If enacted, the bill would essentially eliminate any savings that could be achieved through privatization. NJSBA believes the decision to subcontract or privatize services is, and should remain, a managerial prerogative. Privatizing services such as transportation, cafeteria, custodial and maintenance allows school districts to devote more resources to the classroom. Subcontracting also helps school districts avoid tax increases and live within the constraints of the two-percent property tax levy cap and flat state aid.In other legislative news, the State Senate State Government Committee unanimously passed a bill, S2169, that would repeal the law that bars new public employees, including teachers, from living anywhere but NJ (Star Ledger). Also, Gov. Christie signed a bill that mandates that NJ public schools provide access to athletic programs to students with disabilities (The Record).
Ideally, tenure helps low-income schools to attract—and retain—good teachers. I've studied urban schools for many years, and it's clear that disparities in teacher quality contribute to unequal academic outcomes among poor students. Students in districts with large minority populations are much more likely to be taught by new, inexperienced teachers who have only a bachelor's degree and are often not certified in the subjects they teach. These teachers often earn considerably less than their counterparts in white, affluent districts, and frequently work under adverse conditions. Tenure has no bearing on how school districts chose to staff their schools.