Who Benefits
Veni Vidi Scripto has two important questions residents should be asking each other. One is what is the TriDistrict? Right now, there is no such thing.
The second, and more important is, why ever would three boards of education, comprised of intelligent thinking people, get an idea that should have been and could have been done more than half a century ago. Who Benefits … why is it such a good idea now?
Nobody did anything for more than 50 years, and now, all of a sudden, it’s so great and it has to be voted on so soon. Worse, why now go with backward thinking when Sea Bright is offering a 21st century solution. If the voters want it, it would bring money and better educational opportunities into the mix and make it all worthwhile?
If the local boards of education just thought a little more wisely today they could come up with something better that what they could have being doing for more than half a century.
Elections are expensive. So are all the changes that have to be made officially when names change. Right now, the three boards work well together. What’s to gain by sharing the costs differently, other than to make one board’s taxpayers pay a share of costs the other school board may have racked up? Who Benefits?
Are the boards of education who unanimously think that proposing the way the three schools deal with each other without any new ideas or money coming in going to explain how and why this is a good thing?
The boards say that at some time in the future, of course they want Sea Bright to join.
Heck, they even unanimously sent a resolution to the Commissioner saying that. So already that means they’re talking about yet another election after this rush job in 50 days or so. If approved, that would mean yet another change in the board that runs the schools. But at least at that time, there would be a few million dollars being poured in so it could certainly be worth it if an election included Sea Bright in a new district.
So let’s see who benefits from a special election to consolidate under one board what three boards apparently have been doing just fine for half a century or more.
Well, the Superintendent of the new tri-district would benefit a bundle. Right now, the superintendent is hired by Henry Hudson Regional School, and she is ‘shared’ by the two elementary schools. So there are three budgets but one employer, the Henry Hudson district.
With a ‘tridistrict board,” there would only be one budget. That means the costs and programs now decided by 26 different people would be decided by nine people. The superintendent would not have to answer to 26 people; she would just answer to nine people.
It would appear the two year contract with the current superintendent, which is slated to begin July 1, 2024, would have to be negotiated . There would no longer be the Henry Hudson Regional School Board of Education that negotiated it, with the approval of the two other boards who share in the cost.
But there would not be any three boards anymore, so how could the contract still be valid? Wouldn’t the new board of education, those new nine board members, have any say in who is running a district that did not exist when the contract was signed?
The superintendent also benefits from a decision to include only the three schools that now share her services rather than include Sea Bright. Who Benefits?
Remember, the superintendent lives in Oceanport. That’s the town where Sea Bright youngsters currently go to school. If Sea Bright were included in the new and approved Tri-District, that would take a whole bunch of money away from Oceanport, hence, higher taxes for Oceanport residents … including the superintendent. Who Benefits?
No one has very explained to VeniVidiScripto or anyone else, why the very fact that adding Sea Bright to the mix would have an immediate impact on the personal life of the superintendent is NOT a conflict of interest. Who Benefits?
No one has ever explained why this apparent conflict has not prevented the superintendent from participating so heavily in all the negotiations for regionalization, being the primary speaker and advising the boards of education. Who Benefits?
These are the three boards that a few days ago unanimously voted to put a regionalization question on a special ballot that does NOT include Sea Bright. The same three boards of education that had their own experts, paid by tax dollars, advise them of all the benefits of including Sea Bright. Why hire experts to advise if you don’t want to take their advice? Who Benefits?
Perhaps the Commissioner of Education should shoulder some of the blame. She’s been sitting on that idea that was proposed, approved, and unanimously sent to her by BOTH the governing bodies AND the three boards of Education.
That is the resolution to approve a vote on a NEW Tri District which would include Sea Bright, bring money into Highlands and Atlantic Highlands, make life easier for Sea Bright youngsters and make a positive change both in taxes and education. Who Benefits?
Her delay on that decision on that resolution is apparently because of that lawsuit Oceanport is bringing against Sea Bright for daring to try to take charge of educating their own kids the way they want.
Oh, that’s Oceanport again. The town where the superintendent of the other three schools lives and … pays taxes. Who Benefits?
There are strong minds, great research, and a reliability for good reason on all the experts on this issue among the governing bodies of Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Sea Bright. Their joint letter this week urging the Commissioner to act shows their strong desire to put question before the public that include ALL options, not simply organize three schools that work together into one district with no additional gains in either educational standards of money.
Let’s see what happens if the Commissioner grants that resolution request and governing bodies can put the complete question on the November ballot.
Once again, history will be made.
Look for another story soon on what exactly is the Tri District the boards talk about.
Thank you Muriel. However do disagree that we didn’t try before. Rules for sea bright were different but when I was on the BOE for over 12 years we did attempt to have all three districts join officially but Atlantic highlands would not agree. I don’t think we should do it without sea bright and highlands should not be paying more we have less kids in the district (I believe)
You’re right on all accounts, Pat and thanks. I was really referring to when it all started when Hudson was built, would have been easy then. . You’re right also about this costing Highlands so much more if Sea Bright isn’t involved, at least it seems that way because of the formula they’re using for splitting the costs. And nobody ever takes into consideration how much Highlands taxpayers also pay extra for policing the roads, managing the traffic, doing the public works in their tax dollars for all the extra costs simply because the regional school is in their borough. You ere great on the board, too Pat! Never forget it!
Again I have to ask why you are hell Bent on destroying the career of a highly qualified individual just because she lives in Oceanport!
Regionalization is a good thing. Your negativity is destructive
Peter:
To begin, I would love to Email you directly, but when you signed up to receive these blog posts, you used an Email that doesn’t work, so I guess I will respond publicly. I disagree that I am “Hell Bent” on destroying anyone’s career, I and I have no idea if the Superintendent is qualified, Highly qualified, competent or incompetent. I’ve never opined to her qualifications, so please do not insinuate that I did. What I have asked is as a taxpayer in Oceanport, is it ethical to lead discussions, or even be part of discussions that have an impact on her tax rate. That question remains unanswered. I have always supported regionalization, IF it includes Sea Bright. If it doesn’t, than it does not appear to make economic sense for the Taxpayers in Atlantic highlands and Highlands. Seems to me that you might want to read every article I’ve written about regionalization because it seems you might have your facts wrong