JAMESBURG — None of the five school districts that expressed initial interest in accepting Jamesburg high school students have rendered final decisions, Superintendent of Schools Gail Verona said last week.
The borough’s school district set a Sept. 30 deadline for officials from the interested districts to make a final decision, which is needed if Jamesburg is to end its send-receive relationship with Monroe Township High School.
“We’re waiting until the deadline, and if and when we do hear from any of the districts at that point, the ad hoc committee will be formed,” Verona said during the Board of Education’s Sept. 22 meeting. “We will keep you updated.”
Jamesburg school officials are considering pulling the town’s high school students out of Monroe starting next year due to the rising tuition rate there. Jamesburg is paying $19,100 for each high school student sent to Monroe this year, an amount that for the first time includes $3,000 for debt service on the township’s new high school.
The school districts that expressed initial interest in receiving Jamesburg’s high school students include West Windsor, SouthAmboy, Old Bridge, the Freehold Regional High School District and Matawan- Aberdeen Regional District. Jamesburg sent each district information regarding demographics, ethnicity and special education needs.
Salvatore Brucato, vice president of the Jamesburg board, said the borough’s students would continue to attend Monroe Township High School if no other school was willing to take them.
“There will be financing issues, as we cannot raise taxes enough to cover the deficit, nor would the voters pass that anyway,” Brucato said, referring to the possibility of a special ballot question to raise the tax levy beyond the 2 percent that is allowed by the state.
“I see this getting thrown back at the state to try and figure out what to do,” he said. “The students legally have to be allowed to get an education, and Monroe is willing to take us if all other avenues fail.
“However, they will want their money, and we cannot give it to them,” he added. “Something will have to give.”
Contact James McEvoy at [email protected].