There can be little doubt that these are prosperous times we live in. Over the last few weeks the pages of The Hub have carried a number of stories about local programs and agencies receiving grant money from the overflowing coffers of the state treasury.
At the same time, the big argument on the national level seems to be just how big the federal budget surplus is going to be.
A little closer to home there is talk in the county of starting a performing arts program as part of the vocational school system.
There’s only one problem. The county already has a performing arts program open to every qualified student interested in applying.
That program is run at Red Bank Regional High School in Little Silver and no one has described it as anything other than a complete success.
County officials say they are only responding to a request from people who couldn’t get into the RBR program.
That story is a bit different than the one told by RBR officials who say they will accept anyone who passes the competitive requirements to take part in the program.
According to RBR officials, the problem is that other districts have balked at paying the $8,600 tuition for students to attend the program.
That matter is before a judge right now in suits brought by parents against their home districts because those districts have refused to pay.
It’s worth noting that the $8,600 RBR charges is considerably less than the nearly $10,000 annual price tag the state says is the average cost of educating a high school student.
RBR has joined the parents in their suits, arguing that individuals should not have to pay to go to a qualified public school.
Parents are not asked to pay when students choose to attend any of the county-run vocational schools; the cost is picked up by the home district.
Rather than complicate the situation further with a new school proposal, it would be better for the county to support the parents and RBR in getting districts to pay their fair share.
If the demand for more places in the program is keeping qualified students out, wouldn’t it make more sense for the county to help expand RBR’s program rather than start a new one?