Private Programs and Government Funding

A reader kindly wrote me today asking me to comment on the 4th school closing in Lakewood (turns out the second school to close has announced it is re-opening under new leadership in the same location. I have yet to figure out this works out in terms of numbers since it seems that none of the facts on the ground have changed, behind on payroll, same building/same mortgage).

If you have been reading some of the Jewish news sites (the blow-by-blow is at TLS), you might have run across a rather intriguing and confusing episode which I will attempt to piece together with some commentary below. Those who do not live in the tri-state area, particularly one of the more insular NY/NJ communities, will once again be rather surprised to find out about all the government funded goodies that are enjoyed by those who simultaneously scream about the massive property tax rates that they pay and the discrimination against private school students.

For a number of years, the Lakewood Board of Education has outsourced pre-school and special education programs. Starting this summer, the State of New Jersey, upon review of outsourced programs, made it clear to the Lakewood Board of Education that it would not continue to fund preschool programming (at a tune of $4 mil), should the Lakewood Board of Education continue their contracts with certain outside providers that did not pass muster. The Lakewood BOE voted to discontinue such contracts and bring the special education in-house. The BOE believes that outsourcing (at least outsourcing to these schools) was not a responsible and efficient use of taxpayer money.

The timing, as in the other school closings, couldn't be worse. One program, frequented by a good number of frum parents, which goes under the name Tiny Tots simply closed its doors. Many Lakewood Tiny Tot parents are irate, even going to such (inappropriate) lengths such as holding a midnight protest in front of one BOE member's home. They are up in arms that FRUM board members would shut down "THEIR" program and force their children into PUBLIC SCHOOL. Employees and spouses are irate that the BOE, in these difficult times, would put a number of people in the kehilla out of work.

Here is my take: Like it or not, their children were enrolled in public school, but because the Lakewood BOE had outsourced pre-school services, parents were able to "have their cake and eat it too." Government funding essentially created a "frum" private school and parents were happy to have the government paying for their children's therapies and daycare, within a private environment. And until the State came to take a good look at the program, where they expressed concerns about the curriculum and facilities, everything was rolling along just fine.

But as we all know, when you aren't paying your own way, there is no such thing as "private"; strings are always attached. Certainly there was more freedom to include a Jewish education within the pre-school programming, but in the end, the program was accountable to the state because it was not independently viable. As one BOE member stated, "While they [parents who were receiving full time day care] were able to have the amenities of Tiny Tots at a reduced rate due to the profit made by Tiny Tots from the BOE contract, I don’t think the BOE is responsible to provide them with full day day care. If Tiny Tots closed down because they can’t turn a profit from that portion of the business, why should we be held accountable? "

Which brings me to another observation---their seems to be some confusion amongst commentors about the responsibility of the BOE members. While these members are often elected because of a cost cutting/tax cutting agenda, I think that the Orthodox community fantasizes that public programming cuts will be cut, while the community will see an increase in government goodies. Ultimately, BOE members have a fiduciary duty to represent the best educational and financial interests of all those who reside in the School District. And in this case, Board Members had to preserve a budget over the jobs and profits of owners and employees of an outsourced programs.

I feel terrible for the parents who have had the rug pulled out from under them, seemingly without warning. But amidst the yelling about PUBLIC SCHOOL and hurting people in the community, I think it is important to understand how government funding works. Should vouchers ever become a reality, as so many people hope for, be prepared for more of the same. There is no such thing as a free lunch.