Drew Gitomer
Lambertville
On Sept. 24 there will be an important election for residents of Lambertville, Stockton and West Amwell. The vote is to decide whether to regionalize the South Hunterdon county schools into one school district by unifying the four current districts into a single organizational structure. I want to urge residents to support this very sensible proposal for three reasons.
The first is economic and organizational efficiency. There are currently 926 students in the four districts. Even with shared services, managing this small student population takes three superintendents, more than two business administrators and four separate boards of education. By any definition this is a very inefficient and redundant use of resources.
The second is educational. Students are educated in three different systems, with three different curriculum structures and approaches before they enter into a unified school in seventh grade. Any chance of creating a coherent curriculum that takes into account learning across grades is virtually impossible within the current structure. A single district also can more effectively and efficiently meet the needs of students who are in special education programs.
The third reason is future flexibility. There are economic and social changes that are affecting and will affect education in dramatic ways. I think we will be in a much better position to control, or at least influence, the destiny of our schools with a more unified and coherent structure. One regionalized district would certainly have a stronger voice than the four discrete entities that currently exist.
Please remember the Sept. 24 date for this election and please vote yes on the two questions on the ballot.
