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Schundler braves room of school officials to pitch private-school ideas
Originally appeared in the Associated Press on 10/4/01 6:41 PM
NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) -- Republican candidate
Bret Schundler ventured into a lion's den Thursday,
pitching his ideas on tuition vouchers, private-school
scholarships and charter schools at a meeting of public
school superintendents.
Several of them gave him credit for showing up. "He has
guts for coming here," said Rancocas Valley
superintendent Henry Cram. "He is a personable guy,
charismatic. His heart's in the right place."
Generally, though, the officials, who were attending a
conference at Rutgers University, had little taste for the
Republican's message of placing a higher emphasis on
private schools while giving public-school teachers more
control over curriculum and funding.
Yet Schundler was not quick for the door. He devoted half
of his one-hour appearance to fielding questions with often
brave answers. He equated public schools with a corporate
monopoly. He told the career administrators that big
districts spend too much money on things like career
administrators.
"We have classes that ought to be a lot smaller given the
amount of money we are spending," he said.
He said the present system chokes off private and charter
schools which can give poor families more choices and
save taxpayers money. "There are people who believe
Chrysler would make better cars if you outlaw Ford and
GM," he said. "I think those people are nuts."
Schundler, the former mayor of Jersey City, said it was
ridiculous for the state to propose $1 billion for new
schools there when parochial schools have 3,000 empty
seats.
He did make peace offerings, promising increased state
funding for educating disabled and impaired children.
The candidate reinforced his view that charter schools
should receive full funding per pupil, not just the 90 percent
they get now. But he said he would reimburse districts for
20 percent of these higher costs.
Presently, if a public school system that spends $10,000
per child has 100 children enrolled in a charter school, the
school board must fork over $900,000, using whatever
blend of state aid and property taxes it collects.
Schundler's plan would increase the charter-school funding
in such a case to $1 million but he would simultaneously
increase state aid to the district by $200,000 to offset it.
"There is no reason, if we take this approach, that you
won't see stronger public schools than we have ever had
before," Schundler said.
When Parsippany superintendent Eugene Vasile
complained about red tape, Schundler, who has
condemned the bureaucracy, grinned. "Then I'm your guy,
and we can have a wonderful relationship together," he
said.
Cram said he was impressed with Schundler's ability as a
speaker but said he showed little real grasp of public
education. "I think his perception of the problem is simple,
and I think it has led him to the wrong solutions," Cram
said. "I think we need somebody whose got a better handle
on what the problems of the state are."
Hanover Park superintendent John Adamus, who
moderated the program, said Schundler talked a lot but
failed to mention critical details. "What he gave us was
pretty much general rhetoric, sweeping statements, and
most superintendents are concerned about day to day
operations and how we make it work for kids," he said.
"I realize it is a campaign, and he seems to do his
homework, but I wish he had more details," especially
about school choice, Adamus said. "What about my
handicapped kids? Are they going to have that same
freedom of choice, and are they going to have those same
opportunities available to them? Or are they going to be left
with one choice, mainly me in the public school system."
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