Simonsen: Our Kids Deserve Better - My Response to Muphy’s A3323 Veto

Statement from Assemblyman Erik Simonsen on A3323 Veto:

Athletics. Band. After school clubs. In every school these programs keep kids connected, motivated, and on track to graduate. Assembly Bill 3323 would have included pay for extracurricular duties as part of retirement compensation through the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund. This is not a new money issue. It is about counting pay that already exists toward retirement, so our mentors, coaches, band directors, choir leaders, and club sponsors stay in our schools and continue to inspire students.

The Murphy administration is disguising this as a fiscal issue. It is not. It is a choice about investing in the people who keep kids engaged, safe, and succeeding. The bill aims to recruit and retain the coaches, teachers, and mentors who provide the continuity our students depend on - programs with proven impact on attendance, behavior, and academic achievement.

Research shows the benefits are real: high quality after school activities, especially those with strong mentoring and academic support, correlate with higher grades, better attendance, and lower dropout rates. These gains are amplified when programs include music, arts, and sports alike, recognizing that band directors, coaches, and mentors are all critical to student success.

With a budget that swells with new spending and pork, nearly sixty million dollars, we still see the Governor diverting funds from students who need them most. This is a small amount with a big reward: more engaged students, more graduates, and safer, stronger communities.

We will continue the fight in the new session. We will reintroduce A3323 or a strong successor to ensure our schools have the coaches, band directors, and mentors they need.

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Assemblyman Erik Simonsen is a lifelong Lower Township resident who has dedicated his career to teaching, coaching, and serving his community. Recently retired after nearly 30 years in the school system, Simonsen brings deep firsthand experience to his legislative work, including his service as the former Athletic Director for Lower Township schools. His decades of mentoring students and leading successful athletic programs continue to shape his commitment to supporting education, extracurricular activities, and the people who guide New Jersey’s youth every day.