Learn about
state monitors
Montclair has the vision, leadership, and community to solve this crisis ourselves.
A state monitor is an expensive gamble not worth taking.
What is a state monitor?
A state monitor is assigned to the district by the state. This person:
Approves or vetoes all budgets, contracts, and tax levy proposals in the school district.
Decides whether to keep or cut any curriculum, programming, and services that are beyond the minimum state requirements.
Stays in place until the State Commissioner decides the monitor is no longer needed. This is typically 10 years, which the time generally given to repay an advance on state aid.
Has their salary paid out of the district’s own budget, not by the state.
A NO vote on either Q1 or Q2 will result in the New Jersey Commissioner of Education appointing a state monitor for our schools.
What is the financial impact of a monitor?
A NO/NO vote takes approximately $1.96M out of our classrooms every year for 10 years. The district would lose $1.76M per year repaying the advance on state aid, plus $150K-200K to pay the monitor’s annual salary ($1.96M total).
A state monitor is a gamble
A state monitor is not “good” or “bad.” They are a powerful decision-maker whose priorities, experience, and working style may or may not align with Montclair’s priorities and leadership.
Superintendent Turner has worked with state monitors before, and has seen both sides:
It can work out well
Superintendent Turner has described having a productive working relationship with a monitor in the past. The monitor was a thought partner and embraced collaboration with Turner and her team.
It can be problematic
Superintendent Turner has also had a negative experience working with a monitor. The monitor was difficult to work with, made unilateral decisions, and didn’t embrace community feedback.
What could go wrong with a state monitor?
Not a match with our priorities
The state monitor decides what gets cut if it’s not required by the state. Montclair cares deeply about issues such as equity, but programs that support this goal often require investment above state minimum levels. Montclair offers students—from elementary through high school—a range of learning opportunities, from art to science to sports to civics. These, too, go beyond state minimums.
No community collaboration
We have an engaged community who wants to not only see detailed budget information, but also roll up their sleeves and collaborate on solutions.
There is no guarantee that a monitor will embrace community collaboration and engagement. Our Superintendent or Board of Education are inviting input from the public. The monitor does not have to do the same.
No accountability
A monitor reports to the state government – not Montclair voters. If we’re unhappy with the monitor, we have no recourse. There is no way to vote them out and get a different monitor.