“Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not.” –George Bernard Shaw
Thank you, Mr. Shaw, for your thoughts. Did you read? Woodbine high school pupils will begin attending Middle Township High School in September? As a graduate of old Middle High, I often wondered what the reasoning was behind sending Cape May County students north of the border to Millville for high school. It made no sense to me, but then, neither did homework nor does paying $3.52 a gallon for gasoline and calling it “cheap.”
There were fellow students who lived in Eldora, and I felt deeply sorry that their school day had to start about 6 o’clock, just so they could arrive by the starting bell. It seemed almost inhumane to spend that much time on a school bus every day school was in session. Still, that was the way it was. Then, one day, as when a light clicks on in your mind and you ask, “If he has to ride the bus that far from Dennis Township and Woodbine is even closer, why are those kids spending even longer to get to school?” No one answers questions of the mind.
If you think blood pressure soars when discussion turns to central dispatch for emergency services, try school regionalization. That’ll get the prescriptions written for all sorts of blood pressure lowering medicine.
Put aside, for a brief moment, all thoughts except geography. Forget real estate values and money and racial mix and all that stuff the state Commissioner of Education weighed in his July 29 decision to allow Woodbine freshmen to attend Middle Township High School.
Were it not for the esteemed notion that home rule is best for our kiddies, and we could look at a broader, more consolidated picture, what would be wrong with having three regional school districts in Cape May County? That shouting I just heard from the barrier islands is the reason. Because of the present system of funding regional school districts, should there be a regional system, it’s likely those in Avalon and Stone Harbor and Sea Isle City would be paying god-awful sums to educate their few students.
That’s the rub right now in Lower Cape May Regional School District. The funding formula has Cape May paying $79,000 per student. The idea of that city departing, strictly for monetary reasons, has Lower Township and West Cape May scrambling to complete feasibility studies that will show financial disaster for their taxpayers should Cape May be allowed to depart the present funding scheme. As previously written here, each municipality’s officials are looking out for their voters and tax payers, only that, nothing more.
Keep in mind throughout the battle that is sure to come, (and likely wind up in the courts) Cape May has absolutely no qualms about the quality of education provided its students in the regional district. The move is purely and simply financial. Let us not get involved in a class war, rich against poor. Don’t curse the rich because they have money and the poor because they lack lucre.
I believe the Legislature, which meddles in everything else, must address the regional school funding formula, not just here, but statewide. It must be equitable if it is to fund schools into the future. To ask a municipality in a referendum it wants school taxes increased is ludicrous, and that is surely what would happen if the Lower-Cape May case went to a vote in all three regional municipalities.
Was it not a state call for consolidation of districts and services (with an eye toward saving tax dollars) that has driven much discussion among neighboring towns?
Back to Woodbine pupils heading to Middle Township, for students from that borough, there has always been the Cape May County Technical School. It is right down the road, about two miles north of old Middle Township High, and offers an excellent education. Yes, seats are limited, but if the school were larger, it could accept every student who desired to attend.
As with many man-made problems, there is not enough money, thus seats are limited at that school. Some get accepted while others do not, that’s a sad fact of life. Tests are given to prospective freshmen from all county schools. From there, it’s a numbers game. Not so with Middle, if you graduate eighth grade, there is a seat for a student in September.
Back to that nasty thing called money. It is estimated Woodbine will pay Middle about $10,000 per student sent to the district. That is maybe $4,000 less than sending each to Millville. (Sit down, Cape May; it’s not your turn.) Woodbine will, like neighboring Dennis Township, Stone Harbor and Avalon become a “sending” district to Middle. Consider those figures when weighing a potential regional district.
So, Mr. Shaw, about that quote at the top of this column, would it be time to “ask why not?” three regional districts in Cape May County? Slice the pie three ways: Lower, Middle, Upper. Keep the local schools in place so students don’t spend half their school day aboard a bus, but administratively cut the county into three pieces of pie.
The potential number of pupils riding from Woodbine to Middle is estimated to be 12-15 initially. Those who are already enrolled in Millville High will be allowed to continue with their class and graduate from that school. It makes a lot of sense for everyone concerned, including the students.
Time changes everything. At one time, the thriving Borough of Woodbine had its own high school, but change came, as it always does. Now we see history writing another chapter for Woodbine’s students, one of inclusion within this county. How refreshing. Why did it take so long? Will other similar changes take place in the near future?
Cape May – Governor Murphy says he doesn't know anything about the drones and doesn't know what they are doing but he does know that they are not dangerous. Does anyone feel better now?
