I live in Bergen County, NJ, the NE corner and a relatively wealthy suburban NYC area. I see changing demographics as only one of the issues around here. A great many schools have building problems. Our local schools, for instance, elementary, middle, and high school, all need new roofs. They've been putting it off again and again, patching here and there, but that string has just about run out. No money in the budget so they will have to float a bond.
My guess is, given the age of the school plant around here, something like that is the case across the county. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the case around much of the country.
A lot of money needs to be spent in inner city public schools.
Also, I would expect growing enrollments in public schools as the economic downturn gets worst. An increasing number of parents will not be able to afford private schools.
If this is a one or two year drop, perhaps it won't be that bad; but anything longer can change education patterns. |
