Post by novillero on Feb 28, 2009 11:31:39 GMT -5
Am I understanding this correctly: Merge the unmerged and unmerge the merged???
School mergers proposed for study: Freehold Regional split suggested
The dissolution of the Freehold Regional High School District and merging the Ocean Township, Allenhurst, Deal, Interlaken and Asbury Park districts are among 12 feasibility studies on district consolidations recommended by the Monmouth County superintendent of schools, Carole Knopp Morris.
The studies would be on the feasibility of merging kindergarten-to-8th-grade school districts with high school districts. The state's county schools superintendents have been charged with developing plans for those consolidations.
The recommended study on dissolving the Freehold Regional district would consider forming kindergarten-to-12th-grade districts of Colts Neck; Farmingdale and Howell; Freehold and Freehold Township; Englishtown and Manalapan; and Marlboro.
Another study would be on merging the districts of Ocean Township, Allenhurst, Deal, Interlaken and Asbury Park.
"We have to look at that, because there's a lot of people that could be affected," said Asbury Park Board of Education member Adrienne Sanders. "We have to weigh the pros and cons.
"I really think they have to hear from the parents and community, also," Sanders said.
"When you do a study, you really need all the stakeholders at the table."
Morris said she submitted the recommendations to state Education Commissioner Lucille E. Davy about three or four weeks ago. On Friday, Morris released the recommendations to the monthly round table of the county's 54 superintendents of public schools.
Morris also recommended studying the merging of the following districts:
Atlantic Highlands, Highlands and Henry Hudson.
Avon, Belmar, Lake Como, Brielle, Manasquan, Sea Girt, Spring Lake and Spring Lake Heights.
Upper Freehold Regional, Millstone and Roosevelt.
Monmouth Regional, Eatontown, Shrewsbury and Tinton Falls.
Keansburg, Keyport and Union Beach.
Bradley Beach, Neptune City and Neptune.
Shore Regional, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Sea Bright and West Long Branch.
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional, Fair Haven, Rumson and Sea Bright.
Red Bank Regional, Red Bank and Little Silver.
Colts Neck and Holmdel.
"I don't necessarily know if regionalization is the answer," said Tom Foley, president of the Millstone Township Board of Education, a kindergarten-to-8th-grade district. "But, at a minimum, we need to certainly study a shared-services type of setup.
"At the end of the day, after all is studied, the state really needs to step in and provide financial incentive, because somebody is going to get hurt (financially)," Foley said. "But, certainly, shared services is proven to save dollars, which we are ultimately trying to do and, at the same time, provide the most effective education systems."
Red Bank Schools Superintendent Laura C. Morana said she welcomes the feasibility study, adding that it should look at both the positives and negatives of a merger.
"The dialogue, I guess, is starting at this point," Morana said. "Without the feasibility study, we are not going to know."
Morris clarified that at this point the list of proposed studies are only recommendations. And the studies would have to be approved by Davy, said Morris, whose office is part of the state Education Department.
The local schools superintendents are to review Morris' recommendations and can suggest changes, Morris said. Her recommendations, although already sent to Davy, can be amended, she said.
The idea is to look at consolidating kindergarten-to-8th-grade districts with districts having high schools, based on educational and financial concerns, per state law. By March 15 of next year, Morris must recommend a specific consolidation or consolidations to Davy.
After the education commissioner agrees to a consolidation plan, it is still not final, Morris said. Voters in each district must then approve it, she said.
"I would urge everybody to cooperate in the studies," Morris said. "That's the only way for any of us to know the financial and educational impacts. In the end, the residents will still have a vote."
www.app.com/article/20090228/NEWS/902280333/1001/NEWSFRONT
School mergers proposed for study: Freehold Regional split suggested
The dissolution of the Freehold Regional High School District and merging the Ocean Township, Allenhurst, Deal, Interlaken and Asbury Park districts are among 12 feasibility studies on district consolidations recommended by the Monmouth County superintendent of schools, Carole Knopp Morris.
The studies would be on the feasibility of merging kindergarten-to-8th-grade school districts with high school districts. The state's county schools superintendents have been charged with developing plans for those consolidations.
The recommended study on dissolving the Freehold Regional district would consider forming kindergarten-to-12th-grade districts of Colts Neck; Farmingdale and Howell; Freehold and Freehold Township; Englishtown and Manalapan; and Marlboro.
Another study would be on merging the districts of Ocean Township, Allenhurst, Deal, Interlaken and Asbury Park.
"We have to look at that, because there's a lot of people that could be affected," said Asbury Park Board of Education member Adrienne Sanders. "We have to weigh the pros and cons.
"I really think they have to hear from the parents and community, also," Sanders said.
"When you do a study, you really need all the stakeholders at the table."
Morris said she submitted the recommendations to state Education Commissioner Lucille E. Davy about three or four weeks ago. On Friday, Morris released the recommendations to the monthly round table of the county's 54 superintendents of public schools.
Morris also recommended studying the merging of the following districts:
Atlantic Highlands, Highlands and Henry Hudson.
Avon, Belmar, Lake Como, Brielle, Manasquan, Sea Girt, Spring Lake and Spring Lake Heights.
Upper Freehold Regional, Millstone and Roosevelt.
Monmouth Regional, Eatontown, Shrewsbury and Tinton Falls.
Keansburg, Keyport and Union Beach.
Bradley Beach, Neptune City and Neptune.
Shore Regional, Monmouth Beach, Oceanport, Sea Bright and West Long Branch.
Rumson-Fair Haven Regional, Fair Haven, Rumson and Sea Bright.
Red Bank Regional, Red Bank and Little Silver.
Colts Neck and Holmdel.
"I don't necessarily know if regionalization is the answer," said Tom Foley, president of the Millstone Township Board of Education, a kindergarten-to-8th-grade district. "But, at a minimum, we need to certainly study a shared-services type of setup.
"At the end of the day, after all is studied, the state really needs to step in and provide financial incentive, because somebody is going to get hurt (financially)," Foley said. "But, certainly, shared services is proven to save dollars, which we are ultimately trying to do and, at the same time, provide the most effective education systems."
Red Bank Schools Superintendent Laura C. Morana said she welcomes the feasibility study, adding that it should look at both the positives and negatives of a merger.
"The dialogue, I guess, is starting at this point," Morana said. "Without the feasibility study, we are not going to know."
Morris clarified that at this point the list of proposed studies are only recommendations. And the studies would have to be approved by Davy, said Morris, whose office is part of the state Education Department.
The local schools superintendents are to review Morris' recommendations and can suggest changes, Morris said. Her recommendations, although already sent to Davy, can be amended, she said.
The idea is to look at consolidating kindergarten-to-8th-grade districts with districts having high schools, based on educational and financial concerns, per state law. By March 15 of next year, Morris must recommend a specific consolidation or consolidations to Davy.
After the education commissioner agrees to a consolidation plan, it is still not final, Morris said. Voters in each district must then approve it, she said.
"I would urge everybody to cooperate in the studies," Morris said. "That's the only way for any of us to know the financial and educational impacts. In the end, the residents will still have a vote."
www.app.com/article/20090228/NEWS/902280333/1001/NEWSFRONT
