FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Joseph M. DiBella, Mayor

1-732-938-4500

December 4, 2005

Help Reverse the Freehold Regional High School Re-Districting Plan

Over the past several weeks the Freehold Regional High School Board of Education has been deliberating on a plan to re-district the regional system. While the Board has called this a “tweaking” it will never the less change where some 2006 incoming Howell freshman will go to High School.

The township council and I were never properly notified about such discussions; neither was the community at large. In fact, formal communication came after the Board had largely agreed on a plan that changed where many in coming Howell freshman will attend High School next year. I respect the complexities re-districting brings and I also respect the service these Board of Education members provide to the district. They are volunteers that work long hours and tackle very important issues. I respect what they do and their commitment to our young people.

As a result of my respect for these public servants, when the re-districting was first unveiled I originally objected to the “process”.  I understood that a re-districting was a challenging topic and so I gave them the benefit of the doubt that all options had been explored. My initial concerns were that Howell residents were denied the right to voice their opinions on this issue before a final decision had been made. I made this known to the Superintendent and addressed the full Board twice on this matter. I believe that every resident is entitled to be heard and I criticized the Board for what I believe was terrible communication of a major issue. I suggested changes in communication and new policies that would ensure each community in the regional district would be made aware of re-districting plans well in advance of any final vote.

While my initial concern was over their “flawed communication process”, it became increasingly apparent to me that the issue was much more serious that I had thought. Thanks to the efforts and dedication of many Howell residents, especially the township’s regional BOE liaison, Joan Leimbach, it became apparent that the entire re-districting plan was seriously flawed.

In essence the proposed for September 2006 will move Howell students from Colts Neck High School and relocate them to Howell High School. To be clear, the relocation is not the issue. In fact, Howell High School is a top-flight facility with great staff and leadership. The flaw in the move is that Howell High School is near capacity now and with the addition of these new students, the overcrowding will only get worse. This is unfair to all Howell students.

In fact, within one year, Howell High School is projected to be well above its suggested capacity. The plan will create less than satisfactory conditions for all students. It is seriously flawed and is bad for all that attend Howell High School. Crowded hallways, lager than necessary class sizes and a school over its capacity is not conductive for promoting and providing the best education possible for “our” kids.

The district’s own data reveals that there are several hundred desks that will be empty at Marlboro High School next year. Yet, relocating some of the Marlboro students from Colts Neck High School to Marlboro High School was, in the words of the Superintendent “not considered”. Students from Marlboro Township and all the communities in the District deserve the best education possible, so this is not a Howell v Marlboro issue.  However, as Mayor, I will not stand by and have our students crammed into a school that is near capacity while hundreds of empty desks are available elsewhere.

In fact, the District’s own data suggests that in 2007 there will be 500 empty desks at Marlboro High School, Manalapan High School and Colts Neck High School combined – all while Howell High school is left ‘busting at the seams’.

The fact is Howell Township students represent 38% of the population in the Freehold Regional High School District. Furthermore, Howell residents pay 22% of the taxes that fund the entire district. In fact 18% of the local taxes collected from Howell residents go to the Freehold Regional High School. To put this in perspective, only 11% of the local taxes collected go to Howell Township to operate the entire municipality of 52,000 people. Simply put, for what we pay, our kids deserve better.

This is also not the first time that a re-districting has been bad for Howell.  The District changed where “our” kids went to high school in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002 and now again in 2005. Of these five changes, three of times only Howell kids were moved. Enough is enough. The fact is that the Board of Education needs to evaluate a district wide examination rather than a year-to-year band aid approach that invariably always seems to hurt Howell kids. 

As Mayor, I am asking that we rally together as a community and work to overturn this terrible plan. This plan is bad for every student from Howell and we need to work together as a community of one to overturn and block this plan.

I would ask that every Howell resident, no matter the age of their child, voice their concerns over why our kids always get the short end of the stick. Please call the Freehold Regional Board of Education on 732-792-7300 and ask to speak to the Superintendent and let him know Howell deserves better. You should also email the Board and outline your concerns. You should email the Superintendent at jwasser@frhsd.com

Most importantly, please attend the next Freehold Regional Board of Education meeting. The meeting will be on December 12^th at 8pm at Marlboro High School, in Marlboro. It is imperative that we stand together as a community of one and challenge this flawed plan that is bad for the district and bad for Howell. As your Mayor, I’ll do all I can to oppose this plan but I’ll need your help. Let’s do it for Howell, let’s do it because it’s the right thing to do – but most important, let’s do it for our kids!

If I can be of any help to you on this or any issue, please feel free to call or email me anytime.  I look forward to seeing you all on December 12^th.  For more information I can be reached at MayorDiBella@twp.howell.nj.us