To the Editor:
Middle Township schools recently introduced a bond proposal for $26.5 million to build new classrooms that will be ADA compliant. I never knew we had so many physically handicapped students. Also requested is two new guidance offices. Why two guidance counsellors cannot share the same office is beyond me.
A dedicated area for STEM programs is proposed. I guess they cannot use the same classroom where English and history are taught.
Athletic facility upgrades will include a multisport artificial turf field, replacement of bleachers, and a new press box. Five tennis courts will be resurfaced. All this is nice, but what does it have to do with education?
Will athletic facility upgrades help our students excel in life? Will it gain them entry into a better university? Or land a better position in business, academia or government leadership positions? No. When hiring, recruiters look at the basics – grade scores, is the applicant proficient in math, reading comprehension, writing and speaking skills? What did the applicant major in? Computer science or pickleball?
What will all this cost? A home assessed at $251,000 could expect to pay an extra $165. Homes assessed at higher evaluations would pay higher property taxes. Homes will be reevaluated on occasion, and values will be adjusted upward. Middle Township residents already pay 50% of our property taxes to schools.
Yet this is not enough.
I expect most residents will be charged a minimum of $200 added property tax. And you can expect increases every few years.
With inflation, and higher property taxes, property owners will tighten our belts more, and cut more discretionary spending, restaurants, travel, date night, the boardwalk, to name a few. Landlords will be forced to raise rents on the little housing that remains for local working people.
Middle Township schools have not made a compelling case why any of this should be approved. If our Board of Education was serious, they would have proposed other reductions in school budgets to pay for this boondoggle.
Nothing is cut in our schools, just more increases in an already bloated school budget.
The problem with “pork,” unless it is addressed and eliminated, it will keep growing year after year. I propose the following to eliminate a pork diet in our schools and reduce and control property taxes:
1. One countywide school district
2. One school superintendent
3. Closure of redundant schools
4. One school board
5. Elimination of unneeded staff
6. Administrators reassigned to classrooms to teach
Citizens should demand school reform, reduced costs, and better education for our youth. Citizens must insist on science, technology, engineering and math instruction. This is where our economy is headed. Not to the tennis courts.
I hope citizens will join me on Sept. 17 to cast ballots. More pork and leisure activities or holding our schools accountable for an education they can be proud of?
DAVID ROBINSON
Court House
