By David Kilby, Staff Writer
The Jamesburg and Monroe school districts both passed a resolution last week that would reduce tuition for Jamesburg students attending Monroe High School from $18,933 to $16,100 and would send Jamesburg freshmen starting high school in 2012 to a different school yet to be determined.
”Our students who started in Monroe will complete high school in Monroe,” said board president Darren Larsen.
The John F. Kennedy School gymnasium in Jamesburg was filled with concerned parents and residents St. Patrick’s Day as the Jamesburg Board of Education passed the resolution.
”Everyone is passionate about it now,” said Lew Kaufman, Monroe’s board president, who attended the special meeting Thursday. “They have to remain passionate. The situation with funding is horrible. The state needs to be equal with all districts.”
After passing the resolution, the board opened the discussion up to the public, and the entire special meeting consisted of comments and questions from the approximately 50 residents present and explanations from board members.
The resolution has no effect on the tax levy in the tentative budget so school taxes will remain flat at just under $3 per $100 of assessed valuation.
”I moved here 14 years ago because of Monroe High School,” said Paul Gentile, of Sedwig Street. “We’re two towns but one community.”
He added, “Pulling out of Monroe will have more of an impact on taxpayers than staying there would. Distance to school is an important consideration for homebuyers.”
”The emotional impact on students would be like a divorce,” he added.
When Monroe voters passed a referendum to build the new high school, Jamesburg voters were not included in the vote. The Jamesburg school district then argued its taxpayers should not have to pay debt service for a high school residents didn’t get to vote on.
With the new high school opening in September, Jamesburg has to start paying the debt service in the 2011-12 school year budget, but Jamesburg can’t afford it.
Jamesburg residents also have been paying taxes for the current Monroe High School for 32 years since Jamesburg High School was closed by the state.
”It’s like paying mortgage on a house,” said board member Patrice Faraone. “Then the bank comes in and says ‘by the way, now we own the house.’”
Since the board and public are weighing all their options, the possibility of Jamesburg building its own high school again was considered; but since Jamesburg is completely built out, there is nowhere for a new high school to be built.
”The state commissioner of education would not allow us to build our own high school at this time,” said Jennifer Paganucci, board attorney.
The board and Thomas Reynolds, business administrator, explained how the most viable option is to search for another high school for its students, and in the meantime, accept Monroe’s new lowered tuition rate of $16,100.
By comparison, East Brunswick’s tuition right now is $13,229 per student; Old Bridge’s is $12,086 per student; and South Brunswick’s is $11,495 per student.
The most feasible way for Jamesburg students to stay in Monroe is if the Jamesburg school district goes over its 2 percent tax levy cap. The school district can only raise the tax levy more than 2 percent if voters approve through a second question on the budget ballot April 27, Mr. Reynolds explained.
While the members of the public present at the meeting said they would vote to go over the 2 percent cap, the board explained how going to a different high school would allow Jamesburg to put money back into its own school district.
Mr. Reynolds reminded the parents they’re not the only voters in Jamesburg.
”Not once have I heard about the effect this would have on our kids,” said Michele Wilson, of Forge Street.
She said if they go to a high school other than Monroe, the other students will ask “Who are they?” and people will say “Oh, that’s the poor kids from Jamesburg who got taken out of Monroe because they couldn’t afford it.”
She added, “They’ll be outcasts.”
”People feel like this is a done deal,” said parent Monica Ludwig. “We should be negotiating with Monroe. They’re willing to listen.”
”I feel very sad that so many of you feel you don’t know what’s going on,” said Gail Verona, superintendent. “I’m always saying please come to meetings. I’m sorry that the perception is that this has been a hidden thing.”
She added, “Last year, we lost $1 million in a $12 million budget. We had to close computer labs, libraries, we had to let go of very good teachers.”
She said the board has been going to state meetings for several years and has gotten no response.
”This agreement (to accept lower tuition and phase out of Monroe High School) is letting us go forward with our budget,” she said.
She added, “Monroe is a great school, but we can’t afford it. It’s like living in a house in Beverly Hills.”
Many members of the public have been talking about organizing a rally and going to Trenton to ask for more state aid since low state aid is the main issue that has put Jamesburg and Monroe in this situation.
Mayor Tony LaMantia, of Jamesburg, also was present in the public at the special meeting.
”If the town is willing to organize something to shake the state up, I’d be the first to go down there with them,” the mayor said. “People have to understand it’s not the borough and it’s not the boards that are causing the problem. We’ve spoken to our legislatures (about state aid). Not one time have they done anything to help us.”

