Post by admin on Jan 25, 2007 17:02:31 GMT -5
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 01/24/07
BY NICK PETRUNCIO
FREEHOLD BUREAU
FREEHOLD — Illegal immigration, high taxes and poorly funded government mandates were the three major concerns expressed by residents in a Freehold School District survey.
The poll was taken late last year in response to twice-rejected ballot questions about a $7.8 million building plan intended to alleviate overcrowding. The district is over its functional capacity of 1,120 by 251 students, according to Oct. 15 enrollment figures.
The purpose of the survey was to understand why the proposals were defeated and better understand borough residents' perceptions about the schools, according to a report from Sparta-based Zander Consulting, which conducted the survey.
Consultant Terry-Ann Zander presented the findings to the Board of Education and the approximately 25 people who attended a regular board meeting Monday.
Surveys were mailed in mid-November to 2,750 borough households with at least one registered voter and were to have been returned by Dec. 15; 243 surveys were returned, but four were incomplete. Nine received after the deadline were used.
The number of surveys used represents 8 percent of the total mailed, which Zander said is an acceptable sample size.
"The survey told us the town has issues with high taxes, illegal immigration concerns, but yet (residents) value education, and they want us to pursue some type of solution to our overcrowding issues," school board President James Keelan said Tuesday.
Forty-six percent of respondents voted no in the April 18 election. Twenty-five percent voted yes, 19 percent did not vote and 11 percent did not recall.
In response to the question "What were the major reasons for voting (or not voting) the way you did," 46 percent said it was because of immigration concerns, 43 percent said because the tax increase was too high, 20 percent said because schools are overcrowded and 15 percent said because of the general economy.
Illegal immigration has been an ongoing issue in Freehold, which has seen an influx of immigrants, some of whom are in the country illegally.
An argument by those concerned about illegal immigration is that illegal immigrants do not contribute to the tax base and therefore receive an education at the expense of tax-paying citizens. Freehold Borough Council members have said the influx of illegal immigrants causes a strain on borough resources and services, including public education.
Of those polled, 84 percent believe the district should continue to evaluate long-term options to address increasing student enrollment and other facilities issues.
Fifty people wrote on the survey that they would be willing to help in some capacity. They also provided their e-mail addresses or phone numbers.
Superintendent Elizabeth O'Connell said Tuesday that she was glad to see that and will be contacting those people.
When asked "What factors motivate you to vote in school bond referendums?" 51 percent said taxes are too high, 47 percent said because education is important, 37 percent said maintaining property values is important, and 21 percent said because they have children in the schools.
Julie Kudish, who has two children in the district, said Tuesday she was not surprised by the survey results.
However, Kudish, who attended the meeting, noted that 65 percent of the residents who took the survey had no school-age children.
"That was a little disappointing," she said of the small number of parents of school-age children who responded.
While hoping more parents become involved in the district, Kudish believes her children are getting an excellent education and the teachers are doing a great job.
"I'm very happy with the overall education in the borough. Our biggest issue right now is space," she said, adding she fears the issue will start hurting the district badly.
"If our school fails, it doesn't matter what your taxes are; you won't be able to sell your house because if the schools are bad, no one is going to want to live here," she said.
O'Connell said the survey "pretty much gave validity to what the major issues are within the community."
The next step is to review the information and come up with options.
"We may try and do smaller projects over time, depending on how our budget turns out," O'Connell said, adding that the Facilities Committee will review the information.
Another option, she said, is to work as much as possible with the borough, which might provide at least some of the proceeds from the sale of the former Bennett Street School.
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070124/NEWS01/701240400/1004/NEWS01
BY NICK PETRUNCIO
FREEHOLD BUREAU
FREEHOLD — Illegal immigration, high taxes and poorly funded government mandates were the three major concerns expressed by residents in a Freehold School District survey.
The poll was taken late last year in response to twice-rejected ballot questions about a $7.8 million building plan intended to alleviate overcrowding. The district is over its functional capacity of 1,120 by 251 students, according to Oct. 15 enrollment figures.
The purpose of the survey was to understand why the proposals were defeated and better understand borough residents' perceptions about the schools, according to a report from Sparta-based Zander Consulting, which conducted the survey.
Consultant Terry-Ann Zander presented the findings to the Board of Education and the approximately 25 people who attended a regular board meeting Monday.
Surveys were mailed in mid-November to 2,750 borough households with at least one registered voter and were to have been returned by Dec. 15; 243 surveys were returned, but four were incomplete. Nine received after the deadline were used.
The number of surveys used represents 8 percent of the total mailed, which Zander said is an acceptable sample size.
"The survey told us the town has issues with high taxes, illegal immigration concerns, but yet (residents) value education, and they want us to pursue some type of solution to our overcrowding issues," school board President James Keelan said Tuesday.
Forty-six percent of respondents voted no in the April 18 election. Twenty-five percent voted yes, 19 percent did not vote and 11 percent did not recall.
In response to the question "What were the major reasons for voting (or not voting) the way you did," 46 percent said it was because of immigration concerns, 43 percent said because the tax increase was too high, 20 percent said because schools are overcrowded and 15 percent said because of the general economy.
Illegal immigration has been an ongoing issue in Freehold, which has seen an influx of immigrants, some of whom are in the country illegally.
An argument by those concerned about illegal immigration is that illegal immigrants do not contribute to the tax base and therefore receive an education at the expense of tax-paying citizens. Freehold Borough Council members have said the influx of illegal immigrants causes a strain on borough resources and services, including public education.
Of those polled, 84 percent believe the district should continue to evaluate long-term options to address increasing student enrollment and other facilities issues.
Fifty people wrote on the survey that they would be willing to help in some capacity. They also provided their e-mail addresses or phone numbers.
Superintendent Elizabeth O'Connell said Tuesday that she was glad to see that and will be contacting those people.
When asked "What factors motivate you to vote in school bond referendums?" 51 percent said taxes are too high, 47 percent said because education is important, 37 percent said maintaining property values is important, and 21 percent said because they have children in the schools.
Julie Kudish, who has two children in the district, said Tuesday she was not surprised by the survey results.
However, Kudish, who attended the meeting, noted that 65 percent of the residents who took the survey had no school-age children.
"That was a little disappointing," she said of the small number of parents of school-age children who responded.
While hoping more parents become involved in the district, Kudish believes her children are getting an excellent education and the teachers are doing a great job.
"I'm very happy with the overall education in the borough. Our biggest issue right now is space," she said, adding she fears the issue will start hurting the district badly.
"If our school fails, it doesn't matter what your taxes are; you won't be able to sell your house because if the schools are bad, no one is going to want to live here," she said.
O'Connell said the survey "pretty much gave validity to what the major issues are within the community."
The next step is to review the information and come up with options.
"We may try and do smaller projects over time, depending on how our budget turns out," O'Connell said, adding that the Facilities Committee will review the information.
Another option, she said, is to work as much as possible with the borough, which might provide at least some of the proceeds from the sale of the former Bennett Street School.
www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070124/NEWS01/701240400/1004/NEWS01