HAMILTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey's next governor made his second visit to a K-12 school since being elected six days ago, sending a strong signal that education reform would be a top priority of his new administration.
Republican Chris Christie hasn't visited the state capital since winning election. But, he was at Steinert High School in the sprawling suburb of Hamilton to take questions from students on Monday. And, he toured a Newark charter school on Wednesday, his first public appearance after defeating Gov. Jon Corzine.
In the school's auditorium, Christie fielded questions from about a dozen students. Questions ranged from Christie's overall goals; how he would work with a Democratic-led Legislature; and what could he do to bring down property taxes and the cost of college tuition.
Improving school and student performance carried the day.
Christie was highly critical of poor-performing urban public schools during the gubernatorial campaign, when he vowed to make changes even if that meant taking on the powerful state teachers' union.
On Monday, he repeated that pledge.
"They need to get realistic about the fact that change is coming, because it is," Christie said of the union, the New Jersey Education Association. "Frequently, the leadership of the NJEA has been a strong advocate for the status quo whether the status quo is succeeding or failing."
The state's unions poured money and volunteers into defeating Christie. They paid for fliers, staffed phone banks and knocked on doors.
While Christie said he had no time for ill-feelings, he indicated a continued willingness to take on the unions as needed. The Republican advocates charter schools and school-choice in failing districts, which the NJEA opposes.
NJEA spokesman Steve Baker said the teachers union would continue to push for strong public schools.
Baker said Christie will be challenged in a tough first-year budget to maintain or increase funding to public schools.
Christie said he doesn't expect to cut aid to K-12 education in next year's budget.
He said as students flee failing urban schools it will force the remaining schools in those districts "to make a fundamental decision, and that fundamental decision is change or perish."
Christie told the students in Hamilton that he plans to make sure their peers in nearby Trenton and other cities get a quality education. That position helped earn him some votes among traditionally Democratic urban residents.
Christie also told the students that he would begin to deal with crushing property taxes by ordering audits to portions of school district budgets, encouraging shared services and putting a cap with few exemptions on school district spending.
Christie carried Hamilton, a sprawling bedroom community populated by many teachers and state workers, by about 750 votes.
Christie attended New Jersey public schools, but his four children attend parochial and private schools.
