system needs reform
Board calls on Legislature
to address property taxes
Freehold Regional school district resolution says
system needs reform
By dave benjamin
Staff Writer
Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education members are sending a message to the state Legislature.
At the Aug. 18 board meeting, a resolution supporting a special session of the Legislature to be called for the purpose of addressing property tax reform was approved in a 6-0 vote.
"This resolution, the framework for it, came from the New Jersey School Boards Association," said board member Bonnie Rosenwald of Marlboro. "There were some minor modifications, but this primarily came from the [association]."
The resolution passed by the board states that there is an urgent need to reform the property tax system which has placed a burden on New Jersey residents and taxpayers. The present system impedes the ability of many school districts to provide quality education, stifles the economy and makes home ownership difficult, according to the resolution.
Calling for a session of the Legislature to address that issue only, the resolution asks both houses to consider ways to implement property tax reform in New Jersey.
The resolution urges Gov. James E. McGreevey and members of the state Assembly and Senate to support the passage of SCR-89/ACR-161 which would direct the leaders of each house of the Legislature to convene a special session that would be dedicated solely to addressing the issue of property tax reform.
A copy of the resolution is expected to be sent to the governor, all legislators representing districts 12 and 30 and the New Jersey School Boards Association.
Board member Terry Kraft of Howell said a copy should be sent to each of the state’s 600 school boards.
"We know that this is a problem and if we alert the other 600 school boards, they can pass a resolution," Kraft said. "Maybe they can get through to the legislators that the taxpayers of this state are no longer going stand by and do nothing. They ought to address this as an issue. It is not acceptable the way it is."
Board member Bernice Hammer of Freehold Borough said that sending a message from all 600 school boards might be a new approach.
In other business at the Aug. 18 meeting, Joan Nesenkar Saylor, business administrator, reported on the progress of construction at Freehold Borough High School.
"A lot has been done since the board members toured [Aug. 14]," Saylor said. "About 95 percent [of the work is] complete. Carpeting and furniture are in all but three rooms. [Those are] new rooms where the furniture has not been delivered."
Saylor said she expected that the stoves and heavy-duty equipment for the school’s Five Star Cafe and bakery would be delivered on Aug. 19. Additionally, the flooring is being put down in the restaurant and the furniture will be delivered on Sept. 2.
"All the case work is in for the art [department] addition,’ Saylor said. "That just needs to be cleaned up and set up again."
Additionally, Saylor said the floor in the gymnasium is done and now has to be sanded and finished. The bleachers, which were in the school hallways during the summer, have to be returned.
"There are about 100 lockers in each of the two locker rooms," said Saylor. "The remaining lockers which we have purchased from the factory out in Ohio have been destroyed in the floods that the Midwest has been experiencing. We will not have all the lockers for the locker room ready for the opening of school. They won’t be coming until the end of September."
Saylor said there is basically one public locker factory in the country and it’s now treading water, unfortunately.
She reported that the intercom system is ready to be tested. The science wing is not complete, but the business administrator said it’s moving along.
As of Aug. 18, Saylor said, the fence on the Robertsville Road side of the school had been removed and the first layer of asphalt has been put down in the parking areas.
"Every day is a huge difference from the day before," said Saylor. "We will open."
Students from Howell attend the six schools in the Freehold Regional High School District.