FRHSD plans students’ move in ’03

FRHSD plans
students’
move in ’03

Students from Englishtown and sections of Marlboro, Manalapan and Howell will be assigned to new high schools if a proposed student attendance plan for 2003-07 is approved by the Freehold Regional High School District Board of Education.

Superintendent of Schools James Wasser unveiled the plan at a May 13 meeting and the board is expected to vote on the play on June 10.

Students currently in seventh grade would be the first group to be affected by the plan when it takes effect in September 2003.

"The major recommendation comes from the that we have a serious overcrowding condition at two of our high schools, Manalapan and Marlboro," Wasser said, adding that the plan also aims to balance the enrollments at the other four high schools in the district — Colts Neck, Freehold Borough, Freehold Township and Howell.

"The proposed attendance plan will affect only three sections of the region, which is the minimal movement of students, impacting about 335 incoming freshmen for the school year starting in September 2003," the superintendent said.

Wasser said fairness and equity were paramount in formulating the plan. Taken into consideration were: the movement of the minimal number of students; neighborhood boundaries; moving larger numbers of students instead of small groupings; maintaining the specialized learning centers at each high school; and not exceeding the functional capacity levels at the district’s high schools.

The plan calls for: the maintenance of the district’s sibling rule; encouraging and monitoring cultural and racial diversity at all schools; the location of at least one specialized learning center at each school; and no movement of currently enrolled high school students.

According to the plan, there will be regional parity in that all large communities will send their students to at least two high schools, with Howell being the only one of the eight sending communities to send its 3,000-plus residents of high school age to three district schools (Howell, Freehold Township and Colts Neck).

According to the superintendent, the proposed student attendance plan also maintains educational integrity, appropriate setting, ample hall space and locker space and sufficient room for academic, extracurricular and athletic activities. The draft plan takes into consideration the travel time for students

Examining figures across the district, Wasser explained that there would be a serious problem if nothing is done, particularly in three high schools, Manalapan, Marlboro and Howell. He noted that Freehold Borough High School, over the period of the plan (2003-07), would be reaching its functional capacity and "the other five need some major balancing."

The proposed plan will send some residents of Marlboro to Colts Neck High School. It was noted that 114 students who are presently in seventh grade in Marlboro will attend Colts Neck High School instead of Marlboro High School beginning in September 2003.

Additionally, 111 Marlboro students presently in sixth grade will attend Colts Neck in 2004; 102 students presently in fifth grade will be moved in 2005; and 82 students presently in fourth grade will be moved in 2006. At the end of the four-year period, approximately 409 Marlboro residents will be attending Colts Neck High School.

The proposed plan will send some Manalapan residents and all Englishtown residents of high school age to Freehold Township High School. It was noted that 132 students presently in seventh grade in the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District will be assigned to Freehold Township in September 2003.

In 2004, 121 students presently in sixth grade will be assigned to Freehold Township. In 2005, 134 students presently in fifth grade will be moved; and in 2006, 105 students who are presently in fourth grade in the Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District will be assigned to Freehold Township.

At the end of the four-year period, approximately 492 Manalapan and Englishtown residents will be attending Freehold Township High School.

The proposal also will send some additional Howell students to Freehold Township High School. In September 2003, 87 Howell residents presently in seventh grade will be assigned to Freehold Township. In 2004, 93 students presently in sixth grade will be moved. In 2005, 76 students presently in fifth grade will be assigned to Freehold Township; and in 2006, 94 students presently in fourth grade will be moved.

The student attendance areas are as follows:

• Residents of Howell to Freehold Township High School:

Affected Streets: Addison Road; Albion Way; Aldrich Road; Azalea Lane; Bass Place; Bock Boulevard; Brookside Drive; Burdge Drive; Carol Lane; Cecilia Court; Cedar Road; Claire Circle; Clearbrook Court; Conover Street; Cooper Drive; Coral Drive; Crest Drive; Crossbrooke Court; Drift Road; East Fifth Street; East First Street; East Fourth Street; East Second Street; East Sixth Street; East Third Street; Elm Court; Ermack Street; Fern Road; Flannigan Drive; Fort Plains Road; Frederick Avenue; Freewood Street; Georgia Tavern Road; Glen Road; Godell Drive; Grindstone Road; Grist Mill Road; Hall Avenue; Helen Avenue; Hemlock Road; Hidden Valley Court; Howell Lane; Hulses Corner Road; Kalmuck Road; Lemon Road; Locust Road; Lori Lane; Lyndon Lane; Maple Lane; Margaret Lane; Northwoods Place; Oakwood Drive; Paceview Drive; Pearl Drive; Pine Road; Pinewood Road;

Also, Poppy Lane; Redwood Road; Rizzo Court; Roosevelt Avenue; Rustic Drive; Shadow Ridge Court; Sherrybrooke Drive; Silverbrooke Circle; Smith Street; Spicy Pond Road; Spruce Road; Stanley Boulevard; Stoney Brook Trail; Sunnyside Road; Therese Avenue; Twin Hill Court; Route 9 north and south from West Farms Road to Aldrich Road; Violet Circle; Weasel Creek Court; West Fifth Street; West First Street; West Fourth Street; West Lane; West Second Street; West Sixth Street; West Third Street; Westwood Drive; White Street; Windeler Road; Woodland Drive; Woodside Drive; White Street; Windeler Road; Woodland Drive; Woodside Drive

Wasser announced that a workshop meeting with a public hearing will be held on June 3 at Colts Neck High School and on June 10 there will be a board vote on the student attendance area plan.

Students from Howell attend high school in the Freehold Regional High School District.