The Board of Education plans to present a referendum for a "couple of million dollars" for science labs at the high school.
By: Linda Seida
WEST AMWELL Representatives of South Hunterdon Regional High School’s Board of Education will meet with parents from West Amwell on Jan. 17 in an informational session officials hope will bring more students to their high school as well as forge a stronger bond with the community.
They also hope it will cement support when the board asks for a "couple of million dollars" in a referendum for new science labs at the high school, something officials said they will be asking voters for in the future.
The meeting will take place at West Amwell Elementary School on Route 179 at 7 p.m.
School officials already have met with a group of parents from another feeder school, Stockton Elementary. In the future, they’ll hold a session with parents from a third school, Lambertville Public, although a date has not been set yet, according to South board President David Moraski.
Last month, Principal Don Woodring and Assistant Principal Michael Godown were among those present when South Hunterdon representatives met with parents of students attending Stockton Elementary School. The meeting with parents was productive, according to Mr. Moraski. Although he did not say how many attended, he said the turnout was good, and officials "heard very positive things."
"People are trying to help" the school district, he said. Parents inquired if there was "anything they could do" and offered their support to South Hunterdon, according to Mr. Moraski.
That support will be welcome when the board seeks support for an expensive wish list in the near future. Last year, voters shot down the 2003-2004 school budget. In 2002, voters rejected a bond issue by a margin of just six votes.
"Sometime in the future, we’ll need a referendum," Mr. Moraski said.
The board will seek the referendum to finance new science labs at the high school. The cost is estimated at "a couple of million dollars," according to Mr. Moraski said.