Dear Parents and Taxpayers,

Surely you have heard the expression, “Strong Schools, Strong Towns”.  Most would agree it’s true.  However, there is a movement in Trenton that is targeting our small school districts and threatens to change the very character of the communities we have come to know and love.

In 2007, State legislators passed “The Core Act”, legislation designed to dismantle small school districts.  In doing so, the State essentially rewrote the job description and title for 21 County Superintendents, now known as Executive County Superintendents.   By March 2010, and with taxpayer money, each of these leaders must propose a plan to eliminate all school districts that are not K-12 and approximately 3,000 – 5,000 students.  In Monmouth County, the first step is to conduct feasibility studies to try and prove that forced consolidation of schools will provide property tax relief. Carol Morris, the Monmouth County representative, recently designated the Avon, Bradley Beach, Belmar,Lake Como, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights, Sea Girt, Manasquan and Brielle school districts as a “cluster” to be considered for regionalization.

With no small town consolidation success stories to emulate, the State’s goal is to create larger school districts without any consideration given to the academic well being of over 3,800 of our children.  Many of our students have consistently outperformed their peers on the State’s own standardized tests.  All of them enjoy the community and support found only in a small school environment, with personal and caring instruction, where both individual and community achievement are rewarded. 

With no proof, this administration claims regionalization will offer property tax relief.  Instead of encouraging fiscal responsibility, regionalization will create new expenses, i.e. bussing, new administrators’ salaries and higher teachers’ salaries.  Also, it will force efficiently managed districts to assume the debt burden of inefficiently managed districts.  Existing debt will be spread across the “cluster”, and towns that should be applauded for their cost efficiencies will instead pay higher taxes to cover debt they did not create or vote for.  This redistribution of wealth will also affect property values.  Suddenly, families will no longer evaluate our towns based on the excellence of the local schools.  So much for the “strong school, strong town” ideal.

With complete disregard for our Constitutional right to vote, this administration seeks to remove control of our locally managed and approved school budgets, curriculums and School Boards.  Whereas our votes truly count where we live, that will no longer be the case in a consolidated school district.  A new School Board will be comprised of a varying number of representatives from each member town, based on the new district’s student ratio.  Decisions made on the education of our children, and any related expenses and tax implications, will no longer be representative of our wants and values.

In a world where the U.S. educational system lags behind, why isn’t our legislature emulating small schools that work?  With political promises of putting an emphasis on education, what kind of message will consolidation send to our children? 

Consolidation of our schools will force our children to trade in their bicycles for school buses.  Personal, nurturing and challenging learning environments will morph into crowded classrooms with lesser, mediocre standards.  Property taxes will rise and home values will drop.  And while the current legislation affords us a vote on the issue, this may not always be the case.  The State’s own 1999 feasibility study proved consolidation would be detrimental to our small schools.  If Trenton remains so intent, perhaps future legislation will simply remove our fundamental American right to a vote on the issue.

Currently, there are approximately 180 proposed studies of various forms of consolidation or regionalization of school districts across the state, believed to cost taxpayers approximately $4,000,000.00. What can you do to help prevent the consolidation of our schools, rising taxes and dropping home values?  How can you be sure you keep your right to vote? 

First, attend a school consolidation meeting that as they are held throughout our area. Learn more about the devastating effects The 2007 Core Act will have on our children and our towns.  When State officials are in attendance, find out exactly why taxpayer dollars are dedicated to the dismantling of our small, locally controlled and highly performing schools.  Ask for proof that sacrificing quality education for our children will actually provide real property tax relief. 

Next, know our political candidates’ positions on the issue and vote in the November Gubernatorial Election.  John Corzine’s position is clear.  Republican Candidate, Chris Christie, opposes State mandated consolidation of our schools and vows to always protect our right to a vote.  We encourage you to contact all candidates and legislators and ask for their official statements on the issue.  Voice your opinion in writing and in the voting booth.

Finally, support C.A.R.E. (CommUNITY Against Regionalization Efforts) on the fight against forced school consolidation.  We are a grassroots citizens group, dedicated to “preserving the right of ‘home rule’ in Southeastern Monmouth County and to protecting our children, towns and taxpayers”.  We plan on providing current and relevant information on the school consolidation issue and how it affects us all – as parents, taxpayers, homeowners and voters.   

Sincerely,

C.A.R.E.

CommUNITY Against Regionalization Efforts

Why Small Schools Are Important...

• Researchers found that students in small schools had higher grade point averages, significantly lower dropout rates and better attendance rates than their peers in larger urban schools

• Small schools foster personalized learning environments where all students are well known.

• Good small schools are even more affordable and successful even when compared to larger schools in the same district.

 *source: www.smallschoolsproject.com