Apathy It would seem the naysayers who were less than complimentary to Middletown Mayor Tony Perry’s proposal for the township to provide some funds for the board of education by buying some of the school property they don’t need, are placing their frustration in the wrong place.
The Mayor stepped in simply because he was listening to the people, heard a good idea, and can make it happen. The Board could have thought of something like that. But they did not. Or if they did, they did not think it was as good an idea s closing two schools and changing another.
The Mayor stepped in when the Board of Education got itself into the financial jam it’s in then only offered a single solution, one they even knew would not sit well with the people.
The Mayor dose not have any power over the Board of Education. But he does listen to good ideas, works hard, and tries to resolve problems that impact the taxpayers of his town.
It certainly isn’t the Mayor who’s to blame; he’s the elected official who actually heard an idea that made more sense than closing down schools, investigated and immediately responded. Nor does it sound like he wants to place blame right now; rather, he is looking forward to a solution to resolve a serious problem.
Yet there is blame to be placed, not only the Board of Education.
It’s the voters of Middletown Township who could shoulder some of it
Some of the blame should be placed on Voter Apathy.
The Board of Education is an elected body. Their meetings are open to the public. They are subject to questioning from the public.
Yet few people attend board meetings, and fewer people ask any questions. There is no doubt school budgets are complicated, and school boards don’t always do everything right.
But it is the people who put them in office who should be following up to be certain they are doing what the voters want.
Has anyone asked the board if there is an overall plan, or has there ever been one, to ensure maintenance is kept up to date to avoid the disastrous overalls that have to be done when regular attention and money are not allocated each year?
Has anyone ever questioned why the Navesink School, one of the ones the Board wants to close, scores so high academically?
Has anyone ever asked why all the elementary schools do not fall in that same category?
And so many more questions over the years. This did not happen overnight.
The New Monmouth School PTA recently held a highly successful fund raising event at the Shore Casino in Atlantic Highlands. Parents worked long and hard to present an evening of fun and entertainment made possible only by their hard efforts and creative ideas.
The parents, faculty, and even students teamed up to present hundreds…yes, hundreds….of gifts guests eagerly bought chances on, not only because there were so many but because each one was creative, useful, and so attractively presented they were hard to pass up.
The committee for the buffet dinner and entertainment took great care and a lot of time even for the little things. They made attractive sail boats for every table to identify reservations; they had a caller with a terrific voice and great sense of humor call out all the winning numbers’ they were so organized they did it all in their precise scheduled time frame that even left time for dancing and final cocktails while hearing great music.
They all worked so hard to provide more for the kids in the school….like a playground so every child would have a place to run, jump, laugh and play with his friends.
The parents and faculty should not have to be the ones to provide things like a playground for the kids. But they did it…because they wanted their kids to have the benefits of how things could be better with volunteerism, hard work, and everyone working together. The parents saved money for their kids’ education the board of education should have had in place. But they did it because they want to be sure there is a playground for recess or lunch time breaks in their academic day.
School boards are not known for being open and candid with their decisions on budgets, curriculum or priorities. It’s up to parents…and taxpayers…to elect the people willing to take on the job of board members, then keep in touch with them so they know what you want…and that they do it.
Great Article!!