In response to Daru Sharp’s article “Resident has questions about land’s subdivision,” printed in the Jan. 5 Examiner, I would agree that the public needs to know the facts; therefore, I felt compelled to reply to this article.
When the Board of Education began the process of planning for the future growth of the district, we involved the community, and it was clear that they did not want us to settle for a short-term solution. The administration of the district and the board wanted to insure that the building program would have enough land to accommodate an additional school facility in the future. The type of facility that requires the most land would be a high school, so we researched the acreage needed to support a middle school and a high school on the same campus. Holmdel has such a set up on approximately 70 acres. When we contacted Holmdel school officials, they recommended 100 acres, since they felt 70 was too tight. After researching many other school districts, we found the consensus to agree that 100 acres would be optimal.
Throughout the referendum and land acquisition process, the board stressed the need for the 100 acres. It is true that our search for property was for 100 acres or more and we did reject property that did not meet these standards. The Orleans property was more than 100 acres when we agreed with the Township Committee to move on this property. Since the school district did not have surplus funds to purchase this property, the Township Committee offered to purchase the property for us. The board is extremely grateful and fortunate to have such a good working relationship with the township that they made this offer to us and saved the taxpayers money. If the township did not give us the property, then the cost of the land would have to be added to the referendum.
As the township finalized the purchase of the property, they chose not to take all of the property through eminent domain, since many critics were concerned and speculated the cost to be well over the appraised value.
The Board of Education did not know that the township wanted to subdivide the property until we met in November to discuss transfer of deed. The township told us that they would deed over to us the footprint of the building and look for grants through the state to help finance the remaining acreage needed for fields. While the Board of Education still asked the Township Committee for the full property, we were not in a position to reject the property at this late stage and then start the building process again, adding years of delays and additional costs to the taxpayers. We also insisted that we have a legal agreement drawn up to ensure that the remaining township property will be exclusively available to the Board of Education for future use. As well, we have asked that we have priority of the fields, and before any improvements can be made to this property, the Board of Education must also agree to these improvements.
The original referendum was a culmination of all the work and vision of the Board of Education, the administration, the Strategic Planning Committee and the Referendum Planning Committee. It recommended a larger facility that required more land and renovations to the existing buildings. This referendum was defeated. The second one passed, but it was for a smaller project that needed less land. However, the board has always stated, and still does, that we would like to have 100 acres. The land, however, is owned by the township and not the board. Our architects have been able to show us where on this property we can fit an additional school and fields. We have no reason to believe that the township would not honor its commitment to give us the 100 acres when they are needed. The actions taken were not misleading or irresponsible, as Mrs. Sharp’s article suggests. Rather, they were an attempt by the Township Committee to gain additional state funds. These are the facts as the Board of Education sees it. If there are further questions, then they must be addressed to the Township Committee.
We should be celebrating the fact that we are going to bid within the month and the project is on time and we expect to break ground by the spring. Let’s not allow politics to overshadow this significant accomplishment by our wonderful community of Millstone Township.
Dr. William J. Setaro
Superintendent of Schools
Millstone Township