Weekly Roundup: Leadership program, Fair Funding Formula, little libraries
Catch up on what happened this week in Shamong.
Shamong residents represented at week-long learn-by-doing leadership program
Last week, 883 high school rising-seniors from New Jersey attended the 73rd session of American Legion Jersey Boys State held annually at Rider University, including Shamong residents Andrew Ballinger and Justin Saporito.
Students are afforded the opportunity to govern and interact with their peers from across New Jersey as they run their own mythical 51st state from June 17–22. Within 24 hours of their arrival to ALJBS, students will have formed 18 mock city governments and two political parties to elect a mayor and city council to guide their city throughout the week.
School funding concerns arise due to the Fair Funding Formula
Birnbohm discussed that there was a recently passed legislation regarding school funding called the Fair Funding Formula. A decision has not been made yet by Gov. Murphy on whether to sign or veto it.
Certain schools are being labeled as overfunded, including the LRHSD and six of the eight sending districts.
Currently, $4,342 per pupil is provided in state aid to the LRHSD, and if the legislation is approved, funding could be reduced to $3,100 per pupil.
It was also stated that 22 of 541 school districts receive more than half of the $8 billion given in state aid, while the other 519 districts have to share the remaining funds.
Little libraries, big change
Little libraries are expected to make a big change in Shamong, courtesy of Girl Scout Troop 24708.
With locations directly outside of Indian Mills Memorial Middle School and Indian Mills Elementary School, all community members are encouraged to take a book and leave a book at the little library stations.
The troop of nine put ideas together to complete a service project to earn a Bronze Award, which is the highest award Junior Girl Scouts can achieve. Grace Yaeger, Amanda Connelly, Madelyn Harned, Keira Sawdy, Genevieve Jenkins, Cheyenne Hopkins, Maggie Carlin, Amelia Dunn and Izzy Desantis gathered to discuss possible projects, and ultimately decided the focus would be on promoting reading in the community.
Since there is no public library in Shamong, the troop decided to create little libraries in areas they know people will frequently have access to.
