Candidates want more rigorous academic standards but are not supportive of Gov. Jon Corzine’s suggestion for the merging of school districts.
By:Lea Kahn Staff Writer
Increasing the number of Advanced Placement courses offered at Lawrence High School and maintaining rigorous academic standards in the schools are among the priorities of the three candidates for three school board seats.
But none of the three candidates believes that consolidating the Lawrence Township school district in an effort to save money as suggested broadly by Gov. Jon Corzine would benefit the students or taxpayers.
The candidates incumbent school board member Michael Brindle and newcomers Thomas Patrick and Kevin Pollock are seeking the three seats held by Mr. Brindle, Michael Winka and Robin Bridges-Johnson in the April 18 school board election. The terms are for three years.
Mr. Winka is not seeking re-election, and Ms. Bridges-Johnson who was appointed to fill out the unexpired term of former board member Michael Wilson is not seeking a full, three-year term.
Mr. Brindle, 60, who is seeking his sixth term on the school board, said his priorities for the next three years are to continue to strengthen the academic program but without "diminishing" the strong fine arts and athletics programs in the district.
"We must be very careful that we do not push academic rigor at the expense of all other programs," Mr. Brindle wrote in an e-mail interview. "I think the community will continue to require the schools to provide both."
Mr. Patrick, 59, wrote that he fully supports increasing academic rigor in the schools, but he has other priorities, as well such as reducing the number of special education students who are sent outside of the district for their education.
"If it is financially advantageous and if there is physical space available, I would indeed offer more special education programs in-district," Mr. Patrick wrote.
Mr. Patrick and Mr. Pollock also wrote that they would like to see more Advanced Placement courses offered at Lawrence High School. The school currently offers 15 AP courses, including math, science, history and literature.
Mr. Pollock, 32, wrote that the school district should share with parents and students the importance of taking challenging courses, such as the AP courses. It would increase the students’ knowledge base and enable them to be accepted at better colleges, he wrote.
"Taking these courses allows the children to avoid taking ‘core classes’ at college, giving them more freedom to focus on the classes they enjoy," Mr. Pollock wrote. "It also enables children to finish college earlier, saving them and their parents significantly at a time when college costs are rising dramatically."
Mr. Pollock would like to begin foreign language study as early as possible, which in the public schools means kindergarten. The language should be taught using the total immersion method, which means English is not spoken at all during class time, he said.
"Every study that I’ve ever read indicates that the earlier a child starts a foreign language, the easier it is for that child to learn the language and the better that child learns both English and that foreign language," he wrote.
He also suggested that the foreign languages that are taught should be the ones that are most often spoken by township residents. For example, if 15 percent of the population speaks Spanish at home but less than one percent speak French, it makes more sense to teach Spanish, wrote, adding that it would be "imprudent" not to build on the foreign language skills already present in the community.
Mr. Pollock also would like to increase the number of LHS students who go on to attend four-year colleges. The number of seniors who plan to attend college has ranged from 55 percent to 61 percent over the past five years, according to the annual school report card issued by the state Department of Education.
"For better or for worse, our society places a premium on college education rather than practical experience," he wrote. "In order to give our children the best chance to have a successful career and a good life, I think we must encourage this goal."
"One of the easiest ways (to educate children and parents on the need for a college degree) is taking a few minutes every year to show people the statistics relating to job salaries for college graduates compared to those of non-college graduates," he wrote.
The three candidates rejected a suggestion by Gov. Jon Corzine to consolidate with another school district as a cost-savings measure.
Mr. Brindle wrote that consolidating school districts "seems to be a no-brainer" at first, but "the idea of a countywide school system is a plan whose time has not yet come."
"I like the control of the local Board of Education making decisions for the children of Lawrence, not what is best for students in Trenton, Ewing, Princeton or Hamilton," Mr. Brindle wrote.
Mr. Patrick wrote that "on the surface," consolidation appears attractive, because it might reduce the cost of school supplies if school districts could combine their orders to receive further quantity discounts.
"As I see it, the savings from consolidation would be in supplies, possibly busing and in top level administration," he wrote. "It is doubtful that there would be savings in the actual instruction expense."
"Collective bargaining on one substantially larger teacher’s union is not likely to save much money," Mr. Patrick wrote. "When one looks at a school budget, salaries and fringe benefits take up most of the dollars. I am not saying that Lawrence should not look into the possibility of consolidation, but I doubt that considerable savings can be achieved."
Mr. Pollock wrote that he favors any measure that would save money and also provide the school district with an equal or greater amount of service but he is not certain that consolidating school districts would achieve that goal.
"I have not yet seen studies on the subject as it relates to our township nor have I seen any cost projections," he wrote. "It would be unwise to suggest a course of action that would cost millions of dollars if there is no or minimal practical benefit."

