SOUTH HUNTERDON: Sept. 24 is probable regionalization referendum date

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
   The probable date for the schools regionalization referendum is Sept. 24.
   But before that happens, there are several meetings that will set the stage for the actual vote.
   The first is a May 30 meeting that will involved all four local boards of education. This will take place at South Hunterdon Regional High School at 7 p.m.
   ”I would like to emphasize the unprecedented nature of the joint meeting of the four school boards . . . All four school board presidents see the importance of taking action together on the resolution to authorize the ballot,” said Dan Seiter (president of the South Hunterdon Regional High School (SHRHS) board, as well as head of the South Hunterdon County School District Regionalization Committee), said Tuesday.
   At that meeting, the boards are expected to approve the election date for the purpose of regionalization. The election date probably will be Sept. 24 and the ballot items will include dissolution of SHRHS district and regionalization of PreK-12, said Mr. Seiter.
   Mr. Seiter also said three Town Hall meetings will take place sometime between May and July, in Lambertville, West Amwell and Stockton
   ”The purpose of these meetings is to cover specific details associated with a fully regionalized PreK through grade 12 South Hunterdon district,” Mr. Seiter noted.
   ” I encourage all residents who have an interest in learning more about regionalization to attend at least one of these Town Hall meetings,” he said.
   ”The regionalization committee has patiently persisted in seeing through bringing this item to the voters. I am proud of the collaboration demonstrated within this committee, and with the school administrators and municipal authorities. All involved simply seek to allow the voters the opportunity to weigh in on this unique opportunity for our children and tax payers,” he emphasized
   ”The 2013-14 school year will undoubtedly prove to be another year of achievements and accomplishments for the students, staff, and administration of SHRHS, Mr. Seiter said.
   However, “as we move into the new school year, one area that will receive noteworthy attention is the prospect of a fully regionalized PreK through grade 12 school district.
   ”In September, voters within all three sending districts will cast ballots to determine whether regionalization should proceed or not proceed. The last time voters in South Hunterdon cast votes on regionalization was over 50 years ago, and led to the successful formation of South Hunterdon Regional High School,” he said.
   (The three “sending districts” are West Amwell, Stockton and Lambertville. All three send their elementary students to South Hunterdon Regional High School, which is located in West Amwell).
   ”Regardless of the outcome of the vote, the South Hunterdon Regional High School budget for 2013-14 will likely be only marginally impacted by the regionalization initiatives. Funds have been established within the 2013-14 SHRHS budget to cover certain costs associated with the regionalization initiatives (specifically, the cost of conducting the special election in September, as required by state statutes), said Mr. Seiter explained,
   ”However, even if successfully voted forward, a newly regionalized district cannot be formed until the completion of the 2013-14 school year. Therefore, budgetary advantages — such as improved efficiencies in administration costs, professional service cost reductions, and other budgetary advantages attributed to regionalization — would not be realized before the 2014-15 school year,” Mr. Seiter concluded.