Ashley Henderson Huff was killed while on Army duty in Iraq
By: Jake Uitti
MONTGOMERY With the flags at half-mast throughout the district just a few days after former Montgomery resident 1st Lt. Ashley Henderson Huff was killed in Iraq, the Board of Education began its Tuesday meeting with a moment of silence for Lt. Huff and her family, led by board Vice President Charles Jacey.
After the pause, interim Superintendent Sam Stewart noted the Montgomery Township Education Foundation is in the process of setting up a $1,000 scholarship fund in the name of Lt. Huff, a 2000 graduate of Montgomery High School.
Lt. Huff died following injuries she sustained from a suicide attack in Iraq. She had been in that country working to train the Iraqi police force.
Mr. Stewart, reflecting on the poignant time, took the podium and said, "The past few days have made me think how vulnerable we all are."
He said one of his first actions when he came to the district in August as interim superintendent was to institute a reading aloud period for every student in the district. As he stood at the podium on Tuesday, visibly moved by the news of Lt. Huff’s death, Mr. Stewart took out a book, "Here is New York" by E. B. White and read a passage that touched on the fragility of the modern era.
When he finished, Mr. Stewart said he would like to read more, but would save it for the next meeting since there was board business to get to business ranging from a contract for an irrigation system at the high school to a shared services agreement with Montgomery Township.
During the past month, the board has been working to acquire an irrigation system for Montgomery High School. American Lawn Sprinkler Co. of Morganville submitted the lowest bid, $135,585, and the board members present voted unanimously to accept the contract. Board members Wei-ching Lin and David Pettit were not present.
Business Administrator Tim Stys said the company would proceed in October with the installation of the irrigation system, which will service two of the high school athletic fields. Installation should take about a month, he said.
In addition to the irrigation system, the board approved a resolution authorizing the execution of an interlocal agreement with Somerset County.
According to the resolution, there is a sink hole on Main Boulevard near the entrance to the Village Elementary School underneath a bridge in the former North Princeton Developmental Center that requires immediate repair. The board will pay for the repair, about $39,000, and the county will provide the construction services under the expedited plan.
The board also approved a resolution authorizing a shared services agreement with Montgomery Township for reseeding athletic fields at Montgomery High School, pending Township Committee approval.
Mr. Stys said he met with township representatives and discovered the most cost-effective and expeditious method for the grass restoration was through a shared services agreement with the township. The agreement stipulates that the school district will pay for the cost of all materials and machine rental, and the township will supply the labor through its Public Works Department, Mr. Stys said.
Though the board approved the agreement, it is not official until the Township Committee approves it, which is anticipated at its Oct. 5 meeting.
Mr. Jacey said time was a factor in making the decision because the last date for planting grass is Oct. 15.

