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Robbinsville residents take on Trenton over school funding Letters call on governor to address school aid deficit By JONAThAN JAFFe
More than 2,240 residents, to date, have signed individual letters to Gov. Phil Murphy, calling for the Robbinsville Public School District to receive a higher level of funding for the 2023-24 school year. Robbinsville school officials were surprised to learn that the
state’s proposed fiscal 2024 budget is providing flat funding for the school district, despite inflation and rising fixed costs for insurance, operations, staffing and other contractual obligations. By the state deciding not to increase funding, Robbinsville schools are now facing a $2.2 million deficit. If an increased level of funding is not provided, school officials will be forced to make difficult decisions in terms of staff cuts, elimination of courses and a reduction in extra-curricular activities, while still ensur-
ing the educational quality of the schools are not diminished. Residents collected letters, which they submitted to schools Superintendent Brian Betze. The superintendent, Sen. Linda Greenstein (D-14th Dist.) and other supporters delivered the letters in person to the governor’s office on May 22. There is an urgency to have state officials reconsider Robbinsville’s aid; the upcoming state budget must be adopted by June 30, as per state law. See LETTERS, Page 6
Mercer tennis legend shares his life story in new memoir By ANN LOPriNZi
RHS softball player Katie Fowler shows off her batting stance. For more on Fowler and the team, turn to Page 16. (Photo by Rich Fisher.)
Marty Devlin’s 90 years include a multitude of mindboggling activities, achievements and accolades. Now he is sharing his remarkable life story in a new book, Ol’ Buddy Devlin: A Memoir Sprinkled with Wit, Wisdom, and Inspiration, which was released in April by Goofer Press. Well known in athletic circles in his native Mercer County, and even nationwide, Dev-
lin recounts his rise in sports and his personal growth with anecdotes, humor, and vivid storytelling. I first got to know Devlin while I was the Times of Trenton tennis columnist. After all, you couldn’t write a tennis column for 25 years without mentioning Devlin—and often. He was, and remains, a Trenton legend. At Trenton Central High School, he was an All-American diver, an All-City quarterback, and an All-State
baseball player. His biggest claim to fame growing up, however, was at age 15 when he was a member of the Trenton Schroths baseball team that won the 1948 American Legion National Championship. That was a huge deal: there were celebrations attended by thousands, a parade, the team’s recognition by the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, an acknowledgment at the WorldSee DEVLIN, Page 8
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