As a routine, and since my departure as a Millstone Township K-8 School District Board of Education member, I follow the board through videos of its meetings.
The July 27 meeting caused me to write this letter in utter disbelief at board member Amy Jacobson’s behavior in relation to voting against the taxpayers of Millstone in favor of the taxpayers of Upper Freehold.
The Millstone board has worked tirelessly offering prudent oversight of the school budget. As a board member, it is one of the main prerogatives of the position — fiduciary responsibility.
About two hours into the July 27 Millstone meeting, Dr. Jacobson shared that in her capacity as Millstone’s representaive to the Upper Freehold Regional School District Board of Education, she chose to vote against a cap on tuition that the UFRSD charges Millstone to send its students to Allentown High School.
She proceeded to demonstrate ignorance and a lack of respect to the taxpayers and more importantly to the Millstone K-8 students. What about the hours upon hours of discussions to find ways to stretch dollars and find efficiencies with our budget? How could Dr. Jacobson be so careless in her vote? I am concerned.
Millstone Township has one vote on the UFRSD board; Millstone students make up the majority of the Allentown High School population.
So, of course, Dr. Jacobson’s vote could not overturn the UFRSD board majority. This one vote went against the remainder of the Millstone board and all of the board members, including Dr. Jacobson, who voted to have a tax limit on tuition.
Then, at the July 27 meeting, she claims to not even know what the position of the Millstone board is on this crucial topic.
Let it be known that the high school tuition payments are a long-standing issue of concern; this is nothing new, no surprise. Yet, Dr. Jacobson demonstrated ignorance and a lack of caring as she cast her vote which was clearly not in the best interest of the K-8 program or this community.
As Millstone board President Margaret Gordon said, “You could have abstained from the vote.”
Who does Dr. Jacobson represent as she serves on the Millstone board? Reviewing videos from previous meetings, she has reversed her role as a Millstone board member to the Upper Freehold board.
It is confusing as she acts and speaks as though she is a member of the Upper Freehold board. Dr. Jacobson consistently refers to Upper Freehold as “we” and Millstone as “you.” This is not a one-time miscue of language, it is the regular manner in which she conducts herself. This clearly conflicted representation does not best serve Millstone.
Let me be clear, I am not looking for a decision that adversely affects our high school students or any high school students.
I am not attempting to pit Millstone against Upper Freehold. I am looking for fairness and equitable distribution of funding. Just follow the story, Upper Freehold has raised their taxes 4 percent and 4.5 percent in recent years.
According to the July 27 video, it appears that Upper Freehold is already planning to raise taxes again and this time they will legally go to vote to do so. However, only Allentown and Upper Freehold taxpayers get to cast a vote on that tax increase.
The New Jersey School Boards Association passed a resolution in support of a 2 percent cap on tuition to sending districts.
Millstone is in a “sending relationship” with Upper Freehold. It appears the idea of a cap is simply to provide the same rules to tuition of sending districts as it does to the sending districts on all of their other expenses.
Dr. Jacobson’s position on this and her recent vote is against Millstone. Millstone taxpayers will pay their share of the increase. If approved, this increase could potentially decimate the K-8 program here in Millstone. The taxes collected for schools here support the K-8 program and the high school program. Only we have no say, no control of how those high school dollars are spent. It feels a lot like taxation without representation.
Dr. Jacobson has sat on the UFRSD board as Millstone’s representative for most of the last six years. She ought to know the issues better and speak up accurately and boldly for Millstone. She was elected to serve on the Millstone board and to represent Millstone community members.
Dr. Jacobson’s action is incomprehensible and it shows a lack of understanding and care on how to best represent Millstone. Interestingly, Dr. Jacobson has submitted her bid for re-election to the Millstone board. Why?
Denise Touhey
member
Millstone Township
Board of Education, 2010-12
Millstone Township