Regionalization study: Vote yes

Dave Beaumont
West Amwell Township
    If you are a regular reader of The Beacon, hopefully you’re already familiar with the ballot question in the upcoming school election on Wednesday April 27, asking voters to approve funding a feasibility study to explore dissolving four local school districts in order to create a new single Pre K-12 district.
   The purpose for the study is to determine if there are potential financial and/or educational benefits by unifying West Amwell Elementary, Stockton Borough School, Lambertville Public School, and South Hunterdon Regional High School into one district.
   If you are unfamiliar with the proposed question, I encourage you to read the two excellent opinion pieces in last week’s edition of The Beacon or go to the West Amwell Township website: www.westamwelltwp.org to learn about the proposed study.
   Regardless of how you feel about regionalization, I urge you to come out and vote on this important question. Your vote is critical, whether you believe regionalization would or would not result in taxpayer savings and/or enhance education, or you believe it would be best to remain as independent elementary school districts to suit the needs of the individual communities/children or perhaps you simply can’t afford the $10-$15 to help fund the feasibility study.
   Furthermore, I encourage you to reach out to your neighbors and ask them to vote as well. After years of talking about regionalization, we finally have an opportunity to determine if it is feasible and makes sense for our communities and children. The outcome if this election must reflect the true aggregate wishes and desires of our communities on whether to pursue a study or not. That can only happen if we all vote on April 27.