Freehold Regional is really all about student achievement

Irecently attended a Freehold Regional High School District School Board of Education Imeeting. The meeting was a combination of extraordinary achievement and disappointing conduct. The extraordinary achievement included a student presentation on a project about driver safety for teenagers.

The maturity and dedication these young adults displayed was something to behold. It represented two years of work to overcome the tragic deaths of their fellow students; culminating in an exceptional film on teenage driving that should be mandatory for every young adult.

This presentation underscored the phenomenal capability of the largest school district in the state. It highlighted the way the FRHSD leadership views and reacts to challenges, and most importantly creates a climate for young adults to grow and learn in a safe and secure environment.

The students were followed by Dr. Patricia Emmerman, who read from a state report on special education that recognized the FRHSD as providing extraordinary education for children with disabilities. The district was recognized for exceptional achievement in almost every area. A report on school safety was also impressive with only 104 incidents in a district of 12,000 students.

The sad part, at least for me, was the personal attacks by several people on the recent controversy regarding Mr. (James) Wasser. I had hoped the matter was over, but unfortunately it has become a personal issue for a small group of people. The personal attacks detracted from what was otherwise an uplifting meeting that made me feel good about the leadership and direction of our district.

While everyone deserves an opportunity to disagree with a policy, a person, and/or a school board, this issue has run its course and their point has been heard and the issue resolved. We now need to move forward and keep the board focused on the mission at hand, which is to continue to provide for the education of our children with the same energy and success that they have displayed in the past.

The successful record of this district is exceptional as evidenced by the presentations I mentioned earlier, the number of outstanding programs available to our students, and the solid leadership at the school and district level. That did not occur by accident. It is the result of 10 years of hard work by the superintendent, the staff, the school principals, the parents, the teachers and most of all the students who make the Freehold Regional High School District what it is today.

It was the direct result of a commitment on the part of the FRHSD administration to run the district as a cost-effective organization that graduates 99.9 percent of its students, maintains great facilities, and encourages students to participate in sports, clubs, academies, learning centers and leadership programs. It is this district policy that makes the Freehold Regional High School District one of the finest districts in the state. It is time to stop the attacks and move forward for the kids.

James S. Sfayer

Lt. Col. USMC (Ret.)

Colts Neck

Editor’s note: The author is the former director of the Freehold Regional High School District’s ROTC program at Colts Neck High School.