staff - adding to the problem. And at a time when education and retraining are the only hope for countless displaced workers, Gov. Christie is slamming the door of opportunity in their faces by cutting aid to our county colleges.

"What happened to his vow to cut waste, fraud, and corruption? He's gutting spending on public education, enriching the wealthy, and we're still waiting for him to address the corruption that plagues this state," Keshishian said.

"During the campaign, Chris Christie told teachers and school employees he would ‘make education a top priority.' Tomorrow, he is going to begin dismantling the best public school system in America. We will work for as long as it takes to help this governor get his priorities straight," said Keshishian.

— ANDY LAGOMARSINO, NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM