BOE Agrees: No School Closures, Courtesy Busing Here to Stay
Closing schools, eliminating courtesy busing not being considered, BOE agrees
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All of the township's schools will remain open for the 2011-12 school year – and students who take buses will still have a ride to get to them, members of the Brick Township Board of Education agreed Tuesday night.
As part of a public forum on the school budget held at Brick Township High School, board members dispelled rumors they say creep up every budget season that school closures and the elimination of so-called "courtesy busing" are being considered under a pending spending plan.
"I don’t think they should close the schools," said board member Robert Merola. "It’s in the budget to keep them open, so let’s keep them open."
"Howell tried it, and it didn’t go over too well," said Len Cuppari, another board member, referring to the now-shuttered Southard School in that district. "Now they’re stuck with a building they can’t lease out. I don’t think now is the time to consider it."
Superintendent Walter Hrycenko said he would not recommend closing schools, but floated the idea of some redistricting in order to better balance class sizes in different schools around town.
Business Administrator James Edwards said based on current class sizes, school population levels should not be increased.
"When our enrollment was at its highest, we had unhoused students," said Edwards. "Because our enrollment has fallen [below 10,000], we are now beginning to fit within our own buildings."
An informal poll of board members showed no interest by any of the elected officials in closing any schools heading into next year.
A similar poll was conducted regarding the elimination of courtesy busing, transportation services extended to students who live within such a distance to their school where the district is not legally obligated to provide a bus. High school students up to 2.5 miles away from their school and elementary and middle school students up to 2 miles from their schools do not have to be bused.
"We have no sidewalks," in Brick, said board member Warren Wolf. "You’d have to walk in the street."
"It’s here, and I see no reason to change at this moment," agreed Board President Kim Terebush, on keeping courtesy busing.
Hrycenko added his own take on the matter, separate from budget considerations: the fact that students see their bus drivers before they see their teachers every day.
"The attitude that our bus drivers have with those students is very important because it sets the tone for the entire day," he said.
Chrissy1375
8:31 am on Wednesday, March 23, 2011
I am so proud to live in Brick after reading this article. It seems as though the BOE really has the students best interest in mind. As the parent of a young child just starting school I am impressed by what I see so far. My child is currently a student at the EEC in Brick and I can not tell you how impressed I am. The teachers and administrators are the best around. The love, patience and compassion that I witness everyday is amazing. I wish all children could benefit from the attention and education that my child has received from his teachers at the EEC. I thank each and every one of them.
jjj
1:39 pm on Wednesday, March 23, 2011
are you kidding me this town is a joke they could care less about the kids it all about how much money they can stuff into there fat pockets
Kathy Bottone
1:45 pm on Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Thank you for your positive comments. As a retired Brick teacher it is so wonderful to know when parents appreciate our hard work and effort. The EEC has a terrific program with amazing teachers, just as all the rest of the schools have amazing teachers working in terrific programs.
Mike
9:21 am on Wednesday, March 23, 2011
It is important to keep the schools open so that class sizes in the other schools do not continue to grow. While the Board unanimously agreed that these schools need to remain open, it can only be GUARANTEED by passing of the budget. There was a woman at last night's meeting that promised to rally the vote AGAINST the budget, said we should pay for our own child's education, etc. I understand the financial difficulties of this time, but, as the saying goes, the children are the future. If we can't, or in some cases, don't want to provide a quality education for our kids then we are doing them a great disservice.
Mike R
9:43 am on Wednesday, March 23, 2011
My two girl's had 4 years of Brick public and 8 years of Catholic School - I never voted against a budget nor have I since they graduated.
jjj
3:59 pm on Wednesday, March 23, 2011
hahahah just keep beleiving all the bs that spews out your taxes go up everything gets blamed ohhh a snow storm raise the taxes oh a pot hole raise the taxes ohh Japan had an earthquake raise the taxes and close the schools all crap
george
8:32 pm on Wednesday, March 23, 2011
I was at the BOE meeting last night and thank goodness for Mr. Wolf, he answered all the questions asked of him and then all the other BOE members just agreed with whatever he said. For what it is worth, he has always had the best interest of our students first for all these years and continues to do so. He is someone who should be emulated. The sad part is that aside from Mr. Talty, I don't believe a word that comes out of any of the other BOE members mouths. They lost my trust last year when they cut middle school sports, library, science and art for the kindergarteners and all the electives for AP classes, along with all our wonderful teachers. Now magically, they have found the hidden stash of cash at election time to put just about everything back, and oh yes, they are NOT for privatization or closing of schools UNLESS THE BUDGET DOES NOT PASS, THEY EVERYTHING IS BACK ON THE TABLE TO BE CUT. That sounds like a loophole to me.
Mr. Smith
10:25 am on Thursday, March 24, 2011
This is the first time in recent memory a vote was taken for what was best for the children first Followed by a show of support for the dedicated hard working employees of the BOE most of whom live right here in Brick.
Where everywhere in the state they are rushing to privatize our board of education has the foresight to understand in the long run privatizing does not work and in the years to come would end up costing the taxpayers more money.
Mr. Wolf and Mr. Tallty I am so glad I vote for you. I am impressed that you where able to open the eyes of the other board members to do what was right for the children and all the dedicated staff that teaches them transport them feeds them cleans the buildings and maintains the fields.
But keep in mind that as stated above I trust Mr. Wolf and Mr. Tallty there position has not changed from the day they where elected for the rest of the board well election time is upon us.