Learning center for law,
public service announced
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer
The Freehold Regional High School District is planning to start a new specialized learning center focusing on a curriculum of law and public service. The new learning center will be housed at Colts Neck High School and is expected to open in September 2004.
Suzanne Koegler, the district’s assistant superintendent of curriculum, said she has been putting together a preliminary scope and sequence of courses for the learning center.
Superintendent of Schools James Wasser said, "This was talked about two or three years ago. This will be for the high-powered kids that want to go into the pre-law area, but then, as it builds its own momentum, there may be some kids who may not want to go into that direction only."
The superintendent said that after the law and public service program has been up and running for at least a year, some students may want to go into a related field.
"So, it will take the kids that are also in the middle, who tend to get shuffled around," said Wasser. "I think it has a lot of possibilities."
The superintendent said there is a lot of work yet to be done with the curriculum and noted that district administrators will have to provide information to the elementary school districts to let students know about the program.
"It was announced at the test for the learning centers that this is being considered, so kids were interested that this may be available for them next year," the superintendent said. "A lot of this will be predicated on the budget, because it will take more teachers and more materials and also building a new program up."
FRHSD Board of Education member Christopher M. Placitella of Colts Neck, who is an attorney, said start-up grants may be available from the bar association.
Depending upon how many students apply, it is expected that there will be one or possibly two sections at the start of the law and public service program.
"When I was at the orientation at Freehold Township High School earlier in October the interest was already there," said Koegler. "I can easily see two sections running with no problem, about 40 to 50 students or better."
Koegler said there would also be the possibility of adding an externship as well to the curriculum.
The district’s specialized learning centers are open to students from all eight FRHSD sending communities.