By Rose O’Connor | Correspondent

Students from Trenton Catholic Academy, Hamilton, greeted staffers from the state Senate Majority Office on Aug. 23 to discuss the recent increase in funding for nonpublic school students and filmed video footage showcasing how that funding can be used effectively.

“We are thankful to the legislators for voting to increase the funding,” said Sister of St. Joseph Dorothy Payne, TCA president. “It’s important to not only express our gratitude but also to show them that the funding is spent wisely and always in the best interest of our students.”      

When the state budget was passed July 3, increases in funding per student in the areas of transportation, technology, nursing and security were included. Specifically, the 2017-18 budget provided an increase per student in the following amounts: from $884 to $1,000 for transportation, $37 for technology, $94 for nursing and $75 for security. The increase followed a lengthy and concentrated effort by the New Jersey Catholic Conference, the Department of Catholic Schools and many of the Diocese’s school staff, students and families.

During their visit, state Senate Majority Office staff Liz Mahn, research associate, and Rich Wisniewski, who handles communications, met and interviewed students and staff and documented examples on how increased funding can be applied in the Hamilton Township school.

Reflecting on the benefits of increased funding for bus transportation, Sulyvette Almodovar, a senior in TCA’s Upper School, told of how she is responsible for caring for a sibling after school. “So it’s important that I have the means to get back and forth to school.”

Lower School students, including eighth-grader Josephine Abraham and sixth-grader Anthony Morales, discussed enhancing technology.

“The increase in funding provides us with the tools we need to achieve success,” Abraham said. Morales added that there is a 1:1 student to laptop ratio for students in grades three through 12.

When addressing the importance of having a nurse on the school staff, the students centered on how a nurse would be able to conduct needed health screenings and distribute necessary medications. As for security, they spoke of how their school recently purchased new and safer external doors.

“We’re just thankful to have this opportunity to show what we use the money for and to thank our legislators for increasing the funding,” senior Kenneth Arias said.

Sister Dorothy, who was quick to credit other Catholic schools in the Diocese and state that were active in working toward the budget increase as well, noted that the TCA students had written letters to legislators on how the increased funding could benefit them and their families. In addition, the school had an opportunity to voice their concerns in May when Sen. Linda Greenstein, D-14, Senate assistant majority leader, and other Catholic school supporters and legislators visited the school.