MANALAPAN
Public voices
opinions on
redistricting
Staff Writer
MANALAPAN — Freehold Regional High School District administrators held another in a series of public meetings on the topic of redistricting at Manalapan High School on May 1.
"We are here to accept and take into consideration some of the questions and some of the concerns that the parents in the Manalapan community may have regarding a very sensitive and emotional issue," Superintendent of Schools James Wasser said. "It’s unfortunate that sometimes certain school districts have to experience this, but the reality is that when you’re living in a growing community, when you’re living in an area that is inundated with housing and people and students, it’s inevitable that you’re going to have change."
Wasser said the real issue is change. He cited the increase in the number of people coming to the area which forces the district to work harder at balancing the enrollments at the six high schools — Colts Neck, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township, Howell, Manalapan and Marlboro — in the region.
The aim of district administrators is to balance the enrollments for the school year that will begin in September 2003. The district’s Board of Education may make a decision on redistricting in June, effectively providing more than a year’s notice to parents and students of their high school assignment.
In the 2002-03 school year the district expects to enroll about 10,400 students, according to Wasser. Enrollment during the present school year stands at about 9,700 students in grades nine through 12.
When the meeting was opened to comments and questions from the public, Barry Jacobson asked for a review of the capacities of each school. He noted that, "We might be overestimating the number of students coming into the schools, because some students may be going to private or parochial schools." He also indicated that there might be ways to make the busing schedule more advantageous.
Wasser then noted the capacity for each school. He also indicated that new capacity figures would have to be compiled next year.
Patty Kopp said she was told by real estate agents that her children would go to Manalapan High School.
"Eleven years ago the real estate agent said, ‘There’s your elementary school. There’s your high school,’ " Kopp said.
Kathy Lagara said she would be proud to have her daughter go to any of the district’s high schools.
Julius Ramsey, a Freehold resident representing the NAACP, said New Jersey has the most segregated school system in the country and is in dire need of academic reform. He said the FRHSD "may just be part of that reform."
Alex Rich, a senior at Manalapan High School, said he has to make his way through crowded hallways at least five times each day.
"I’m late to half of my classes because I can’t get through," he said. "A lot of people don’t like the idea of redistricting and I really don’t like the idea. But the bottom line is it’s hard to be educated when the teacher has to take 10 minutes of time to settle down classes with 30 kids."
Rich said he doesn’t believe he is getting the education he is entitled to because of the overcrowded classes.
"Some things need to change," he said, "and the only real solution is redistricting of some sort."
Manalapan Township Committeeman Drew Shapiro said, "What’s the difference if there’s 3,500 (students in the building)? You’re going to handle security. I’m just throwing that number out. If the overall size means there’s going to be smaller class sizes, there’s a senior here that says he just wants smaller class size, so he can be educated.
"If you do expand the school, overall, it will be larger. But, at the same time there will be more classes. There will be more teachers. Put the money that you would (have used) building a new school (into) hiring teachers. Keep the class size down. Isn’t that what we’re going to accomplish; the education of the kids, not the size, or how many kids are in the school?"
Wasser said in an ideal world that would sound great.
"Whether or not we have 26 students in a class and 2,500 students in the school or 26 students in a class with 3,500 students in the school, it would be a whole different ball game," the superintendent said. "In the class it wouldn’t be different, but trying to manage that population would be."
Wasser said more support services such as guidance counselors would be needed in a school with more students.
"I have a ratio of 300 (students) to 1 (guidance counselor)," he said. "I may not get additional guidance counselors" due to budget restraints and availability.
School board Vice President Marlene Caruso pointed out the need for nurses and Wasser noted there are many more children on medication today than in the past and nurses are finding it difficult to properly handle the student load.
As an alternative to sending some students to a school in a different town, Manalapan Deputy Mayor Bill Scherer suggested holding split sessions in the overcrowded schools and asked the board to look further into the demographics.
Wasser said the problem with split sessions is that the building winds up with two faculties, there are problems with after-school activities, extra student help is curtailed, administrators have to work longer hours causing them to become strained, and there are contractual issues.
"You have to remember," said Wasser. "There are seats available (at some schools in the FRHSD). You need the county superintendent’s permission to go to split sessions. You can’t do it when there is space available in the district."
Other suggestions discussed included: additional classrooms to be built in some areas designated for student parking; moving the least number of students possible to a high school outside Manalapan; only redistricting students who have not yet entered high school; and only redistricting new housing developments.