Legislation would aid school children in 12 districts The New Jersey State Supreme Court declared several years ago that the state has a constitutional and moral obligation to ensure that each and every child in our state has access to a "thorough and efficient" education. In the eyes of the court, that would require a minimum investment of $9,000 per student for the 2007-08 school year. Yet due to flat funding over the past few years and caps recently enacted by our state Legislature which limit schools' ability to raise funds through traditional sources, there are 12 districts that cannot even meet the recommended state requirement for minimum per-pupil spending. They are Hamilton Township (Atlantic County), Hammonton, Brooklawn, Clem-enton, Woodlynne, Commercial Town-ship, Lawrence Township (Cumberland County), Guttenberg, South River, Prospect Park, Greenwich Township (Warren County) and Freehold Borough. Outraged at the situation, the citizens of Freehold Borough called a town meeting in April to voice concerns to our elected officials. In response, budget resolutions have been introduced by Sen. Ellen Karcher, Assemblyman Mike Panter and Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck that will provide these 12 districts with the funding needed to provide a "thorough and efficient" education suggested by the state until a new, fair school funding formula can be written to rectify this gross injustice. Our children - all children - have the right to resources for a quality education, and don't deserve to be penalized by a broken funding formula. Don't think this couldn't happen to your district and your kids. For everyone's benefit, please contact your lawmakers and urge them to get behind this very important resolution. If you would like more information, you can contact us at freeholdschools @comcast.net. Julie Kudish for the Concerned Parents of the Freehold Borough School District Freehold Borough