Early learning center dedicated in name of former board atty.
BY KATHY BARATTA Staff Writer

JEFF GRANIT staff Administrators in the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District have formally dedicated the John I. Dawes Early Learning Center on Gordons Corner Road. The new building, which shares a property with the Clark Mills School, is named for Dawes, who was the school district's attorney for more than 40 years.

MANALAPAN - The Manalapan- Englishtown Regional School District Board of Education held a formal dedication for the John I. Dawes Early Learning Center on Oct. 22.

The school, which opened at the beginning of the 2007-08 school year, is named to honor attorney John I. Dawes, who served as the school district's attorney from 1962 until his retirement at the end of the 2006-07 school year.

The early learning center was built on Gordons Corner Road next to the Clark Mills School. The building educates all of the district's kindergarten pupils.

According to school board president Anthony Manisero, board members changed a long-standing policy in order to allow the building to be named in honor of Dawes. The board's policy has always been to provide a name for schools that reflects local significance or history.

Dawes' wife and family, including several grandchildren, were present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the early learning center.

Noting that several of his grandchildren attend schools in the Manalapan- Englishtown Regional School District, Dawes said the honor of having the new school bear his name was his and theirs to share, something that made the distinction even more special for him.

He thanked everyone associated with choosing to honor him and said it had been an honor to serve the district for as long as he had. Dawes said he loved Manalapan so much that he and his wife had moved to the township two years ago from Freehold Township.

Former Superintendent of Schools Joseph Scozzari was on hand for the ceremony. Scozzari, who retired in 2002 after 21 years as the district's superintendent, said Dawes was "one of the greats."

Scozzari said the school district had undergone a great deal of change and growth during the time he served as superintendent and he said Dawes was "an asset" he knew that he could count on without hesitation.

"No matter what was happening I knew I could count on him [Dawes] to be there when we needed, with what we needed. I always knew we could rely on his judgment and expertise every time no matter what the circumstances were," Scozzari said.