Letters to the Herald

For the Nov. 28 issue.

Resident questions
administration qualifications

To the editor:
   
The No-Child-Left-Behind law is bad legislation, but it is the law. I do, however, applaud those members of the East Windsor Board of Education who have said publicly that maybe we should be the district that leads the way to change it, so hopefully others will follow to put pressure on the legislature to fix what is certainly broken.
   Nonetheless, until such events occur, we do have to abide by the law and this is where I have some concerns. The teachers and support staff that have been educating the children of Hightstown and East Windsor are now required to show that they are "highly qualified." The State of New Jersey already has one of the most comprehensive certification programs in the country and now all of a sudden this is not good enough for the federal government. But again the law is the law and we will comply because we do want the federal dollars.
   The real question I have is, "Are we asking the same questions of those who run our district?" Who is checking to see that all of our central administration personnel are "highly qualified?" Is the board asking all of its administrators to supply proof of subject area and or supervisory certifications?
   I hope so, because the law is the law.

CBTR is costing
Twin Rivers money

To the editor:
   
How far are you people with the Committee for a Better Twin Rivers willing to go? Isn’t it enough that you are costing every resident in this community hundreds of dollars in legal fees? Now you are making false violation warnings and placing them on SUVs just before the election.
   You accuse the Trust of trying to fix the elections, then you go and pull something so underhanded and unscrupulous even professional politicians would find it revoltingly unprincipled! Which one of you came up with this brilliant plan? Al? Haim? Dianne? Are any of you willing to take responsibility for your actions? No, of course not, how silly of me. You’ll claim someone is making this all up or perhaps that you did it all for the people of Twin Rivers. Yes, that’s it, isn’t it? You’re doing it all for us.
   You don’t really think this will put Al Wally on the board do you? Too many people have heard Mr. Wally’s nonsensical ravings for that to happen. No matter how much misdirected anger you cause, it won’t happen. Especially when everyone learns that YOU are responsible for it.
   I know that most of the people of this community are tired of all of you. My suggestion is to call Haim Bar-Akiva, Dianne McCarthy and Al Wally and tell them you are sick of the money they are costing you, their lies and their sneaky tricks. I thought they had sunk about as low as it was possible for a human being to go. I was wrong. They have finally proven just how spectacularly deceitful one small group can be. Let’s let them know you don’t like what they are doing.

Freshman team excelled
with winning record

To the editor:
   
As a proud parent of a Hightstown High School freshman football player, I feel it only fitting to acknowledge the freshman football team for an outstanding job this year. I understand that in many high schools, the varsity teams receive most of the publicity, but I feel compelled to publicly recognize and commend the members of the freshman team who finished the season with a 5-3 record.
   Keeping in mind that this group of players were playing together as a team for the first time this year, it was obvious that their talent, hard work, and determination were key factors as they played every game of this season. I would be remiss if I didn’t also acknowledge and formally thank the coaches, and even more importantly, the townships’ Flag and Pop Warner Football Programs, who were instrumental in helping to prepare these players for their success this season.
   With a team such as this, one can only prepare for bigger and better things to come for the future of the Hightstown High School Football Program.

Governor beginning
to talk of consolidation
To the editor:
   
Gov. McGreevey’s recent speech before the League of Municipalities in Atlantic City is to be commended for stating one of the problems facing the resolution of high property taxes in New Jersey.
   New Jersey operates 608 school districts including 23 without buildings. Numerous studies have been completed to illustrate the need for consolidation of small school districts and the sharing of government services. One can hope that the new legislature on January will address this issue. I intend to be there in Trenton to address this issue for Hightstown. I have also written to the governor to commend him on the first step in addressing the problem. The next step may not be as easy.