Gov. Christie Proposed Cut of Security Funding for Private Schools Draws Criticism

NEW JERSEY - Supporters of private school students in New Jersey expressed disappointment and concern over a preliminary budget proposal from Governor Chis Christie that eliminates all state funding for security at non-public schools.

Starting in 2015, amid rising terror threats against Jewish communities worldwide, legislation, introduced by Assemblyman Gary Schear (D-Bergen) created a permeant line item in the state’s budget to allocate funds for security at yeshivos and other religious and non-sectarian private schools. Last year, the legislature unanimously voted to raise the amount from $25 per student to $75, which was signed in to law by the Governor.

However, the proposed budget submitted on Tuesday by the Christie administration, amid a tight financial situation in the state, deemed the allotment to be of lower priority and did not recommend any funding for the coming year for private school security.

“I am outraged at the governor’s action,” Mr. Schear told Hamodia. “We are talking about protection for children of minority faiths at a time of unprecedented anti-Semitism and Islamophobia for that matter. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue, it’s literally about the lives of children.”

Read more: http://hamodia.com/2017/03/16/gov-christie-proposed-cut-security-funding-private-schools-draws-criticism/