Category: Independent Opinion

  • Vocational school district tuition may increase

    BY VINCE ECHAVARIAStaff Writer BY VINCE ECHAVARIA Staff Writer The Monmouth County Vocational School District introduced a $600 tuition increase for shared-time students that will take effect in the 2004-2005 school year. Brian McAndrew, superintendent of the Monmouth County Vocational School District, said his Board of Education was expected to vote on the tuition increase…

  • Elementary school survey presented to board of ed

    BY JOSH DAVIDSONStaff Writer BY JOSH DAVIDSON Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN — Two district parent groups are working with the Board of Education and school administration to address space issues in the district’s 12 elementary schools. The district’s Parent Information Committee and President’s Council, both parent groups, presented the results of a survey addressing elementary school…

  • Resident thanks Middletown principal for his service to students

    I feel the bubble was first popped Sept. 11, 2001. I had always thought if a structure is strong, it can’t be brought down. I thought that especially when the structure was a representative of what is good in this country, it would be able to endure attacks. These structures represented the basic premise of…

  • Obituaries

    Sofio "Tony" A. Failla Obituaries Sofio "Tony" A. Failla Mr. Failla, 77, of Holmdel died Feb. 29 at Bayshore Health Center, Holmdel. Born in the Bronx, N.Y., he resided in Parlin prior to moving to Holmdel 42 years ago. Mr. Failla was a salesman for Pella Windows, Matawan, for several years, retiring in 1990. He…

  • Family extends thanks to PBA for fund-raiser

    The family of Alonna Lougee would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to the Middletown Policemen’s Benevolent Association Local 124. Recently, they held their 40th annual PBA ball and gift auction. This year, all the proceeds from the gift auction were donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation in Alonna Lougee’s name. We wish…

  • School state aid not enough

    School state aid not enough Gov. James E. McGreevey’s announcement last week that school districts would receive a 3 percent increase in state aid this year was unexpected by some school administrators. "I was pleasantly surprised because we’ve been flat funded for a while," Keyport Superintendent of Schools John Dumford said. "Any penny helps, and…

  • Resident offers ‘top 10 facts’ against redistricting

    The following are the top 10 facts why Matawan-Aberdeen redistricting is a bad idea: 10. Transition — the extra transition year would be detrimental to the children because more time will be spent acclimating them to their new environment than could be spent on learning. 9. Test scores — educators have commented that by breaking…

  • Groups call for education secretary to resign

    Groups call for education secretary to resign On behalf of the members of the Middletown Township Education Association and the Middletown Township Administrators Association, we write to condemn the inappropriate and inflammatory comments made by Education Secretary Rod Paige to some of the nation’s governors in a private meeting in the White House Feb. 23.…

  • Hazlet fifth-graders raise funds for local charity

    Hazlet fifth-graders raise funds for local charity In Hazlet, Middle Road School students from Mrs. Janet Fischer’s fifth-grade class can make a difference in this world. We had a bake sale to raise money to donate to a charity called 180, Turning Lives Around. This charity is for abused women and children. We made a…