Gisbert Manskopf, West Amwell
For many years letters to The Beacon have pointed out the enormous expenses to educate a student at South Hunterdon Regional High School. The arrogance and incompetence of the administration and teachers union at South prevented for years any kind of compromise in reducing the costs at South. Add to this the ignorance and weak-mindedness of the local politicians.
Two years ago the budget of South was defeated. No action was taken. Spending went its merry way. Last year the budget was defeated by a decisive margin. A 10 percent cut of the budget was indicated. A paltry 3.5 percent cut was — after much quarrel and threats by the administration — agreed upon. An earlier settlement had called for 5 percent.
Now we are staring at another decisive defeat of the budget at South after a heavy campaign of the administration and teacher union in favor of the budget. The time has arrived to make significant reduction in the bloated budget at South. A 20 percent reduction is clearly mandated. Otherwise we shall look at a wasteland in West Amwell, as one reader wrote.
The local teachers union agrees to a pay freeze for last year and this year. The expenses for administration will be cut in half. The extracurricular activities will be cut in half. Soccer for girls will be postponed. The size of classes will be brought up to the state averages somewhere between 15 to 20 students. The number of classified students again will be brought down to the state average of around 15 percent of the student population. The guidance department should be staffed with generally accepted numbers.
These suggestions should represent only a beginning. Many other activities can be reduced.
