Why more Atlantic Highlands residents don’t wonder themselves about everything that’s going on in their town. I wonder even more about Highlands residents and why they don’t ask about everything going on in their town, what with three cannabis licenses getting conditional approval, including one on property that is owned by a Councilman! But that’s another I Wonder so look for that on this page as well. A lot happening in the Bayshore on Thursday night alone!
Atlantic Highlands
In Atlantic Highlands, the regular meeting is starting half an hour early, at 6:30pm so the Mayor and Council can go into executive session almost immediately and hear from their regionalization attorney, Matt Giacobbe.
Regionalization
One wonders first of all whether that closed session will really be no longer than 30 minutes as predicted. You remember last week when the Henry Hudson closed session was two hours long, even though each of the members of the three boards who were present had the printed resolution they were talking in secret about for two hours.
You remember also, that when they came out, none of the board members could answer Highlands Mayor Carolyn Broullon when she asked if anybody knew the assessed value of Highlands. They did not of course, then the Mayor told them it was a whopping more than a BILLION dollars, for the first time ever. All that private talk about splitting money on regionalization and they didn’t know, nor did they apparently ask, the value of Highlands?
Labor Attorney
The executive session also raises a lot of wonder. Why is that necessary at all?
Why can’t the public know what plans Mr. Giacobbe is suggesting or the council is asking about?
How come the public can’t sit in on discussions which were discussed in private at the school last week?
What is so secret about talking about how the towns will share costs, or why the public should be allowed to vote on something?
Mother Theresa Property
Residents here can remember only too well that in spite of being pretty much united that the Mother Theresa property would be best used as senior housing, they learned, after so many private executive sessions, that Council wasn’t going to suggest that at all. Being open about it cold have saved a lot of time and perhaps moved things faster.
One is hopeful Mr. Giacobbe, the attorney who keeps reminding folks he is a labor attorney but has been retained by Atlantic Highlands to talk about the money issues, can be present at Thursday’s meeting and can also stay long enough to answer questions from the public. The public was insulted enough at the Hudson meeting, let’s hope they don’t receive more disrespect at Thursday’s Council meeting. Mr. Giacobbe has had to rush out in the past, or not been able to appear in person. And we all know ZOOM has not been perfected yet.
Then Monday evening, there’s that special get together at the local theater to hear about the Mother Theresa School property issue. One wonders why that meeting could not be held at Mother Theresa School where the gym is certainly large enough to accommodate everyone. It’s ironic it isn’t, inasmuch as at Thursday’s meeting, the governing body is adopting its usual resolution to use the facility, as they have in the past, not only for recreational activities but for elections as well.
Whether you live in Highlands or Atlantic Highlands, skip your regular tv shows Thursday night and come out to a meeting in your home town, ask questions, get answers, and hear first hand what’s going on.
Just walking into the Atlantic Highlands Library can make anybody happy. Whether it’s a group of happy people in a book club discussing their latest novel, or a group; of young caregivers cuddling their youngsters during a story telling hour, or an energetic Lauren dancing and clapping with the youngsters at another story telling hour, there’s always something cheery and happy going on.
The latest was seeing the exuberant welcome Phyllis gave to a woman who came in to become a library member. Phyllis not only took the time to explain everything membership includes, but answered all her questions, showed her around the library, wished her best wishes and was so cheery and warm-hearted the woman couldn’t stop smiling. That alone is an open invitation to everyone to stop in this very busy library and see for yourself how very welcoming it is. To say nothing of how much this very popular spot offers in the way of resources, education, research, fun and entertainment.
It isn’t easy to find, but the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Atlantic Highlands will have a Town Hall Meeting, at Smodcastle Cinemas, Cinema 4, 82 First Avenue, at 7:00 pm on Monday February 13. The purpose of this meeting is a presentation from the Redevelopment Planner regarding the Mother Teresa School property. No formal action will be taken.
The notice is not listed on AHNJ.com, the borough’s official website, under meetings, agenda, events, or Alerts.
It was 24 years ago, Feb. 5, 1999, that former Mayor Charlie “Iron Man” Rooney of Sea Bright died. He was serving as Mayor at the time, after a long distinguished term as councilman as well.
On Father’s Day of that same year, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. issued a statement in the House of Representatives lauding the many attributes of Rooney and announcing the dedication of the Spring Bridge Park in his honor.
His son, Charles Rooney, who later also became a councilman in Sea Bright, said that the timing was appropriate that the dedication of Charles Rooney Swing Bridge Park took place on Father’s Day, because Mayor Rooney was the father of so many wonderful environmental improvement projects that enhanced the quality of life in Sea Bright for its residents and others to enjoy.
He was also a tremendous role model, the younger Rooney continued, not only for his son and daughter, but for all of us in public service who could learn so much from the warm and wonderful way he served the people of Sea Bright.
This is Congressman Pallone’s statement in Congress on the occasion of the park’s dedication.
In my home state of New Jersey, at this very moment, children and their parents are starting to pack for their weekend at the Jersey Shore. And they are imagining the beautiful beaches and ocean waters that await them and all the fun and good memories that the coming weekend holds.
Most of these weekend visitors take the Jersey Shore for granted, not realizing that there are people who devoted their lives to protecting and maintaining the shoreline for all to enjoy. Foremost among these coastal champions was Charles Rooney, the mayor of Sea Bright, N.J., from 1988 until his death this year.
This Sunday, June 20, the people of Sea Bright will rededicate Swing Bridge Park in Sea Bright, N.J., in his honor.
The Sea Bright residents who will attend know well how hard Mayor Rooney worked over a 20-year period–first as a Councilman and then as Mayor–to get the state and federal funds to protect Sea Bright from the many “Nor’easters” that threatened the lives and property of residents.
Over the years, these seasonal storms, with their ferocious winds and pounding surf, robbed Sea Bright of its protective seawall and buffer beaches to the point that the town might not have survived another storm season.
My colleagues, you know more about Mayor Rooney and Sea Bright than you realize, because it was to Sea Bright that the New York and national television stations would go for some fearsome footage whenever a hurricane came up the East Coast. Each time, I would talk to a very concerned Mayor Rooney on the phone and later meet him on a tour of the damage and we would agree to press harder and speed up the schedule to repair the seawall and reconstruct the beaches.
And, colleagues, it was your vote, year-after-year that helped us finally make the repairs that resulted in the completion of the multi-million dollar Army Corps of Engineers Shore Protection Project along much of the coastline of my district.
Charles Rooney was a man who served his community like no other I know. His eight years as union representative in the Steel Workers Union helped prepare him for the leadership and coalition building skills he would later utilize as Councilman and Mayor.
He served as president of the local chamber of commerce and established the senior citizens club, the borough recreation center and the youth program. In November, he was inducted into the League Municipalities “Mayors’ Hall of Fame” and in January into the “Elected Officials Hall of Fame” for having served more than 20 years in local government.
There was an amazing personal side to Charles Rooney. He had tremendous character and was himself a character. He used to say that when he took office, the town of Sea Bright was famous for having twenty-one liquor licenses and to reverse the common attitude of “let’s party in Sea Bright,” somebody had to be tough.
It was that toughness that turned Sea Bright back into a beautiful family resort as it was during the glory days at the turn of the century.
It was also his political toughness, combined with his middle-aged entry into long distance running that gave him the nickname of “Iron Man Rooney.” Starting at the age of 48, he ran in 17 career marathons, inspired by another shore legend, Dr. George Sheehan, “The Running Doc” of Rumson.
Mayor Rooney ran the entire length of the New Jersey Atlantic Coastline, from Sandy Hook to Cape May in just over four days.
As the sponsor of local marathons, “he always cheered the loudest for the people coming in last.
At the end of Pallone’s dedication, the mayor’s son also pointed out “he’d be there for the lady running 13-minute miles, when no one else was there. He’d put the biggest smile on her face, making her feel like she’d just won the race.,”
Last Tuesday night’s four hour long meeting on school regionalization of the three boards of education in this borough and Atlantic Highlands raised a lot of questions and criticism of how the public was treated by Mayor Carolyn Broullon who was present throughout the meeting and spoke during the public portion.
The mayor said that while the public was aware the boards would go into executive session at the very start of the meeting, “we did not expect to be in the hallway for almost two hours.”
No Answers
“ A meeting that started at 6:30pm ended at 10:34pm, “ she said, adding “ A decision was made with sparse public engagement, yielding a completely different method than was previously discussed just six months ago. The taxpayers of Highlands and Atlantic Highlands need to get some answers before we consider voting on this ballot measure.”
The boards unanimously voted to pass a resolution calling for a special election in September on whether Highlands and Atlantic Highlands three schools should regionalize in a K-12 school. At the same time, the board took no action on a second regionalization on the agenda and now have two regionalization requests before the Commissioner of Education: one to include Sea Bright in the regionalization, as they boards unanimously agreed last August, and the second which does not include Sea Bright.
Just Spend those Dollars
Calling for the election in September rather than the regular November election means added costs, Broullon pointed out. Yet the boards refused to listen to the many residents who asked for a delay in the decision for a special election in order to get more information. Waiting another month or two in an effort to involve more public and municipal engagement would not have changed a September election date, she pointed out, but added “But one also has to ask, what is the cost and who is going to pay for a special election two months before the general election? Us, the taxpayers are. “ Noting that statistics show fewer people turn out for special elections than regular elections, she queried “why would the Boards want fewer people voting on this ballot measure in September then would vote in the November general election?”
Simple Math isn’t so simple
Concerning the regionalization question itself, and whether there is sufficient knowledge among board members in all it entails, the mayor noted that during the meeting “ When I asked the members of the boards if any of them knew what the towns valuations were, I was met with no answers, just blank stares. When I told them that Highlands assessed value was over $1 billion dollars this year, an increase of an amazing $145 million over last year, again, they just stared at me. I feel it is incredibly dangerous to the future of our taxes that they voted on a funding formula based on an allocation of 0% enrollment and 100% Equalized Value, when they had no clue what the assessed value actually was.”
Broullon urged more residents to start attending board meetings and hold board members accountable for their actions. “Highlands residents need to understand that for the 22-23 school year, the elementary school and the borough’s share of Henry Hudson school costs to educate fewer than 300 students cost as much as “running a town of 5,000 people.
Accountability
“The Highlands Council is fine with being accountable for its actions and answers all question in a respectful manner,” the mayor added, referring to the manner affairs were handled at the Tuesday meeting “The board members need to be ready to answer to the people who elected them. The people elected and want to hear from their board members, not a paid attorney nor a superintendent.”
Rude, Degrading, Condescending
Aside from the long term impact regionalization will have on taxes and education and the need to have all the facts before any decisions can be made, the mayor added that her first takeaway from the meeting was “ how rude, degrading and condescending the boards’ attorney was to the taxpayers that he gladly receives payments from. The manner in which he addressed residents was beyond deplorable. And the fact that the board members did nothing to stop this repeated disrespect was disgusting to watch.”
That disrespect was added to the fact the taxpayers were removed from the room and made to wait in the overheated hallway without a chair or cool air to breathe when the board went into executive session. “The board attorney came out after over an hour later saying they needed at least another 45 minutes and asked if anyone needed a chair. The two Highlands Police Officers on site for the meeting handed out chairs to all who needed them. It will be Highlands miracle if the 100+ AH-H-SB residents do not get Covid-19 after being jammed in the hallway for nearly 2 hours.
You might see her wearing a wig with a huge smile on her face. Or she might be down on her knees singing to a resident in a wheelchair! Or on the dance floor with a nonagenarian having the time of his life… truth of the matter is, you might not ever be able to predict where you might see Kitty Wheeler while she’s on duty at the Care One at King James Care Center on Route 36 in Middletown.
Union Beach Native
Kitty, proud to be able to announce she is a native of Union Beach and still a resident there, is the assistant director of activities at King James, As such, she helps plan activities, coordinates events, spends time with lonely residents, plays games, sings and dances. She also shops for residents, puts name labels in their clothes, and just about any other social services a resident needs.
Loves Her Job
She obviously loves her job. That’s because she loves the residents. And they love her.
“That’s the very best thing about this job,” the vivacious and energetic Kitty explains. “”We’re all family here, and these people I see every day are just the best.”
Kitty hasn’t always been a recreation director. She was a secretary for JC Penney Department Stores in New York at one time. Then she was in real estate. Then for 15 years she was a bartender at the Colony Inn in Union Beach. She was also an employee at Toys R Us for seven years. Even today, she holds down two jobs, the aide position at Care One and a waitress at Oveida on Maple Place in Keyport. That’s another job she loves and is loved.
When a friend told her King James was looking for someone to work in activities more than 15 years ago, Kitty decided to apply. She liked the place, she liked the people, it was close to home, and she got the job.
Meow
“The very first day, when I was introduced to someone as Kitty, I meowed at her,” Kitty recalls, laughing. “The next day when I went back, the resident meowed back at me. I was so excited. She remembered me and was happy to see me again.”
It is just that instant amusing or entertaining action, word, face, or quirky idea that sets Kitty above others as an aide. Residents don’t exactly know what to expect of her, but they know it will be fun, and is bound to make them laugh.
Kitty is great at singalongs. Both in a group or with a sole individual. It isn’t unusual to see her face to face with a resident with speech or verbal communication problems. Kitty begins singing, gyrating, enunciating loud and clearly, and clapping; almost instantly even the uncommunicative begin to clap hands, mouth words, and carry a tune. They remember it until the next day or next week when Kitty is once again in the day room or their own room with them and starts the same song again. They both end up in balls of laughter.
Cross Trained
After being certified in her own field, Kitty also took extra classes so she could work other positions at the care center on her days off or when needed. She is cross trained in the kitchen, laundry and reception desk,. She’s been honored for her excellence at her job and was named the state Outstanding Professional of the Year in 2016.
Married to her husband Charlie for 43 years, Kitty has a daughter, Bridget, who is in graduate school at Kean College studying to be a psychologist. That bartending job in Keyport she loves is three days a week, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, starting at 5 p.m. after her daytime job at Care One. “You have to come see me there, too,” she boasts, I’ve got the greatest boss in the world there as well.”
Blowing Bubbles
Care Center Administrator Jimmie King said he learned first hand how Kitty’s exuberance and enthusiasm for life are not just centered at King James. He recalls the day he was behind a car at a traffic light and watched the driver blowing bubbles out the window bringing laughs and thumbs up from other motorists. “It wasn’t until I passed her that I saw it was our Kitty,” King said. “She just wants to do things all the time to make other people happy. She does it with great skill at Care One and our residents love her.”
“My mom was here as a resident until she died,” Kitty explains, with a bit of sadness, “and my dad was also a resident here. But they could feel the amazing bond among the residents, the staff, and the administrator. It really is kind of a special kind of place. Yes, we really are family at King James,” the happy aide said with a broad smile.
For all those who don’t want to read my view on what happened during the four hours taxpayers, borough officials and Highlands police waited in the hallway last night while the three boards of education discussed a resolution no one learned who proposed, here’s Highlands Council-member Jo-Ann Olszewski’s plea to the board that she read during her allotted three minute time span. While she and Mayor Carolyn Broullon and Councilman Donald Melnyk each spoke during the two hour public hearing, none of the Atlantic Highlands council members present at the meeting said anything.
The councilwoman, a retired educator herself, begged the three boards simply to delay acting on their resolution to eliminate Sea Bright at least until they have “all the fact needed to support their vote whether yea or nay.” And she even gave them an alternate idea, which they also ignored.
The school board has a dual role: YOUR MISSION is To represent the concerns of the citizens, taxpayers and parents to the school administrators, and to represent the needs of the students and school district to the citizens, taxpayers and parents of the community.
YOUR FUNCTION: the school board sets the policies, goals and objectives for the district – and it holds the superintendent responsible for implementing the policies and achieving the goals.
It appears, tonight, on the last day of January, with the newest Board of Ed member sworn in last week, Dr. Beams and our School Boards, have decided not to include Sea Bright nor the Town Councils of AH and H as participants in a new Regionalization proposal with a new funding formula for Highlands and Atlantic Highlands to support.
Let me begin by asking that you table your “Vote” which clearly rejects forming a new regionalized district that includes Sea Bright. A proposal that disregards all previous collaborative research and study including two Leap Grants that strongly endorsed Regionalization with Sea Bright paid for with taxpayer dollars. A proposal to be submitted solely by the School Districts that is set to be voted on tonight by you without being seen by your municipalities.
Six months ago, everything was in place except a funding formula…That needed work and perhaps a mediator. Then, We were all informed – not directly – that Dr. Beams, speaking on behalf of the School Boards wanted time …that was late August….
We are quite sure that all members do not have all the facts needed. Especially the newest members. Anyone on the Boards who has a question must pass their questions to the School Board Presidents rather than go straight to Dr. Beams. I would guess that works for mundane issues as dealing with 25 board members questions might be a burden for Dr. Beams or anyone. However, for an issue this big, that all Board members will need to support and defend for a long period of time —-Funding formulas stay in effect for 10 years. It is vital to ensure everyone has all the facts needed to support their vote whether yea or nay
The future of our schools is in your hands.
I quote the former president of the HHR School Board from the August 24, 2022, Regular Board Meeting:
If we are to continue to successfully work through this process, we must do so while operating under facts. Everyone can help do their part by correcting any misinformation that they may see or hear. Regionalization is within our grasp, but it is only achievable if we work together.
So, here are just a few facts it appears you do not know.
The Commissioner of Education has rejected nothing, denied us nothing and awaits an agreed upon funding formula to accompany the proposal sent in June. There are no lawsuits pending – there is an appeal from Oceanport and Shore Regional that can’t be heard until the Commissioner has digested and ruled on our proposal.
Sea Bright does not have to wait until November to hold a vote on Regionalization.
All 3 municipalities want the best for our kids and financial well-being. The town councils are in accord to work out an agreeable funding formula to submit to the Commissioner of Education. She already has our joint proposal which includes all three school districts, as well as all three municipalities Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Sea Bright. Let’s submit and wait out her decision. Evener if it is months…We have been waiting to hear from Dr. Beams on your behalf since August. 5 plus months….Nothing fell apart in that time frame, and going forward nothing should impede the necessary work on improving instruction and delivery to bring our students out of the Covid consequences and back to where they should be. Confident students who believe in themselves, reaching for the stars.
I propose a sort of open meeting or workshop for all Board Members to hear from more than one source…Get all the facts in order…. talk it out, ask questions as needed and then call a vote.
I ask you with all my heart, keep all of us in mind! Those you know and those you don’t in your municipalities…all income levels, all ages, all individuals and levels of families in each household. Make the right decision that works for our kids and our wallets.
One would think that when an elected board hires professional personnel they would at least have courtesy and be polite to the people who pay them.
But then, one would think that the elected personnel to whom they answer would at the very least correct them for their rudeness or at a minimum apologize to the public and suggest a change of action.
None of that happened at Tuesday night’s meeting of the boards of education of the three schools in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands.
The meeting started on time, as noticed, and also, as noticed, the boards almost immediately went into executive session.
Out You Go
But it was not the board members, the elected officials, who left the room to speak privately with their attorney. It was the people who put them in office who had to get up and leave the room.
Nor were the displaced taxpayers given any courtesy. Standing in the hall was the only location for most; some wandered outside, others were at the basketball game, some went into another room. For those in the other room, it did not last too long. They were directed to move out of that room and back into the hall or anywhere else.
Take a Seat … NOT
Nor could the displaced taxpayers sit anyplace in that hallway. For those who did not want to walk any distance, they chose to take chairs from the meeting room on their way out, and sit several feet from the closed door. So they sat directly in front of the windows looking into the huge gym, now empty of taxpayers and with board members and their professionals sitting at their tables at the far end of the room. It was only minutes, however, before the shades were drawn on those windows .
Even that wasn’t good enough. Those residents had to get up once again and move away from the shaded windows and proximity to the door. Highlands police officers, paid by the borough of Highlands to be in attendance at the meeting for whatever reason, assisted people in moving chairs. Doesn’t Highlands ever bill Henry Hudson for all the additional police work it entails?
Working Hard
So it went for another hour. That was when the attorney came out, apologized, said the board members were making progress and working hard. But they would be behind closed doors for perhaps another 45 minutes or so. It was then he asked if anyone needed any chairs. They did. And the Highlands police officers were once again the ones who carried out chairs to make it at least a bit more comfortable for the waiting public.
And so it went, while the taxpayers sat, stood, walked, talked, and waited uncomfortably out in halls while the future of their children’s education and their tax dollars were being discussed in private.
After approximately two hours, the board members apparently had said or heard all they needed to say or hear before taking a vote on the future for three boroughs and their schools.
Answer the Questions
Of course their minds were made up long before that two hour executive session. When they discussed it prior to then, will probably never be known. Nor would anyone on the board, the superintendent nor the attorney even explain it when asked, not once, not twice but three times during that public session. A former board member asked “Whose idea was this?’ Several times. She never got an answer. “What happened since July when you unanimously passed a different resolution?” she persisted. Still she got no answer. A Highlands councilman asked for any guarantees that this resolution, directly in opposition to the resolution unanimously adopted during the summer, would not be changed anytime again? What’s the sense, he asked, without any assurance of stability. Still no answer.
No One Can Hear
Then the public got up to question and opine. Even overlooking the poor audio system in a school that excels in presenting outstanding theater in the very same room at other times, and the number of times both board members and the public said they could not hear, the meeting went on. Residents were almost always confined to their three minutes of addressing the silent board and its verbose attorney. But the attorney was prolific in his broad but difficult to hear responses to not only questions, but statements as well.
How About Walking and Chewing Gum?
The attorney. And the Superintendent. Were they really listening to the public?
Can they really talk and listen at the same time?
Too many times during the period when the public was supposed to be heard, the superintendent was sending written messages to the attorney, talking to him, and him to her, all while taxpayers were trying to have their say at a podium with a mike that finally got changed for one somewhat more workable.
When finally challenged on those actions, the attorney responded they had to share information so he could keep the public informed. He did not explain, however, why the duo could not wait until a person had stopped speaking before conferring on whatever they were going to answer.
Did he apologize when chastised for the rude behavior? Indeed he did, saying they had no intention of being rude or discourteous.
But did they stop that rude and discourteous talking while a member of the public was talking? Indeed they did not. It continued in front of taxpayers after taxpayer for the rest of the public portion of the meeting.
Insult to Sea Bright
Not only did the attorney insult the public present at the meeting, but in a single word, he insulted the entire borough of Sea Bright and all the residents of that borough who are trying to bring $15 million to Highlands and Atlantic Highlands.
That borough’s residents have been quietly and calming supporting hearings, testimonies and actions that would have them bring what they feel is a better education for their own children, while eventually, but not immediately, saving themselves some money, and almost immediately bringing more money to offset what Highlands and Atlantic Highlands taxpayers spend on education. It’s been a lot of work, over a lot of years and a lot of studies information gathering, and meetings for input and explanations. It’s been intelligent people working hard to do better for themselves and others.
But how did the attorney describe it? Simply as “the rigamarole over Sea Bright.” Really? Rigamarole? Confused or meaningless talk? That isn’t nice.
Only at one point during the meeting did it get a bit contentious and result in a shouting match between the attorney who wanted to be heard and the resident who was not finished saying and asking what he wanted. The resident lost.
The very set-up of board meetings at Henry Hudson is not conducive to the public. There is so much distance between the audience and the board that only the residents with really great eyesight can even see the names of the officials or professionals at the table. The audio system leaves too much to be desired to be explained in a paragraph. While complaints are heard often, nothing has been done to make any improvements. That’s for those with normal hearing, those with impaired hearing are at a distinct disadvantage at meetings at Henry Hudson. There is no introduction of board members, or any courtesies at a meeting specifically called to hear from the public other than the routine roll call.
There was no explanation for absent members at a meeting as important as this one was.
None of that is necessary, directed, or in the rules. It’s simply common courtesy. And a desire to be certain the public gets the respect it deserves.
With so much to report on last night’s meeting of the Boards of Education on the subject of regionalization, look for several more stories within the next few days. VeniVidiScripto will have a statement from Highlands Mayor Carolyn Broullon, who was present at the meeting and spoke on the need to move forward with a three-borough regionalization; a story on the rudeness accorded residents of both boroughs while they were on the podium, another on the additional cost Highlands taxpayers had to underwrite for the meeting and the courtesy and professionalism of the Highlands police officers on the scene throughout the night, another on Highlands Councilwoman Jo-Ann Olszewski’s statements during the public portion and another on a suggestion concerning those 34 teachers or so who have retired or resigned in the past two years
It’s great to see local residents involved in the business of running their schools, the education of their children, and how where and how much of their taxes are spent.
3 Boards 2 Resolutions
When it was all said and done, the three boards of education in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands actually have two opposing resolutions approved by the voters to go to the Commissioner of Education on the question of regionalization.
Last night, following a nearly two hour long closed executive session, the three boards unanimously approved a pages long resolution asking the Commissioner of Education to approve the boards’ request to put on a special election ballot in September the question of regionalizing the three boards in the tri-district school without the inclusion of Sea Bright.
However, it was last July when those same three boards of education again unanimously, sent a resolution to the Commissioner asking her to consider a regionalization that would also include Sea Bright. The commissioner has yet to respond to that resolution.
Sea Bright?
Nor did the boards act on a second resolution they advertised would be up for action at last night’s meeting that would remove Sea Bright from the regionalization question on the ballot.
Apparently, the boards are leaving it up to the Commissioner to make the decision on whether the taxpayers of Highlands and Atlantic Highlands should take advantage of the added tax dollars the inclusion of Sea Bright would bring into the district, since there were no resolutions adopted requesting her to ignore their July resolution.
Meeting Behind Closed Doors
With the Highlands Mayor and the majority of both Highlands and Atlantic Highlands council members present, the tri boards, as they advertised, opened the meeting and immediately went into executive session to discuss regionalization with their attorney. After an hour long session, attorney Jonathon Busch, who is representing the boards on the question of regionalization, came out to apologize for the length of the executive session and offer chairs for the approximate 100 persons in attendance.
Coming back from executive session 45 minutes later, Busch read the several pages of the resolution, while each board member read copies of the resolution, though no one from the public had a copy, nor had it been advertised.
No Answer to the Melnyk’s
Nor did Busch or any board member respond to questions from Highlands Councilman Donald Melnyk nor former board member Gina Melnyk on whose idea it was to present a new resolution so different from the one the boards adopted in July. Ms Melnyk asked several times “whose idea was it” but never received a response. The councilman asked the benefit of the new resolution, inasmuch it appears to overturn the original resolution. He asked, but received no response to his query as to the purpose of the latest resolution without assurance that it, too, would be overruled some time in the future.
The Sea Bright $$
Charles Rooney, the former Sea Bright councilman who has been a strong advocate representing his borough in promoting Sea Bright’s inclusion, pointed out how the tri-borough regionalization would save millions of dollars for all three towns over the next ten years and would offer increased education funding at a reduced cost for the other two towns.
Cost per Student
Atlantic Highlands resident Mark Fisher cited statistics that showed the total costs for educating students in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands in 2022 was $28.1 thousand dollars a year per student. With the inclusion of Sea Bright and their approximate 50 students, and additional money, the total cost for student would be $23.8 thousand per student. He also pointed out more immediate savings could be achieved since action would delay the reduction of state aid to the district.
Speaking from Experience
Ellen O’Dwyer of Atlantic Highlands outlined the experience of taxpayers in four towns when they chose regionalization many years ago, including Colts Neck where she lived. “Our students thrived in a full high school experience where the class sizes were small enough; students benefited from a low teacher-studio ration and received recognition for their accomplishments.” She called on the boards to wait for the proposed mediation between the two boroughs and asked, with no response, what is the harm in waiting.
Busch, who responded to most of the speakers after discussions with Dr. Tara Beams, the school superintendent, stressed regionalizing without Sea Bright now is the first step, will avoid unnecessary delay, and the new district would welcome Sea Bright once the issue filed by Oceanport and Shore Regional districts against Sea Bright is resolved.
Light at the End of a Tunnel
Highlands resident Nancy Burton said “bringing Sea Bright in is like the light at the end of the tunnel responding to the need for quality education and maintaining costs taxpayers can afford. Bringing Sea Bright in now would be the fastest way, she said, delay is a problem.
Following the approximate two hour hearing, in which Busch fielded most of the questions followed by board members giving their opinions in favor of the resolution later, but none answering any of the questions from the public, the boards voted on the resolution to submit to the Commissioner a request to consider the regionalization of the three schools in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands into a K-12 Henry Hudson Tri-District.
All Highlands board members and Henry Hudson board members were present and voted; Ryan Palamara and Debra Appello from the Atlantic Highlands Board were absent, and board president Molly Murphy, though present to continue to be kept informed on board activity, is recusing herself on regionalization; her husband, James, is an Atlantic Highlands councilman.
At any time, you want to take a step back in history and see first hand reasons for appreciating our military men and women, it might be a nice idea to take a stroll through Bay View Cemetery in Middletown, New Jersey. There are more than 300 souls buried there who joined whatever forces were helping defend the United States at that time in their lives. We should always take time to honor each of them. But one name in particular should be recognized…Hay. Fred Stewart Hay
Fred Stewart Hay, aka, as his tombstone says, Frederick H. Schwabe. That is his small, plain white stone just beneath the American flag as you enter the cemetery. By either name, Fred Hay or Frederick Schwabe is a hero.
To those in the Bayshore towns of Monmouth County, he is “OUR HERO.”
This Medal of Honor recipient, one of 3534 Medals presented, is one of the 426 who earned the honor during the Indian Wars, that series of conflicts that lasted from King Phillips’ War at the start of the 19th century for almost the next 100 years.
Action
Hay served with Company I of the 5th US Infantry and rose to the rank of Sergeant while serving. According to Medal of Honor records, Fred was born in 1850 in Stirlingshire, Scotland, and entered the US Army at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. At some point after his enlistment, Fred was in a small cavalry unit escorting a supply train to Battle Creek where they were to meet up with General Nelson Mile’s forces camped there.
Miles, who himself also received a Medal of Honor for earlier action in the Civil War, was in desperate need of supplies and anxiously awaiting the train at Battle Creek. On Sept. 9, 1874, as the train came out of a canyon on the Upper Wachita River in what was then Texas, now Oklahoma, it was attacked by a large war party of Kiowa and Comanche warriors.
Heavily outnumbered, according to reports, the American soldiers fought valiantly for an entire day and the train successfully moved towards its destination. Hay, as a sergeant, was one of six soldiers cited for their gallantry that day, the commendation simply stating “for gallantry,” absent of all detail.
The battle continued for another two days, and in addition to Hay and the other five who earned honors on the first day, another seven soldiers were also cited for their continuing efforts before the train finally reached the 650-man force and General Miles.
Highlands
Sgt. Hay lived through the Civil War and for many years after, dying Jan. 14, 1914 at age 64 in Highlands, NJ. When he came to Monmouth County, where he lived here, or why his family chose this serene, locally significant cemetery for his final resting place, still remain mysteries. Medal of Honor records show the Medal was issued for his action at Upper Wichita River, Texas Sept. 9, 1874. The citation reads simply “GALLANTRY IN ACTION.” His Medal of Honor is at the Tropic Lightning Museum at Wheeler Army Airfield, Schofield Barracks, Hi. It was presented to him on April 23, 1875.
In fact, within the confines of Bay View Cemetery, it is still unknown the site of his actual remains. Because of that, the Cemetery Association, wanting to be certain his memory is honored, thought it important every visitor to Bay View knew about the Medal of Honor recipient. So, they placed his stone at the entrance. The tall American flag that waves behind it is tended by the Atlantic Highlands American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts.
