Senator Calls For Education Committee Hearing Into Trenton School Finances
TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner, D-Mercer, today sent a letter to Senate Education Committee Chairwoman Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex, requesting a Committee hearing to investigate allegations made by recent news reports of fraudulent special education and health benefit spending by the Trenton School District.
“The fiscal state of Trenton’s schools has been an ongoing concern of mine, and it was the subject of a 2008 Senate Education Committee hearing with former Commissioner Davy and then-State Auditor Richard Fair. This is not a new issue, but it is an issue that deserves our close attention,” said Senator Turner.
Senator Turner also suggested that the Committee bring in State Auditor Stephen Ells, Department of Education Commissioner Bret Schundler, and Trenton City Schools Superintendent Rodney Lofton, to get real answers about the City’s education funding, and the oversight in place to ensure that the funding is being used correctly.
“As an educator and as a legislator, I understand the urgency of ensuring that every dollar that is allocated for education makes it to the classroom, especially as we approach the start of a new school year,” wrote Senator Turner. “At a time when educational funding has already been severely reduced, we cannot afford to have fiscal mismanagement at any level.”
Senator Turner went on to note that she looks forward to the cooperation of Chairwoman Ruiz, and her other Senate colleagues on the matter, which is of great importance to Trenton’s students and taxpayers. #