Two towns should start process of leaving regional school district

It is time for all citizens of the Freehold Regional High School District to step back from the emotional redistricting issues at hand and make a factual assessment of the current situation.

Many in recent days have resorted to presenting views which are inflammatory, biased and patently false. Rather than make a rebuttal, I would like to present a rational, calm perspective of the situation today in the FRHSD.

Fact: Six of the eight sending towns (Colts Neck, Freehold Township, Freehold Borough, Howell, Farmingdale and Englishtown) have always lived with, abided by and thrived under a regional system which has historically imposed redistricting (either to house students, desegregate buildings, balance attendance areas or relieve overcrowding) on them.

Fact: The remaining two towns (Marlboro and Manalapan) have had the opportunity to have their children remain exclusively within their "home schools" since those schools were built (Marl-boro in the late 1960s and Manal-apan in the early 1970s).

Fact: Those same two towns do not wish to emulate the other six towns today, when their "home schools" no longer can accommodate the entire student population.

Some have recently attempted to prove to these towns that the position they are taking is flawed.

I, however, don’t think it is our job to convince them that they are wrong. This is their strongly held belief, and while we may disagree, we have to acknowledge the strength of those sentiments and respect their wishes.

Conversely, I would say that people in those towns must respect the strongly held "regional" beliefs of the other six towns, which to us are tried and true, as we have been living comfortably with this for many, many years. It is clear the FRHSD can no longer meet the needs of Marlboro and Manalapan.

That is no grave sin on their part nor is it the fault of this district. It just is. So, please, I ask the people of Manalapan and Marlboro, do what you have to do to begin the secession process. The rest of us, who have always participated in the spirit and the essence of this district wish to take our focus away from this matter and return to the real issues, the education of our children.

It will also free you, too, to deal with the education of your children in the way you see fit.

Joan Leimbach

Howell