Independent Thinkers When it comes to the November 5 election to the Henry Hudson Regional Board of Education, let us cast the mudslinging aside and get down to facts supporting why it is crucial for Highlands taxpayers to elect candidates from Highlands who have not served on the transitional board for Henry Hudson Regional School Board (HHRSB) seats.
While there are undoubtedly educational issues to address along with unusually large numbers of staff who have left the district, as well as a significant drop in student enrollment, this article will only address the onerous financial issues that affect all taxpayers and that must be considered when voting for the board of education to its first term.
For background and a clearer understanding: The School Board currently in place is the Henry Hudson Regional PreK-12 Transitional School Board. This Transitional Board is comprised of three members from each of the now defunct Atlantic Highlands Elementary, Highlands Elementary, and Henry Hudson Regional School Boards. They were chosen among themselves to serve on the transitional board, not by any election.
Being an elected representative on a school Board may sound tame. One meeting a month, attendance at many extraordinary school events and activities, and the opportunity to get to know administrators, teachers, and those individuals hired to represent the interests of the School Board on a deeper level. Sounds good, doesn’t it? And a nice volunteer contribution to the town.
Yet, like every elected position in town, state, and federal government, this one comes with a burden that requires the electee to always exercise due diligence in their decision-making. This duty requires the electee to represent every child, every wallet, and all the legislation in place to protect the interests of the students and taxpayers and the well-being of the school district itself.
Four Highlands citizens who were not members of the Transitional Board have come forward to serve on the elected board after the November 5 election. They are Three-Year Term: Suzanne Thomas and One-Year Term: Allison Burel, Regina Melnyk, and Kevin Ege
Here are some of the misguided, unresearched decisions made by the Transitional and former Boards of Atlantic Highlands Elementary, Highlands Elementary, and Henry Hudson Schools that demand new leadership willing to do the heavy work and have the stamina to stand up and question the decisions made by the Superintendent, her attorneys and others employed.
- Expansion of the Superintendent’s Contract to five years. The decision was made at the June 2024 meetings by the three soon-to-be dissolved school boards just days before becoming extinct. That was done, in violation of New Jersey Revised Statutes Section 18A:11-11 (2023)
A board of education shall not renegotiate, extend, amend, or otherwise alter the terms of a contract with a superintendent of schools, assistant superintendent of schools, or school business administrator, unless notice is provided to the public at least 30 days prior to the scheduled action by the board.
- Imposition of a funding formula for Atlantic Highlands and Highlands by Dr. Beams that only uses equalized Property Valuations and ignores enrollment. The result?
Highlands pays a whopping $9,546 more per student for the same education as Atlantic Highlands.
For the 2024-25 school year, the tax paid per total enrolled students in each town is:
Highlands $32,951 each for a total of 273 students
Atlantic Highlands $23,435 each for a total of 445 students
- Older residents of Highlands speak about an uneasy relationship with Atlantic Highlands in the past—one that has improved over the years. Sadly, the current funding formula, insisted upon by Dr. Beams, which heavily favors Atlantic Highlands at the expense of Highlands, is an injustice. Dr. Beams insisted that only she and the school boards can set a funding formula. This statement directly opposes the current Regionalization laws passed by the state, which allow municipalities the right to do so as well, If they are involved in the filing of the petition! Dr. Beams made sure that was not so in her quickly filed petition to go forward with just Atlantic Highlands and Highlands last spring, without consulting either municipality about the funding formula she installed in the petition.
Sea Bright:
- In an ever-continuing effort to keep Sea Bright from bringing their students and funding to the School Board, Dr. Beams allowed her Regionalization specialist attorney to meet with legal representatives from Shore Regional and Oceanport Schools; the result was devising a resolution that would set up near-impossible hurdles for Sea Bright, such as filing a sole petition to join the HHR School district – which is impossible. One cannot have a wedding with only a bride…This resolution was reconstructed to omit the most onerous details only after an injunction was filed.
In further evidence of Dr. Beams disdain for Highlands, the revised resolution was sent to the mayor of Atlantic Highlands. It was not sent to anyone in Highlands.
- Dr. Beams has repeatedly told everyone that uniting Atlantic Highlands and Highlands was STEP ONE – Sea Bright would be STEP 2. In September 2023, many voted in favor of Regionalization, believing their vote was for Sea Bright and Step 2. However, in the Spring of 2024, Dr Beams had her attorney tell Highlands and Sea Bright’s attorney the following with regard to pursing the steps needed to bring Sea Bright in: “Our client does not wish to file jointly at this point.” Things are very hectic now at the tasks of getting the new all-purpose regional district up and running.”
- Dr. Beams lives in Oceanport, a district whose taxes will go up to cover the $3,348,696 (for approximately 20 students) lost to Shore Regional and $779,420 (for approximately 20 students) lost to Oceanport when Sea Bright moves on. Dr. Beams Seemingly has a conflict of interest
Where were the school board members from Highlands, especially those who wish to continue as members of the new Henry Hudson Regional PreK-12 School Board?
While they are well-meaning people who want to contribute, they have listened without reading or researching to ensure each member gave their best efforts to their towns during these critical times and to the Superintendent they employed.
How could anyone who can do math accept the formula given, which did not include enrollment? Particularly any whose career is involved in finance?
No state-funded studies employed equalized property valuation as the sole criteria . But now, Highlands is stuck with dwindling school enrollment and rising property values, which will ensure that those taxpayers carry an unduly heavy financial burden going forward.
Highlands needs school board members who know what has happened, and are prepared to stand up, question, research and make decisions that consider every facet involved going forward.
Highlands needs new School Board members who understand and practice the fact that “ their role is not to simply say yes….”
