Private Schools in Maryland Receive Largest Allocation To Date
By: Rabbi Ariel Sadwin, Director, Mid-Atlantic Region, Agudath Israel of America
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 12 -At the stroke of midnight on Monday, the 2013 session of the Maryland General Assembly came to a close.
The last week of the session was focused around efforts to protect property owned by non-profit entities (including schools and places of worship) from being hit with high fees for stormwater management. For the last number of years the state has been working to restore the waterways and clean up the Chesapeake Bay. One cause for the polluted waterways is the poor handling of storm/rainwater run off before it ends up in the Bay and waterways. Many properties have been proactive over the last several years installing better drainage systems on their property, but many still have not. The state implemented fees are based on the amount of impervious (non-water penetrating) surfaces on the property. Therefore facilities with large roof and paved areas will be hit the hardest. Those of us advocating for the non-profits argued that the suggested fees if they remain uncapped will cause significant hardships to the many vulnerable non-profits which do not produce revenue. Those fees will end up as an additional tax on the members and supporters of those organizations. Legislation in Annapolis to implement a cap or an exemption did not prove successful. As the fee schedules are at the discretion of the local governments, we are working with the councils of cities/counties with Jewish populations, trying to garner the necessary protections for non-profits before the fee schedules are finalized.
Nonpublic School Advocacy: As has been reported in these lines, the nonpublic school coalition took a year off this year from pursuing the scholarship tax credit legislation opting to focus on securing additional immediate funds for the nonpublic schools for the purchase of education related materials. Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley allocated an additional 25% for the program and then later added funds in the supplemental budget. Despite some pushback by opponents to slash the increases, the additional funding was secured by session's end. The total allocation for the textbook/technology program now increases from the old $4.4 million to the new standard of $6.1 million.
However, in addition to the textbook/technology program, the nonpublic schools were treated to a brand new allocation of funds and from an unlikely source. Thanks to vision and leadership of Senator Ed DeGrange, an Anne Arundel County democrat and one of Maryland's few "school choice champions" (and the annual sponsor of the scholarship tax credit bill), an allocation in the state's capital budget was made to provide funds for the nonpublic schools to improve their facilities and implement greater security methods. This new allocation of $3.5 million will operate alongside the textbook program, to enable the schools who participate in the textbook program to have easier access to the new funds.
This vital addition brings the total of funds granted by the Maryland General Assembly to the nonpublic schools to an unprecedented $9.6 million. While that total will not yet solve the tuition crisis, it will nonetheless be a bounty of good fortune to private schools around MD.
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 12 -At the stroke of midnight on Monday, the 2013 session of the Maryland General Assembly came to a close.
The last week of the session was focused around efforts to protect property owned by non-profit entities (including schools and places of worship) from being hit with high fees for stormwater management. For the last number of years the state has been working to restore the waterways and clean up the Chesapeake Bay. One cause for the polluted waterways is the poor handling of storm/rainwater run off before it ends up in the Bay and waterways. Many properties have been proactive over the last several years installing better drainage systems on their property, but many still have not. The state implemented fees are based on the amount of impervious (non-water penetrating) surfaces on the property. Therefore facilities with large roof and paved areas will be hit the hardest. Those of us advocating for the non-profits argued that the suggested fees if they remain uncapped will cause significant hardships to the many vulnerable non-profits which do not produce revenue. Those fees will end up as an additional tax on the members and supporters of those organizations. Legislation in Annapolis to implement a cap or an exemption did not prove successful. As the fee schedules are at the discretion of the local governments, we are working with the councils of cities/counties with Jewish populations, trying to garner the necessary protections for non-profits before the fee schedules are finalized.
Nonpublic School Advocacy: As has been reported in these lines, the nonpublic school coalition took a year off this year from pursuing the scholarship tax credit legislation opting to focus on securing additional immediate funds for the nonpublic schools for the purchase of education related materials. Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley allocated an additional 25% for the program and then later added funds in the supplemental budget. Despite some pushback by opponents to slash the increases, the additional funding was secured by session's end. The total allocation for the textbook/technology program now increases from the old $4.4 million to the new standard of $6.1 million.
However, in addition to the textbook/technology program, the nonpublic schools were treated to a brand new allocation of funds and from an unlikely source. Thanks to vision and leadership of Senator Ed DeGrange, an Anne Arundel County democrat and one of Maryland's few "school choice champions" (and the annual sponsor of the scholarship tax credit bill), an allocation in the state's capital budget was made to provide funds for the nonpublic schools to improve their facilities and implement greater security methods. This new allocation of $3.5 million will operate alongside the textbook program, to enable the schools who participate in the textbook program to have easier access to the new funds.
This vital addition brings the total of funds granted by the Maryland General Assembly to the nonpublic schools to an unprecedented $9.6 million. While that total will not yet solve the tuition crisis, it will nonetheless be a bounty of good fortune to private schools around MD.
PINNED
Scroll for more news
Baltimore, MD – Apr. 13, 2024 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Mrs. Edith Levy, a’h, mother of Jesse (Ella) Levy and Judd Levy.
Upodatyed on Apr. 18 @ 4:53PM - Baltimore:Shiva will be observed tomorrow, Friday, Apr. 19, from 4:00PM-6:00PM (Mincha at 6:00PM) at 6501 Greenspring Ave., Baltimore, MD 21209 Jesse can be reached at 410-484-0053 or 301-704-0798.
Bila Hamaves LaNetzach...
Following the conclusion of an aerial strike on Iran, Iran has removed all restrictions on flights at the Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran, after the flights were suspended due to alleged Israeli attacks in Isfahan.
However, Fly Dubai has cancelled its Friday flights to Tehran.
The strike was carried out in retaliation for Iran's Saturday night launch of 350 drones and missiles towards Israeli territory. A full 99% of the launches were intercepted, only five fell in Israeli territory; only one person, a Bedouin child, was injured.
Parallel to the strikes on Iran, targets in southern Syria were also hit. Later, the Syrian government confirmed that the Israeli missile attack had targeted aerial defense sites in southern S...
PINNED
Scroll for more news
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 17, 2024 - Join the community in a new incentive to disconnect from digital life and reconnect with... life!
Commit to limit your screen time during Sefiras HaOmer, the special time of growth between Pesach and Shavuos, and win great prizes! See below for details.
To sponsor any part of this initiative, reach out to us at help@tagbaltimore.org or call 410-449-1824
An Israeli missile strike targeted a site in Iran early Friday morning, according to ABC News. The report came shortly after local sources reported explosions in Isfahan in central Iran, in the As-Suwayda Governorate of southern Syria, and in the Baghdad area and Babil Governorate of Iraq early Friday morning.
Videos reportedly from Isfahan appeared to show Iranian air defenses activated in the skies over the area.
The Iranian semi-official Fars News Agency reported that an explosion was heard in Qahjavarestan, east of Isfahan and near the Isfahan International Airport. Fars stressed that the cause of the explosion was unknown as of yet.Reports of strikes on sites belonging to Syrian army
Syrian reports on Friday morning indicated airstrikes had also targeted sites belonging to...
More than 100 people were arrested by New York Police Department officers on a preliminary charge of criminal trespass, as police entered Columbia University on Thursday to disperse a pro-Palestinian Arab protest that began a day earlier, CNN reported.
The individuals were detained with no resistance, and the university is named as the complainant since the incident occurred on its property, a law enforcement official told CNN.
The arrests come one day after clashes erupted at competing rallies of pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian Arab groups on Columbia’s campus.
Several people waving Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) flags had verbal confrontations with police officers, who had begun boxing the protesters in with barricades, CNN affiliate WCBS&nb...
The US on Thursday vetoed a Security Council resolution to admit the Palestinian Authority as a full member state of the United Nations.
12 countries voted in favor of the resolution: Slovenia, Sierra Leone, Russia, South Korea, Mozambique, Malta, Japan, Guyana, France, Ecuador, China, and Algeria.
Two countries abstained – Britain and Switzerland.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz said following the vote, “The proposal to recognize a Palestinian state, more than 6 months after the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust and after the sexual crimes and other atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists was a reward for terrorism.”
“I commend the United States for vetoing this shameful proposal, which was rejected today at the UN Security Council. It is outrageous th...
Washington, D.C. - Apr. 18, 2024 The FDA and CDC, in collaboration with state and local partners, are investigating illnesses in a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections linked to Infinite Herbs-brand organic basil packed in 2.5-oz clamshell packaging and sold at Trader Joe’s stores in AL, CT, D.C., DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, and WI.
Based on epidemiological information collected by CDC, a total of 12 people infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella have been reported from seven states. Seven of eight cases with information available reported exposure to fresh organic basil purchased from Trader Joe's before becoming ill. Additionally, traceback data collecte...
The secrets of the miracles which happened on Motzei Shabbos Parshas Tazria - 6th of Nissan 5784 when Iran shot 350 ballistic missiles on Eretz Yisroel and they were all intercepted, most on the way on top of Jordan. An in depth Torah vision of this specific day throughout history of the Tanach.
Baltimore, MD – Apr. 18, 2024 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Barry Fader, z’l, brother of Pinchas Fader.
Pinchas is sitting shiva in Israel (Nahal Lachish 22/3 Ramat Beit Shemesh א) through Monday morning, Apr. 22 and can be reached at 058-631.3253 or (667) 309-1399.
Bila Hamaves LaNetzach...
Last year, Baltimore lost a giant, Rabbi Moshe Juravel zt”l. I had the zechus to write an article about him, which was warmly received. He inspired so many in various ways. In the article, I shared that before Pesach, Rabbi Juravel wanted to teach the boys about family minhagim and gave out a questionnaire for the boys to fill out. (Click on the graphics below for a larger, printable version.)My brother, who was in his class, brought this home and my father excitedly filled it out. Years later, my other brother used this as a springboard to write a kunteres for our family of its minhagim, all from a handout to a fifth-grader!
In the opening, he writes: "To the parents of my talmidim. Yiddishkeit has survived the galus intact because of our ability to transmit the mesorah of ou...
Rabbi Labish Becker - Pesach 5784 Part 4 -A Bird's Eye View- from Agudath Israel on Vimeo.
Jerusalem, Israel - Apr. 18, 2024 - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, today (Thursday, 18 April 2024), visited Mossad headquarters where he met with Director David Barnea and – afterwards – with the forum of division heads. They discussed regional developments in the various sectors. The Prime Minister and the Mossad Director also referred to the continuing efforts – and the importance of doing everything possible – to return the hostages back home as soon as possible.
Prime Minister Netanyahu then visited the ISA headquarters where he held working meetings with ISA Director Ronen Bar and – afterwards – met with the senior management forum chaired by Director Bar, his deputy and additional senior officials.
The Prime Minister received a co...
Israel prepared for and then aborted retaliatory strikes against Iran on at least two nights this past week, three Israeli sources told ABC News on Wednesday.
According to the report, a range of responses to the drone and missile attack have been presented to the Israeli War Cabinet. The potential responses include options ranging from attacking Iranian proxies in the region but not on Iranian soil to a potential cyber attack, the sources said.
Israel is unlikely to carry out a strike on Iran until after Passover, which begins at sundown on Monday, a senior US official told ABC News, although that could always change.
The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other leadership are still on a high state of alert, with some in safe houses and underground facilities, ...
Rabbi Efrem Goldberg of Boca Raton, Florida, once remarked that Pesach is like Disney World for kids. Here is his important message regarding the coming days, which holds true even during these challenging times:Passover (Pesach) is the Holiday of Freedom. It’s our opportunity to communicate our values and the Story of Passover to the next generation. On Pesach, it’s important to keep in mind that we are supposed to eat Maror (bitter herbs) not become as bitter as Maror. In the days preceding Pesach and on Seder night itself, our guiding principles should be those of joy, enthusiasm, and meaning. Here are some examples: The Search for Chametz is a holy game of “hide and seek.” It is supposed to be fun and not a burden. The same applies to the Burning of Chamet...
Baltimore, Md - Apr. 18, 2024 - In many ways the main mitzvah of the Seder is to tell the story of the Exodus. Yes, we eat matzah, and yes, we drink wine, and yes to all the customs and rules and all of that. Yet, from a certain perspective, all of these moments are in service to our telling the story. We start with the bad times, we end with the good times. We have questions and answers, and we try to feel like we were really there during the times of slavery and were really there when we marched out, saved, proud, and so obviously beloved by the Creator.
From time to time, a student will ask me why it is that in olden times there were so many miracles and nowadays, we don’t have miracles like that. Wouldn’t it be so much easier to have faith and keep the mitzvot ...
Baltimore, MD - Apr. 18, 2024 - It is with regret that Baltimore Jewish Life (BJL) informs the community of the petira of Abraham Weinberger, z’l, brother of Mrs. Lori Pollak (443 844 1250).
Shiva will be observed tomorrow, Friday, Apr. 19, 2024, from 10:00AM - 4:00PM at 3909 W. Strathmore Ave., Baltimore, MD 21215
It’s All A Matter Of Perspective
Potatoes. A staple for Pesach in most homes. Let’s listen in to Rabbi Avraham Juravel - Rabbinic Coordinator at the OU, and the chief Rabbi of Idaho Falls, as he talks about potatoes and the kashrus related issues.
