HILLSBOROUGH: ‘Choice schools’ give education option to parents

It would come at a cost to local school district

   Parents have another school option for their children _ but it would cost the township school system for each pupil who leaves the system.
   In addition to charter schools (see related story), township students may apply to some area schools under the state’s School Choice program. As of now, families have until Monday, May 16, to submit their applications, but there may be flexibility.
   The School Choice program, created by the state Legislature as a pilot program in 2000 and made permanent in 2010, gives students the option of leaving their residential school districts to attend another school that offers the programs they desire.
   Three Hunterdon County districts recently accepted into the program are trying to get the word out that space is available for the 2011-12 school year. Also recently approved were Bound Brook and South Bound Brook.
   The Hillsborough district would be required to send money out of its own budget to the choice district and probably not see a corresponding savings in expesnes.
   ”The financial impact to the district could be significant if the cost savings due to enrollment decreases do not off-set the moneys sent to the charter schools,” Superintendent Dr. Jorden Schiff said.
   
   According to the 2009-10 state “report card,” Hillsborough’s comparative cost per pupil is $12,249 and total cost per pupil is $13,731. The number of spaces permitted in each choice school is less than originally anticipated. Students who think they would like to attend one of these schools should get their applications in as soon as possible. If the number of students seeking admission exceeds the number of spaces available at a school, the school will hold a lottery to determine who will be admitted. The program is free to parents.
   The home district must provide transportation if the choice district falls within a 20-mile radius. If the school is outside the 20-mile radius, transportation is the responsibility of parents or guardians.
   The K-6 Lambertville and Stockton public schools are taking applications. South Hunterdon Regional in West Amwell Township is seeking applicants for the grade 7-12 district of just 360 students.
   At South Hunterdon, Superintendent Nancy Gartenberg said the May 16 deadline to submit an application is a “soft” one because of the tight deadlines and the late notifications sent to schools by the state. Notifications arrived during spring break when some schools were not in session.
   Also, this week, just days before applications are due, most schools are heavily involved in student testing, hampering tours for prospective students, Ms. Gartenberg noted. “I would see us having some flexibility until the end of the month,” she said.
   The number of spaces available at South Hunterdon is 18, based on state approval. Initially the number was 40. Currently the school has about a half-dozen applications in hand, Ms. Gartenberg said. Lambertville has space for seven students, half of the number it originally expected to accept.
   Stockton, the smallest school in the state with just 41 pre-K-6 students, can accept 12 applicants. Originally the school had anticipated being able to accept 20. It would be possible for the schools to accept a higher number of applicants in the future with state approval, Chief School Administrator Suzanne Ivans said.
   Questions remain for educators as the program unfolds. South Hunterdon, Stockton and Lambertville officials will meet in Trenton on May 23. All School Choice districts will meet with the state in June.
   ”This is a great opportunity for South Hunterdon to share its excellent academic and extracurricular program with students who may be looking for a smaller school experience,” Ms. Gartenberg said. “We have been voted one of the top 75 high schools in New Jersey, according to New Jersey Monthly, since 2008.”
   The school offers a variety of Advanced Placement courses, honors classes, opportunity for online courses, a middle school gifted seminar, choir and band programs and drama and art departments. South Hunterdon also has an agriculture science program in partnership with Rutgers University, as well as activities like robotics, Future Farmers of America and ski club. Athletics include soccer, football, field hockey, cheerleading, basketball, bowling, golf, softball and baseball.
   Stockton offers a French language program in kindergarten through grade six. Mandarin Chinese is available to children in grades four to six. Students are taught in “mixed-ability and mixed-age learning groups,” according to the district’s School Choice application.
   Lambertville offers a full-day kindergarten program, a Spanish program, which stresses the five language skills, a comprehensive fine arts program and a preschool class designed for children with a need for specially designed instruction, according the school’s website.