FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Joseph M. DiBella, Mayor

1-732-938-4500

January 18, 2006

Update on the Freehold Regional High School Re-Districting Plan

Over the past several weeks the Township has been reviewing available legal and administrative options as it relates to challenging the re-districting decision of the Freehold Regional High School Board of Education (FRHS). As many residents are aware, the FRHS unveiled a plan to re-district Howell students yet again in a way that will place Howell High school at capacity in 2006 and over capacity in 2007. Howell students have been repeatedly re-districted year over year and we have come to learn that by 2007, there will be close to 500 empty desks at other schools in the district, all while Howell High School is forced with being overcrowded.

After much deliberation, we have elected to file a formal administrative Appeal with the New Jersey Commission of Education asking for their intervention and blockage of this flawed plan. We seek immediate relief and will ask that the Commissioner intervene and remand the matter back to the FRHS so that they may perform a more thorough analysis and construct a plan that better utilizes all of the schools in the district. Our motivation is to protect the students from Howell and also ensure that every child in the district has access to facilities that are conducive to the best educational experience possible.

Our formal Appeal will be filed shortly but I wanted to provide this important update now to ensure the entire community is aware of the status of this matter and that we have not given up. I am also pleased to report that Farmingdale has passed a Resolution opposing the plan and we hope they will join us in petitioning to the Commissioner for relief. In the coming days and weeks I call upon all Howell residents to call and write the Commissioner asking for their office to assist in remanding the matter back to the Board of Education for a more fair and balanced plan that will benefit all the children. The Commissioner’s contact information is below:

Office of the Commissioner
Ms. Lucille E. Davy, Acting Commissioner

100 River View Plaza
P.O. Box 500
Trenton, NJ 08625

Telephone (609) 292-4450
Fax (609) 777-4099

We do not know what the final outcome will be but I assure you that the Township will do everything possible to defend the rights of Howell students.

I’ll continue to keep the community aware of the progress of this matter.  If I can be of any help to you on this or any issue, please feel free to call or email me anytime at MayorDiBella@twp.howell.nj.us

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