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PUBLIC SLAMS SCHOOL CLOSINGS
Warned That Even More Could Be In Store Next Year
By Keith Hagarty
Following the Township Board of Education's recent announcement that both the Primary Learning Center and Laurelton School will be closed in the upcoming school year, hundreds of parents and school staff attended the board's meeting last week only to find that more school closings could be coming.
And they could be coming sooner rather than later.
According to interim Schools Superintendent Melindo Persi, closing the Laurelton School would produce a savings of $24,675, while closing the PLC would save the district $856,625 in savings in administration and support staff costs.
When it comes to the state's funding formula and its budget cap restrictions on local school districts, Persi said Brick's schools are in trouble.
"We're looking down the barrel of a gun right now," said Persi. "We have a new state budgeting formula which was supposed to cure all ills, but we're going to be anticipating receiving about the same level of state aid for the next three years."
The state's four percent cap on the local tax levy also further ties the district's hands, said Persi, explaining the cumulative affect the lack of tax revenue would have on the school budgets in the coming years.
"For the next three years, we can raise taxes $3 million each year, and it looks as if we're going to lose $16 million within four years," he said. "It looks like we're going to have to close a couple more schools, so that's about the bleakest situation we can be in at this point in time, and something had to give."
To help close a $3.5 million budget gap, the district's initial recommendation was to close Laurelton, as well as both the Osbornville and Herbertsville Elementary schools. An estimated $1,136,639 would have been saved by closing those two schools. The plan was nixed, however, the board did not rule out either school once again being on the chopping block for next year's budget process.
With the closing of the PLC and Laurelton School, students will be transferred to neighboring schools. The district's kindergarten students will attend their local elementary schools.
Saying that 95 percent of her friends have children under the age of 3, Susan Schweiger, of Maple Drive, voiced concerns about a possible influx of additional students down the road.
"In my neighborhood alone, the enrollment in the next five years is going to go up," she said.
With her son expected to start kindergarten in September, Schweiger asked whether the PLC enrichment programs would be carried over to the local schools. She was assured by the board that the programs would still continue as planned, and would be for the most part unchanged.
The district's original budget request was for $142.2 million, however, with a four percent state cap limiting the increased size of the budget to $130.7 million, the district had to find $11.47 million to cut from its initial proposal.
To further bridge the budget gap, the board also plans to eliminate four teaching and six special education paraprofessionals from special education for a savings of $403,450. In addition, six new teaching positions originally slated for the upcoming school year will no longer be created, saving $492,400. Another $1,082,937 would be come from surplus, the board stated.
Working as a teacher at PLC, Brick resident Donna Wittmann said when the idea for the construction of the PLC was hatched 14 years ago, it was envisioned as a nurturing hub for the town's pre-school and kindergarten learners.
"How exciting it was to be on the ground floor," she said. "The enthusiasm I felt those years ago has never left me. In fact, I speak for my PLC colleagues that it never left them either."
She said the PLC has touched numerous lives in the township since it opened its doors, and will be sorely missed once it is gone, with Wittmann calling the closing "a step backwards for the Brick school system and its students."
"I know I may sound a little like a Disney commercial when I say the PLC is truly a magical place where 3- to 6-year-olds come to learn in an atmosphere of warmth and joy," said Wittmann. "The positive impact the special area classes have on our students cannot be measured. The loss of this pre-school and these kindergartens will be a tragedy."
The PLC is the original home of the district's special needs program. Wittmann said it will be sad to see the school close.
"About seven or eight years ago, the PLC actually housed that entire program," she said. "I was a speech therapist for that program, and have seen it grow exponentially since."
As the parent of a special needs child currently attending the Primary Learning Center, Mary Anderson raised questions of whether additional transportation funding would be needed to compensate for the school closing.
"Right now she's on that bus for almost 50 minutes," she said. "It picks her up at quarter to-eight (a.m.). School starts at 8:30, and she doesn't probably get there until 8:35. Was that considered in the budget as far as the extra cost for buses?"
The board acknowledged that there has been no additional money as of yet set aside for potential increased transportation costs.
With the two school closings this year, and more most likely on the way for next year, Jeremy DeCicco, of New Crest Court, hopes the school district is making the right choice.
"Nobody wants to see that PLC building close. It's a beautiful building," said De- Cicco. "I have two kids that went through there, and it has some very, very dedicated teachers."
While the decision to close the schools has not been popular, DeCicco said he understands and sympathizes with the board and administrators' plight.
"It's an unpopular decision you've been handed - it's courageous - but very unpopular," he said. "I just hope that things do work out for the future of this community."
The school closings are something neither the board nor the district's administrators ever wanted to see happen, but unfortunately because of the fiscal climate and steadily declining enrollment, they were left with no choice, said Board President Cynthia McCarthy.
"Our enrollment has been dropping for a number of years now," said McCarthy. "It's not something that just occurred. You can trace it back to a number of years."
Attempting to douse rumor buzz circulating through Brick since the board's school closing announcement, McCarthy said she wanted to nip any other misinformation or fears in the bud.
"This board has no intention of privatizing services, such as with the cafeteria or custodial staff," said McCarthy. "There's been rumors going around, and it's simply not true."
McCarthy said anyone who would like clarification or who have additional questions they'd like answered regarding any rumors or concerns they have are encouraged to call the board offices at 732-785- 3000.
McCarthy pleaded with those in attendance to familiarize themselves as much as they can with the school funding formula, saying the lack of state aid has severely handicapped the budget and ultimately the flexibility of the district.
The district is asking concerned parents to sign a petition to the state calling for school funding reform.
"We can't keep this district moving forward unless we have the best interests of every single student in mind," said Mc- Carthy.
Copies of the petition and letters to Governor Jon Corzine and state legislators are available at the district's Web site, www. brickschools.org.
In addition, Brick will be providing transportation for a rally to the Statehouse steps in Trenton on Thursday, March 13, with participants asked to meet up for the bus at the former Foodtown Shopping Center on Route 70 at 9 a.m. for the noon rally in the state's capital.
"This is an unfair funding formula," said Persi. "It's an outrage to the board and, in fact, the entire community."
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