Special ed's costs endanger other programs

Kathleen Carroll:

The Demarest school district eliminated health insurance for teacher's aides.

Becton Regional High School canceled the school play.

Ramsey postponed repairs to an athletic field so dangerous that the track team hosted meets in nearby towns.

The reason: skyrocketing special-education bills.

"It's uncomfortable," said Ramsey Superintendent Roy Montesano. "You don't ever want to have it appear that we're taking away, because we don't want it to be a fight between general education and special education."

Districts are under intense financial pressure after five years of flat state funding, rising health-care costs, public despair over sky-high tax bills and a law capping tax increases. At the same time, costs for New Jersey's neediest special-education students have tripled to $595 million.

Posted by Jim Zellmer at March 3, 2008 1:45 PM
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