You Have a Right to Know … What’s Going On

With a new board of education transitioning to take over for the current three boards of education in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, it doesn’t seem like any more consideration will be given to the people’s right to know what’s going on.

Further, judging from all the confusion the superintendent feels is surrounding the melding of the three school boards into one, it also looks like that STEP TWO voters were promised would happen once the two towns put their own boards together,  will happen any time soon… What’s Going On?

Sea Bright is still here and eager to bring in their few dozen students and a million dollars or so to share the wealth and split the approximate $10 million in education costs three ways instead of two.  Voters who were promised Step Two would happen quickly are still hopeful for a question on the November ballot to show their support. But if things continue as they are, that seems to be a bit remote right now. What’s Going On?

Congratulations to the members of the three boards who are taking on the work of being a single board while at the same time, and most likely at least through June, also serving on their own individual board. But here again sadly, they are not bringing any new hope for residents who really want to keep informed on how the school system is being run. What’s Going On?

Not only are the meetings not on ZOOM so residents and taxpayers who cannot attend a meeting can still keep informed, there are not even any recordings of the meetings available to hear at any time. Nor are the meetings ever available anyplace other than through the minutes, which also of course are not available until after they are approved at the next month’s meeting.  What’s Going On?

All of the board meetings are scheduled for Henry Hudson Regional School, in spite of the fact the other two schools are far easier to reach for residents of both towns.  What’s Going On?

And, just as the 7-12 regional board has done, the board sits at a U shaped table so attendees never get to see everyone, let alone their name plates in front of them. The table is set far back from the audience chairs, and the meetings continue to be held in the cafetorium.

That’s the room used for lunch for hundreds, spectacular plays and musicals, but certainly not conducive to business meetings or keeping the public informed. Think an average of perhaps 10 to 20 people attending a meeting, to be generous, high ceilings, poor acoustics, and five microphones or so that get handed back and forth if board members want to say something.  What’s Going On?

Add that to ZOOM, no recordings, and the school most difficult to access at night….. does any of that sound like they really want the people to know everything that’s going on?

The notice of the regular meetings does indicate that people who need some special accommodation to attend a meeting might be helped. But that’s up to whoever makes that decision, most likely the business administrator, it seems, once she or he has heard the specific disability that requires an accommodation and agrees it is a board requirement.  What’s Going On?

Then there’s the question of taxpayer dollars and keeping the public informed. The new board unanimously named the Asbury Park Press and the Newark Star Ledger as their official newspapers.

That means they are the only two papers in which they must send any legal advertising.

Yet at this week’s meeting, no one, neither professional nor board member, knew the circulation of  either newspaper in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands. They did not even mention the one local newspaper, the Two River Times, that qualifies as a newspaper under the law governing legals, so, … so much for supporting local business.  What’s Going On?

Nor did anyone seem to know what stores carry the papers or the fact the local library does not subscribe to either.

They also did not mention, though that is probably because no one even bothered to inquire, the difference in cost. Or that legal advertising costs are based on total circulation.  In this case, there is a fifty cent difference PER LINE between a legal in the Two River Times and one in the Ledger.

Multiply that by a 500 line legal advertisement. It’s 31 cents for the Two River Times, 81 cents for the Ledger.

The argument that a weekly paper cannot meet deadlines that have to be met is frightening in itself. Does the board do ALL of its business at the last minute so that what they approve on a Wednesday night cannot wait eight days to appear as a legal in a newspaper people actually read?  What’s Going On?

Even the Ledger says they can’t possibly advertise a legal in fewer than three days.

If the argument is few people read legals anyway, that might be true. But if that is the case, why not simply send them to the newspaper that offers the cheapest price?

With the two outstanding representatives each Mayor has named as liaisons to the board of education, there is hope that regardless of  whether they like it or not, the people will most likely be kept well informed on what’s going on in the school system.

Past Stories on Regionalization HERE

“There are lots of moving parts … we have no control … the Department of Education is not sure how to get everything ready by February…it’s complicated.”

These were some of the statements made by Dr. Tara Beams to the transitional Henry Hudson Board of Education at its first meeting Wednesday night, in giving an update on how the regionalization approved by the voters is proceeding.

It’s complicated.

However, when Highlands Council president Joann Olszewski offered a suggestion of assistance from both governing bodies and the board of education, Dr Beams changed the outlook, saying everything is under control.

It’s complicated.

With board members asking few questions, Dr. Beams took over the first portion of the lass than hour long meeting in giving her report on what has transpired with regionalization since it was approved.

Painting a picture of a series of problems the state Department of Education is facing because the new Prek-12 school district is the first being created under the new state law,  the superintendent said while the district is doing everything it can, the state department of education does not have all the information it needs for recalculating staff and financing for one district rather than the three boards of education that are forming the district.

It’s complicated.

The superintendent said she is also working with officials on consolidating grants already received by Highlands Board of Education with one submitted for Atlantic Highlands and how these would be consolidated.

It’s complicated.

Additionally, the state needs to give the district guidance, she said, a problem confounded by the fact there is currently no state Commissioner of Education. “We’re not sure what’s happening,” Dr. Beams told the Board.

It’s complicated.

However, should the regionalization foundation not be completed by the February anticipated date, there is no Plan B, she continued, “this is regulation. We’re meeting the requirements. It’s complicated.”

Council member Olszewski, who is the Highlands borough council’s liaison to the school board suggested a possible solution during the public portion of the meeting. Ms. Olszewski asked if it would be helpful if both governing bodies and the school board joined together in a letter to the state to petition for swifter action, more information or whatever would be helpful or necessary to aid the district. To which the superintendent responded, “No, everything’s fine, we have it all under control.” Dr. Beams said she is in constant contact with all the officials necessary.  “We’re talking daily,” she told the council member.

It’s complicated.

During the public portion of the meeting, Gena Melnyk asked if the board would refer to the girls sports teams as Admirals, rather than Lady Admirals, noting that to be an Admiral calls for the same requirements and no distinction is made between male or female in the military, so why is there what she described as a disclaimer for the school’s sports team.

The next regular meeting of the transitional board will be at 6 p.m. on February 28 in the Henry Hudson school cafetorium.