“No family should have to worry that choosing a school that reflects their beliefs could make their child less safe.”
So said Marc Muir, a seventh grade student in St. Ann School, Lawrenceville, in his testimony to state lawmakers March 17.
Muir had an opportunity to testify before the N.J. Assembly Budget Committee on the need for an increase in state funds for security in non-public schools. Also presenting a testimony was Bonnie Milecki, diocesan associate superintendent of schools who also serves as president of the New Jersey Council for American Private Education, which represents the more than 600 non-public and faith-based schools in the state.
In advocating for increasing the funding from $205 per student to $260 per student, Milecki said, “New Jersey’s nonpublic schools educate nearly 160,000 students from all backgrounds and faith traditions including, but not limited to: Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and Christian.”
Muir, in his testimony, spoke on the importance of security based on his perspective as a Catholic school student.
“Today, students also think about safety in a different way than kids used to,” he said. “At my school, we practice drills. We have security procedures. Our teachers and principal work really hard to make sure we are safe every day.”
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See related story: Catholic, nonpublic school advocates urge support for increased security funding