Enrollment up 43 pupils in Freehold Borough

[BrianSullivan]

newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2010-09-01/Front_Page/Enrollment_up_43_pupils_in_Freehold_Borough.html

[BrianSullivan]

I thought this was a good article that touches on several things.

First the title- enrollment is increasing. This highlights the ongoing problem of overcrowding. Is there any plans in the works to ease this massive burden?

On another note. From the article:

“We also hired a district translator and community liaison who will report to Claudia Pohlke, our supervisor of instruction. The translator/community liaison will assist our teachers in reaching out to our Spanishspeaking parents to enhance parent involvement and improve student achievement,” O’Connell said. “She will also have responsibilities for evening meetings when a translator is needed.”

Outreach to the Latino community, which if I recall is about 60 percent of the schools, is important. My question- how active are the immigrant parents in the schools, the PTO specifically?

And another topic, from the article:

Unlike some other Garden State school districts, Freehold Borough will not be charging students a fee to participate in school sports and activities, according to O’Connell

My opinion is that this is foolish and fees should be charged. I know other schools are doing it, not because it is right, but because they are backed into a corner.
I have long believed that non academic activities should have fees attached and charged to participants. I do not believe the fees should have to cover the whole costs, but play a roll in off setting the costs. In a district like ours that has a very very high percentage of low income families, charging fees would provide a very valuable lesson that nothing is free.

This concept is for the desire of seeing programs kept and not cut out all together down the line due to no choice.

And one last topic, the schools CIC. It looks like some good ideas coming from them. I respect and admire theri efforts, it is not easy.