Panel to offer recommendations on school times
Feb. 7 meeting will reveal plans for building schedules in Freehold Township
BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer
Acommittee that has been reviewing possible changes in Freehold Township school times is ready to present its findings to the public. Dawn Gravatt, the public information officer for the Freehold Township K-8 School District, said a meeting has been scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 7 at the West Freehold School, Castronova Way, off Route 537.

No decision on the committee's recommendations will be made that evening. Public comments will be heard on the committee's recommendations.

On Feb. 12 Superintendent of Schools William Setaro will present the plan to the Board of Education.

Setaro said in a letter that was sent home with students on Dec. 7 that district officials would be "holding informational sessions to explore the possibility of making changes to the school day schedule for the 2008-09 school year."

Informational sessions were held on Dec. 13, Dec. 18, Dec. 19, Jan. 3, Jan. 7, Jan. 17, Jan. 23 and Jan. 30.

At the time Setaro's letter went home to parents two months ago, Gravatt said the examination of the schools' instructional schedules was not related to the district's budget.

"We are looking to improve transportation efficiency and to examine the impact of the current instructional schedule on co-curricular activities and after-school activities," she said.

In his December letter to parents, Setaro acknowledged that "any change to school start and end times will affect everyone in some way. … Together, we hope that community members, parents, staff and students will work collaboratively to identify and solve any concerns that might arise."

At the present time, the instructional day at the Applegate, Donovan, Errickson and West Freehold elementary schools runs from 8 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.

The instructional day at the district's other elementary school, the Catena School, runs from 8:40 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The instructional day at the Barkalow and Eisenhower middle schools runs from 8:25 a.m. to 3 p.m.