Mayor Tony Perry and the Middletown Township Committee took the initiative earlier this week and presented a proposal to the Middletown Board of Education which could prevent the anticipated school closures in Leonardo and Navesink Schools for the 2025–2026 school year.
Middletown Township Mayor, Tony Perry
Perry’s action came on the heels of the Board of Education’s approval of a tentative budget proposal on Tuesday, March 18, which included plans to close the two elementary schools and convert Bayshore Middle School into a combined elementary school due to budgetary constraints.
The Township Committee and the Board of Education hosted a shared services meeting at Town Hall last Wednesday, to discuss collaborative solutions.
As part of the effort, the Township will restructure the agreement for the Middletown Township Police Department’s Special Law Enforcement Officer (SLEO) III program. With the support of the Township Committee, this restructuring will provide the Board of Education with $600,000 in savings but will not compromise safety for students.
Additionally, the Township discussed the acquisition of a $2 million 10-acre tract located at Sleepy Hollow Road and Kings Highway East and owned by the Middletown school district.
The Township would use its Open Space Trust Fund to acquire and preserve the land and their proposal will be presented and further discussed at next Tuesday, April 8 meeting. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM in the Middletown High School North Auditorium.
“I’m very proud that we found a practical solution to the District’s budget challenges that will keep our schools open come September,” said Mayor Perry. “This solution reflects our shared commitment to providing students with the exceptional education they deserve without disruption. By working together, as well as listening to the ideas voiced by our community members, we are strengthening the future of our schools.”
“I’m grateful for the successful collaboration between the Township and District, which has led to a positive outcome for our students and families,” said Township Schools Superintendent Dr. Jessica Alfone. “By working together, we are paving the way for a sustainable and thriving future for our students and the entire community.”
“Board leadership has worked hard and will continue to collaborate with Mayor Perry, the Township Committee, and our legislators to address our budgetary constraints,” said Board of Education President Frank Capone. “I want to thank Mayor Perry for the extensive discussions over the last few days that have resulted in what I believe the Board will approve as a solution for this year’s budget to ensure these schools will remain open. I look forward to community participation in the strategic planning process to ensure a sustainable future for the Middletown School District.”
Take a trip through history on Saturday when six Monmouth County Historic Schoolhouses will be ready to share their history with the public from 11 AM to 3 PM.
Included on this self-drive tour are the 1812 Montrose School in Colts Neck,
Visitors may start at any of the schools and visit as many as they wish at their own pace. Maps and information on the schools will be available at each site in hard copy and with QR code.
This is a unique opportunity to explore each of the schools, some of which are seldom open, at your own pace all in one day. Due to the diligent work of several historic societies all of these buildings have been carefully restored and display many period artifacts including vintage desks, class attendance list and photographs from bygone eras, as well as original architectural details.
These edifices remain as testament to the importance our ancestors placed on the need for education. Historic interpreters will be on hand to share how each school played a part in the story of the development of education in our area .
Service Academies Congressman Chris Smith announced that a United States Service Academy Information night will be held Wednesday, April 30 from 5:30 to 7:00pm at Naval Weapons Station Earle, 201 Highway 34 in Colts Neck.
U.S. CONGRESSMAN CHRIS SMITH REPRESENTING NEW JERSEY’S 4TH DISTRICT
The event will provide important information for high school and college students—and their parents, counselors or teachers—residing in the Fourth Congressional District who are interested in competing for a congressional nomination to one of the United States Service Academies.
A nomination is required for acceptance into four of the five US Service Academies (the Coast Guard Academy does not require a congressional nomination).
Each institution plays an integral role in training young men and women to become tomorrow’s military leaders and affords them a collegiate education opportunity of the highest quality that is free of financial obligation, provided the student graduates and fulfills his or her service obligation.
The Service Academies are The US Military Academy at West Point, New York; The US Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland; The US Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs, Colorado; The US Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York; and The US Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut.*
Due to security restrictions on NWS Earle, attendees under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, and all adults must pre-register and present valid photo ID. All drivers must also present auto insurance and registration at the entrance gate.
Residents of New Jersey’s Fourth Congressional District between the ages of 17 and 22 (17-25 for the Merchant Marine Academy), who are U.S. citizens and are single with no dependents, can seek a nomination to one or more of the service academies through Smith’s office. Interested candidates can start the application process as early as the spring of their junior year in high school.
“Over the years, I’ve had the honor and privilege of nominating many outstanding young men and women for acceptance into our nation’s military academies,” said Smith. “These courageous members of our community have stepped up in tremendous ways to preserve our fundamental freedoms and defend our great nation.”
Nominations are available to those who reside in the Fourth Congressional District regardless of where they attend high school or college.
The Fourth Congressional District encompasses 21 municipalities in Ocean County and 19 municipalities in Monmouth County, including Bay Head Borough, Beachwood Borough, Berkeley Township (part), Brick Township, Island Heights Borough, Jackson Township, Lacey Township (most), Lakehurst Borough, Lakewood Township, Lavallette Borough, Mantoloking Borough, Manchester Township, Ocean Gate Borough, Pine Beach Borough, Plumsted Township, Point Pleasant Beach, Point Pleasant Boro, Seaside Heights Borough, Seaside Park Borough, South Toms River Borough and Toms River Township.
In Monmouth County, municipalities in the 4th Congressional District are Avon-By-The-Sea Borough, Belmar Borough, Brielle Borough, Colts Neck Township, Eatontown Borough, Farmingdale Borough, Freehold Township (part), Howell Township, Lake Como Borough, Manasquan Borough, Middletown Township (part), Ocean Township, Sea Girt Borough, Shrewsbury Borough, Shrewsbury Township, Spring Lake Borough, Spring Lake Heights Borough, Tinton Falls Borough and Wall Township.
For more information, contact Congressman Smith’s Toms River Office at 732-504-0567.
Prayers With the Reverend Joseph Donnelly Council of the Knights of Columbus taking reservations now for their Country Hoedown Party set for April 26, complete with a buffet dinner, dessert table and prizes, the Our Lady of Perpetual Help St Agnes parish is also planning a Mother’s Day tea Party for Saturday, May 4 and inviting all to attend for tea, sweets and savories, including a flower bar and gift basket raffles.
The Tea Party will also include door prizes, flower bouquet raffles, door prizes and a demonstration of creating floral bouquets.
Tickets for the event will be available after the 9:30 mass at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church Sunday, and are also available by calling the parish office at 732-291-0272.
The parish is also featuring a Children’s Family Mass once a month at St. Agnes Church at the 10:45 a.m. mass on April 28, May 18 and June 22, with families encouraged to attend the mass as a group and enjoy conversation, friendship and light refreshments in the downstairs meeting room after mass. Further information is available by e-mail Mary Barrett at marybattett@gmail.com.
Boys interested in serving as acolytes at either church for masses or adults wishing to be liturgical volunteers or Eucharistic ministers serving in either or both churches can contact the parish office at 732-291-0272, ext. 10 for further information.
That meeting of the Mayors and school board chairman to discuss including Sea Bright in the Henry Hudson regional school district will hopefully result in getting the question on the ballot in Atlantic Highlands in November. Middletown East
Highlands and Sea Bright have already said they want it, and the Atlantic Highlands Mayor and council members have been saying for a long time they’re in favor of it.
Atlantic Highlands Mayor Lori Hohenleitner
But they (Atlantic Highlands Mayor and council members) haven’t done anything to move it forward. They were not even willing to have a non-binding question on the ballot to understand the residents’ desires. Instead, they are rather simply waiting to see exactly how many more appellate court decisions Shore Regional is going to spend money to fight before they take a stand on their own.
Things are happening in the Bayshore that should make these folks wake up and act quickly.
What’s happening in Middletown these days should make these mayors and board scared silly they might not even have their own district one day….and it could happen sooner than they think.
Or is it possible some people really want the Henry Hudson Regional school district to be dissolved so soon after it’s been formed so it can help solve Middletown’s problems?
Could it be possible that all three towns, Sea Bright included, could be become part of a giant Middletown School system?
Could that be the answer to solving everybody’s financial problems?
Does anyone see that what could happen to Highlands, Atlantic Highlands, or both, is the same thing that started all of Sea Bright’s problems half a century ago?
They closed the grammar school in Sea Bright in the 1970s, and the borough became a district without a school. They had no choice but to have their kids go to Oceanport, where they have little if anything to say about how the kids are being taught.
Read Middletown’s problems. They want to close Navesink, ironically the school with the highest academic values and ratings of any of the primary grades school in town, indeed even highly ranked across the state. They want to close the Leonardo School, saying all those kids should now be bused to other buildings, other locations, other teachers, and lose so much of the neighborly friendliness they know and love.
Let’s just take the Navesink school. That’s a k through five school. The Middletown Board of Education wants to close it because it’s too expensive to keep educating the 208 students that go there.
Look at Atlantic Highlands. That’s PK through 6 school where 245 students are being educated. Highlands is a Pk through 6 school as well; they have a student population of 170. Both schools average less in a classroom than the Navesink School they want to shut down a couple of miles away.
So how long do you think it’s going to take the state, the Middletown school district, or all those financial wizards wondering how Middletown got into so much debt in secret in the first place to think about expanding one district to resolve the problems of many?
Supposing the Henry Hudson regional district, with or without Sea Bright, came into the Middletown School district. That would bring in millions of dollars to Middletown, helping them resolve their financial problems. It would also bring in youngsters for the two schools Middletown is thinking of closing, filling the classrooms better, making it worthwhile to keep teachers on the job there and keeping an awful lot of parents happy?
Is that what Atlantic Highlands wants? In the end, after all the stalling, all the talk about waiting until Shore Regional gets its answers, all the failures to put it on the ballot for the people to decide, could it be that the Atlantic Highlands Mayor or mayor and council would really like their schools to become part of Middletown?
Isn’t it time to step up to the plate and let the people know what the ultimate goal really is?
Isn’t it long overdue to simply put the regionalization question on the ballot in Atlantic Highlands like the other two towns did: Isn’t it time to let the people let the elected officials know what they want? You’ve been fiddling with the question for years, time’s a wasting.
The real question is, why is the Atlantic Highlands Mayor and Council ignoring the solution staring them in the face , a solution that has been validated by feasibility study after study, studies that make it clear including Sea Bright into Henry Hudson is best for the students and taxpayers?
This is a solution that enables the local board to preside over what could be the ultimate closure of their very own school system. The promised “Step 2” to include Sea Bright would also go a long way in gaining State and Education Commission support to recognize and praise Henry Hudson as a truly regionalized school. It is a solution which would most likely protect the Henry Hudson system from consolidation into Middletown for years to come.
With decreasing younger population throughout the state creating statewide problems for the cost of education, there may come the time when it is not the local voter who will make the education decisions; it could well be the state that mandates specific numbers in classes in order to get state funding.
Sea Bright felt the pain half a century ago. Can’t we all learn from that before it happens again?
Life The Henry Hudson Regional faculty member Denise Furda who had her Osprey Chorus singing the Highlands Elementary School song during the St. Patrick’s Day parade brings similar enthusiasm to classes she teaches in all three schools of the regional district.
Mrs.Furda, who has been the music teacher at the Highlands Elementary school since 2002 when she first came aboard to teach general music, band and chorus in Highlands, also began teaching band at the Atlantic Highlands Elementary school in September 2017.
Now, with the regionalization including all thee schools in a single district, she is now in each of schools, including Henry Hudson where she teaches general music and instrument lessons to 7th graders, in addition to her band classes in both elementary schools and her chorus class in Highlands.
A heavy schedule, but one this hardworking teacher loves for many reasons. “l love when a student reaches a goal they have set for themselves,” she enthused, “In fact, I just invited a student, who has been working really hard this year, to join the Osprey Band at HES. He got a big smile on his face, so I put my hand up for a high-five, but he ran over and gave me a big hug instead. He was so excited! It was a great moment! “
You might say music is this teacher’s life, or at least a great part of it! Graduating magnum cum laude from the Crane School of Music at SUNY in Potsdam, NY, in 2001, she holds a degree in music education with a concentration on vocal. But she plays numerous instruments, her favorite being the piano.
I can play all of the instruments I teach at at least middle school level, she said, “although flute is my main band instrument. “ She also plays the oboe in the Greater Shore Concert Band, is the Director of Music at the First United Methodist Church in Oakhurst, where she plays the organ and leads the Choir and Praise Team. She’s also skillful in ringing and teaching hand bells.
The teacher said she has always had something musical in her life but admits to enjoying bowling as well and is proud of her accomplishments there. “I’m having my best year ever with a 178 average,” she boasted.
Married, living in Oakhurst and the mother of three sons, one who has passed, and two teenagers, Mrs. Furda believes music is an important part of every child’s life and aids them in learning about history, other cultures, language, and even math. “Students learn about history and cultures through learning about composers, learning rhythm helps with math, reading music notation helps with language, and in both band and chorus, students learn to work not only independently but also in a group, and how sometimes it takes time working towards a goal and achieving it.
She believes all children like “at least listening to music,” even if they aren’t interested in performing it. But for all, one of the best parts of music, she believes, is that it connects people with their emotions. “An upbeat, happy song definitely brings a smile to my students’ faces.” She said, by way of example, “I once had a student request to sing “Bad Day” . She said it helped her get through a rough patch of life. We did sing it, and other students commented that they related to it too. “
Although she aims for a variety of music styles in her concerts, the music instructor said she generally expects students “to like the upbeat, fun piece the most; still, “often there will be student requests for us to start with the soft, calm piece.”
The downside, or most frustrating part of teaching music for this teacher is “when I know a student is not doing as well as they could. I have to figure out what they need to find the inspiration to reach their best potential.
Sometimes, it’s a particular song they click with or the right compliment which may inspire them. “ She works until she achieves that goal, and her student has improved and enjoyed the experience of learning.
The new regionalization of the three schools has distinct advantages for music, Mrs. Furda believes. “Our students begin their musical journey with Mrs. Jennifer Wolff in the elementary school general music classes, then may have instrument lessons from me in fourth grade. Moving up they then work with Nicholas McGill at the high school level. “
At the elementary instrument lesson classes, she teaches flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone horn, pitched and non-pitched percussion. In her 7th grade general music class, Mrs. Furda teaches basic music notation, beginning piano, and beginning guitar. Students learn a few chords on each instrument and play a few simple songs using those chords. She places emphasis on teaching a student to read music, learning that is the easiest way to learn to play an instrument.
Students tend to want to write something in their music to help them remember, something she does not allow until they come close to a concert presentation. “If you write in names of notes or counting the rhythm right away, you lose the opportunity to learn to read those notes and rhythms, “ she explains. But once in performance mode, if a student is still missing a note or rhythm, she permits them to write in the music so that the performance of the piece is better.
For herself, this busy happy teacher blames Weird Al Yankovic for her ability and love for the accordion. “I am a huge fan of “Weird Al” Yankovic, the accordion rock star,” she explains Besides that, I grew up singing with Village Harmony summer camp where I learned songs from the Balkan countries usually accompanied by an accordion. I usually play it for the annual parade and the occasional school-talent show, when I dress up as Weird Al and perform his song “Yoda”.
When the Highlands Elementary School Osprey Chorus marched in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade last week, they carried with them enthusiasm, history, and a story about the clever and very talented music teacher Denise Furda who made it possible for them to delight the crowd with the Highlands Elementary School song.
Actually, it’s a song that has been in the school for nearly half a century, starting back in 1983 when Mercedes Dodds, who was the Music Teacher at that time, had her Gifted & Talented students write music and lyrics to express their feelings about the Highlands Elementary School. The song was sung on occasion then, and then somehow interest or music drifted aside but were not forgotten.
When Mrs. Furda joined the faculty at the elementary school in January, 2002, she heard about the song. But no one knew where the music or lyrics were. So once again, the Highlands song was a thing of the past.
That was until a few years after her arrival and Mrs Furda was cleaning out papers and boxes left by former teachers when her room location was changed. The papers were mostly old purple ditto sheets from the General Music class, but this detailed and meticulous teacher looked through it all rather than simply discard the old boxes. That’s when she found, in the middle of the rubbish, a faded folder with a copy of the handwritten music and lyric sheets inside!
The teacher showed it to her music class, delighted them with the story of their school song, and since then, it has been a regular highlight of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, along with the Osprey Chorus version of “The Whistling Gypsy Rover.”
The Osprey Chorus also sang their school song on the stage at a recent meeting of the Henry Hudson Regional Board of Education, receiving applause and a standing ovation both for their excellence and pride in having a school song.
Looking back on it now, Mrs. Furda laughs, saying “I was afraid to find the song because I worried that I wouldn’t like it and I’d have to sing it all the time.”
But actually, she enthuses, “ it is a really cute song I enjoy very much!
The lyrics to the Highlands School Song, sung with pep, enthusiasm, talent and plenty of school spirit:
We all should climb that highest hill,
and if you go to Highlands Element’ry,
all of your dreams will be fulfilled.
You will be glad you made the effort to achieve your highest goal.
If you go now, we’ll show you how Highlands is the best school!
Look to the far, far, blue horizon where the endless skies now meet the sea.
Look to the bright old sun arising to show the way for you and me.
Look to the dreams we dreamed together here, where our banner’s gold and blue.
Look to the sky! Hold those goals high, here at Highlands School!
Lots The Atlantic Highlands branch of the Monmouth County Librarycontinues to be a draw for people of all ages from infants through seniors, including tweens and teens, as its offers a variety of programs that concentrate on a variety of subjects from shipwrecks to dragons and dungeons.
“Diver Dan” Lieb
Thursday, April 3, underwater diver Dan Lieb will present a program on Shipwrecks of the Jersey Shore beginning at 7 p.m.
On Thursday, April 10. The History of Punk from 1950s through the 1990s will be presented by author and historian Tedi Pascarella of Monmouth University, also at 7 p.m.
The Bayshore Family Success Center, located in Leonardo, sponsors several programs at the library in conjunction with staff there, and will feature an Easter Egg Hunt and Easter crafts at the library on April 17. The half hour long program begins at 3:30 and is geared toward children from 3 years old and older.
The Steven King Book Club meets the third Thursday of every month and this month discussed Cujo at the 7 p.m. meeting. Anyone interested in King’s books, or wanting to know more about them is invited to the regular monthly meetings of the Book Club dedicated toward his style. Talisiman is the book selected for April’s discussion and it is available at the library. The novel is a story of loyalty, awakening, terror, and mystery as sit tells the story of Jack Sawyer’s quest to save his mothers life.
Dungeons and Dragons for teens and adults will be at the library March 27 at 6 p.m. .
Lauren Garcia is both had manager for the Atlantic Highlands branch as well as Children’s librarian.
Jane Scimeca, professor of history at Brookdale Community College, will present a program on Gerladine L. Thompson, once known as New Jersey’s First Lady, on Thursday, March 27 at 7 p.m.
Geraldine L. Thompson
The program is being presented by the Eastern Branch of the Monmouth County Library at its location on Route 35 in Shrewsbury with registrations strongly recommended to ensure seating.
Geraldine Thompson, who was recently inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame, had successful and active careers as a political leader, reformer, philanthropist and owner of Brookdale Farm, currently the home of Brookdale College.
The Farm was created in the 1870s by David Dunham Withers and was purchased by Thompson’s husband . In the late 1960s, Mrs. Thompson saw it as an estate that should be shared with others, and she bequeathed a substantial portion of the estate to Monmouth County as part of the Monmouth County Park System.
As a horse farm, the historic site was once one of the greatest horse farms in North America and its history includes a number of well known race horses during the nation’s golden age of thoroughbred racing.
Scimeca will explore Mrs. Thomspon’s remarkable life story based on extensive research through the Monmouth County archives, libraries and the Thompson family history.
Scimeca, who teaches World History and Women’s History, is also a host on a New Books in Women’s History podcast, and is writing her first biography, “Mrs. Thompson Saves the day: The life of Geraldine L. Thompson.”
Reservations can be made by calling the library at 866-941-8188 or e-mailing monmouthCountyLib.org
Amid the hustle and bustle, the fun and games, the work and play today, hopefully we all set aside a few minutes today to honor the 3528 recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest military award for valor.
March 25 is the day in March, Medal of Honor Month, when special ceremonies are held throughout the nation to honor both the living and deceased who are recipients of the Medal of Honor.
It is the day when many of the 61 living recipients of the Medal of Honor gather at the Tomb of the unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery and honor the four Medal of Honor Unknown Soldiers who are recipients.
It is the day when special ceremonies and commemorative as well as educational events are held aboard the USS Yorktown , the home of the National Honor Society at Patriots Point South Carolina.
The Society is comprised of those who wear the Medal of Honor, and through the Society’s Outreach, Education and History initiatives, the Medal of Honor recipients continue their service to the nation.
This year, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society recognizes American Airlines as the key sponsor of its Medal of Honor March 2025 tributes . As a longtime partner to the Society, American Airlines has played a vital role in ensuring the legacy of the Medal of Honor reaches every corner of the country. Its dedication is best exhibited through Flagship Valor, a specially designed Airbus A321 , a visual tribute to Medal of Honor recipients.
Flagship Valor is also a resource for Medal recipients, and this year has delivered many of them to Washington, D.C., for the Presidential Inauguration, to New York City for the Foundation’s 17th Circle of Honor Dinner at the New York Stock Exchange, and once again to Washington today for the annual Citizen Honors Awards and National Medal of Honor Day activities.
Here in New Jersey, let us remember and pause to thank all of our military, but especially the 88 New Jerseyans who have fought and received the Medal in every war from the Civil War to the present, from Jedh Barker to Jay Zeamer, from John Toffey in the Civil War to Father Charles Watters in Vietnam, all New Jersey Medal of Honor recipients.
In this part of Monmouth County, let us also remember in a special way Middletown’s Horace Thorne, Freehold’s Pvt. Thomas Fallon, and Highlands’ Robert Blume, representatives of the heroism and gallantry so many of our courageous military display as they face unknown dangers in their efforts to bring peace to the world.
