MILLSTONE — To be or not to be … part of the New Jersey Interdistrict Public School Choice Program. This is the question that drew about 80 parents and staff members to the Millstone Township Middle School for a recent discussion.
Superintendent of Schools Scott Feder has called for meetings with parents and staff members to discuss the vision of the New Jersey Interdistrict Public School Choice Program. Only students who meet the criteria would be accepted into the program.
Feder will eventually report back to the Millstone Board of Education as to whether he believes Millstone should apply to become a choice program. Feder said he believes that applying for the choice program could offset the impact of Millstone’s decreasing enrollment while providing revenue and programming.
“I do see the option [of having the choice program] as something that may be a strong option for Millstone, but I also see how right now may be too soon,” Feder said. “I can tell you that I have had great conversations with community members, and they have shared some outstanding ideas.
“One [notion] I wish to share is the idea of having a choice school committee made up of a variety of stakeholders who would work together in the next year to dig into the topic, and maybe even become an ongoing committee should we become a choice district at some point,” the superintendent said.
The New Jersey Interdistrict Public School Choice Program enables an approved choice school district to enroll students who do not reside within the district. There is no cost to a student’s parents to send their child to a school that is outside the boundaries of the municipality in which the child lives.
Officials said the idea behind the choice program is to bridge the achievement gap that exists between urban and suburban districts by creating opportunities for students.
A choice program may offer smaller class sizes than the class sizes that might be available in a student’s home school district, increased instructional time, and a school culture more conducive to a student’s success.
Officials said many choice school districts have established specialized and innovative programs and courses that focus on areas such as art, music, foreign languages and technology. These classes are open to students who demonstrate an interest in the special programs.
Opening enrollment to students who live outside the district can bring in more students who are interested in taking advantage of the special programs and courses, allowing the programs and students to grow and flourish, according to officials.
The March 11 presentation featured information provided by Stephen Cochrane, Millstone’s assistant superintendent of curriculum. Cochrane is also the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in the Upper Freehold Regional School District (UFRSD).
The UFRSD has offered a choice program for 12 years.
“I am here to talk about choice schools, but I am not here to convince you [that] it is best thing since sliced bread. [I am here] just to provide honest information and have a conversation about a vision for the district,” Cochrane said.
Participation in the choice school program is optional. Once a district is approved for the program, administrators designate a specific number of available seats in specific grades and programs that will be open to students who live outside of the district.
Where choice options are available, any student who resides in New Jersey is eligible to apply.
Each August, the New Jersey Department of Education approves new choice districts for the upcoming school year. There are currently 109 approved choice programs for the 2013-14 school year.
Under the choice program, the state would pay $11,000 per pupil the first year, and $13,500 per pupil the second year.
As an example, school administrators surmise that if they opened up the Millstone Township Middle School advanced math course by using choice program rules, they could have nine students from outside the district admitted — three in each grade from sixth through eighth grade.
“This is an opportunity to help with the effort on a small scale to bring in funding from the state to benefit us,” Feder said.
District administrators have indicated that they are concerned about how a potential drop in enrollment will impact the school system.
Enrollment in the Millstone K-8 district is expected to remain flat at 1,331 pupils in the upcoming school year, according to the administration, but a demographer has reported that the district may see a significant decline in enrollment in the near future.
In an attempt to boost revenues, administrators are reviewing other possibilities in addition to starting a choice district program, such as updating the performing arts center concession and cutting expenditures by consolidating buildings and reducing staff.
Parents expressed concerns regarding program costs, increased class size and lower real estate values.
Feder said the choice program would not bring a cost to the district, as he noted that district officials could limit the number of out-of-district students who would be accepted, and he was thoughtful about real estate values.
“The concept of property value was raised by a participant,” Feder said. “I shared two important factors that will influence property values, and included school quality, proximity and ease of access to New York City. I hope it was assumed [that] the other [factor that is a heavy influence] is … the quality of the town and its amenities.”
“My original point was in response to schools and their relation to property values, which also have a great influence on the property value in a town. I feel it is important for our community to continue to recognize the great place we all get to live [in]. We are fortunate, and I know I appreciate having what I have here,” he said.