FRHSD special programs now accepting applications
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

Open house events held for the specialized learning centers and career academies of the Freehold Regional High School District proved to be a success, according to district administrators.

“We had two nights, Sept. 28-29, opened up for the specialized leaning centers and the career academies,” Suzanne Koegler, assistant superintendent for curriculum, said at the FRHSD Board of Education’s Oct. 10 meeting. “On Sept. 28, we had a turnout of over 1,000 parents at Colts Neck High School to learn about the learning center program and to get a firsthand view of our online application. The same [held true] with the career academies on Sept. 29.”

Koegler said the application process is now open for students to apply for the special programs. The applications will close at 11:59 p.m. Oct. 30.

Superintendent of Schools James Wasser praised two brochures produced by Ilse Whisner, public information coordinator, and members of the office of curriculum, particularly Linda Abrams, administrative supervisor of specialized leaning centers and academies. The brochures provide an overview of the learning centers and the career academies.

Wasser said parents who attended the open house commented on the diverse programs offered by the district, as well as the quality of the services and the excellent condition of the facilities.

Board member Kathie Lavin, of Farmingdale, said, “I was at both meetings and they did a wonderful job. It was great because it really educated the parents and students who came out ... A lot of people were uncertain about the whole process. This way it was easier. People had questions answered right there.”

Board member Diana Cappiello, of Englishtown, asked how many centers a student can apply to. Koegler said a student may apply to one learning center and to one career academy.

In other business, board member Bunny Hammer, of Freehold Borough, reported that she attended a recent meeting of a school boards legislative committee and heard an informative program about property tax reform, which continues to be a significant issue in New Jersey as it relates to the funding of public schools.

During the public portion of the Oct. 10 meeting, parents of current eighth-graders who may be impacted next September by an adjustment in the FRHSD attendance areas addressed the board. Many of the parents were from northern Howell and have children who may be affected by the adjustment and objected to the move.

The board voted recently to adjust several attendance areas throughout the district. In some cases residents of Howell who would have been assigned to attend Colts Neck High School will instead be assigned to Howell High School.

Parents expressed concern about the length of the bus ride their child may have to make; about the demographics and geocoding used in making attendance determinations; about class size and overcrowding; and about a lack of notification about the process.

Wasser said at the present time there are 11,624 students in the district’s six high schools. The district has a total capacity of 12,581 students. There are 328 students who are on a half-day schedule and are only present in their school in the morning. He said the reason for the shift in attendance is that building enrollments have to be equalized.

He said there is no law that sets a time limit for a student to be on a bus to or from school.

He noted the conditions of the athletic fields and spoke about lunch period seating and transportation issues in response to questions from parents.

Wasser said information about the attendance area changes was covered in local newspaper articles.