Maybe it is time for the silent majority of Marlboro concerned citizens to speak out regarding the Township Council’s decision to fight the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education’s redistricting plan.
I, for one, do not want any of my tax dollars being used for such a nonsensical lawsuit. This topic has consumed too many meetings. The time has come for the redistricting plans to move forward and alleviate the overcrowding in Marlboro and Manalapan high schools.
I have been a resident of Marlboro for almost 20 years and during that time I have seen class sizes rise as new houses are build. Each of the regional high schools have special programs allowing our children curriculum choices other districts only dream about.
The idea of disbanding the regional district and separating into individual township high schools is ridiculous. First of all there is no way that the voters of Marlboro would agree to shoulder the tax burden and secondly, we would be compromising the educational opportunities for our children.
FRHSD currently offers a multitude of programs that often allow students from one school to take classes in another school. This would not be economically feasible for a single high school.
The other concern is the current overcrowding in Marlboro High School. A person who disputes this fact need only stand in the halls during passing time or observe students forced to eat their lunch in the wrestling room.
The time has come for all of the parents in the entire district to work together for the enrichment of all of the children.
The popular complaint I have heard from Marlboro parents opposed to redistricting is that their children will not attend school with their friends. Instead of encouraging the children to be self-confident and adjust to new situations in the real world where diversity is a fact of life, we are suing school districts to keep our young adults from meeting any new people.
It is the schools’ responsibility to provide a safe and enriching educational environment where students can grow academically and socially. It is the parents’ responsibility to be involved in the education of their children. Wouldn’t the Marlboro parents be equally involved in their children’s education no matter what school the child attended?
Then again, I find it interesting to note that the parents who are so vocal about their child having the right to attend Marlboro High School are not the parents attending the PTA meetings, supporting the booster clubs or volunteering for anything that would support the educational mission of the high school.
I urge all of the residents of Marlboro to let their voices be heard. Inform the Township Council that the time has come to focus their attention and our money on important issues at hand. Let the FRHSD implement their plan.
We have already funded enough studies on demographics. The students are here now and the board must move quickly to assure all of the current students the educational experience they deserve. Alleviate the overcrowding and work together as communities across boundaries to afford our children the opportunity to succeed in the future.
Kathleen Dallavalle
Marlboro