Task force results coming soon
Financial and
demographic reports ready for review
According to Roosevelt Mayor Michael Hamilton, the demographic and financial components of the panhandle task force school regionalization study are ready for review by the mayors of Allentown, Upper Freehold and Millstone.
After that meeting takes place, the findings will be presented to the boards of education, the press and the communities involved, he said.
A telephone survey, the third component of the study, has yet to be performed, but that information will be added to the report when it is complete.
The task force, an ad hoc committee commissioned by the Western Monmouth Panhandle Alliance, a mayors’ group, carried out the study. Problems with the financial section of the report caused delays, which have now been resolved satisfactorily, said Hamilton.
The study will form a base of information from which Millstone, Upper Freehold, Allentown and Roosevelt can make future determinations about the educational directions of their communities.
The area has seen a tremendous influx of new residents, and the existing school systems are being sorely tested as a result of increased enrollment.
Last month the Upper Freehold Regional School District, which includes Allen-town, successfully passed a referendum to expand and renovate its high school (to which Millstone is a sending district, contributing 53 percent of the high school population), as well as the middle school annex building.
Meanwhile, Millstone Town-ship struggles with the problem of under-representation on the Upper Freehold Board of Education, as well as space problems in its elementary and middle schools.
Currently, Roosevelt’s growth has remained stable, with elementary facilities in the town and a send-receive relationship with Hightstown for middle and high school facilities.
Sensitive to the fact that many residents of the communities involved are anxiously awaiting the results, Hamilton said, "If I can ‘push the envelope’ on this, I will."
He also explained the difficulties associated with conducting such a project at this time of year. "Most municipalities have to close out their finances for one year, plan the budget for the next, and reorganize their entire governments by the beginning of the new year," he said.
"As mayors, we are incredibly busy, but we are trying to do this as well as our other work, while trying to earn a living and squeeze in some quality time with our families," he added. "I know that the other panhandle mayors are as interested as I am in getting good information to the public as soon as possible. We will be working toward that end."