Court In spite of efforts by out-of-town boards of education, both Highlands and Sea Bright will have a non-binding question on the ballot in November, aiming to get the general public’s feeling on whether Sea Bright should become a part of the Henry Hudson Regional School District.
Atlantic Highlands voters will not have the same question seeking opinions on regionalization on their ballot, according to Mayor Lori Hohenleitner last month, who termed the idea “frivolous.”
The question is on both the Sea Bright and Highlands ballots in spite of another attempt by Oceanport and Shore Regional School boards of education to prohibit voters in the two Bayshore towns from having their opinions recorded on a ballot.
The outside school boards had filed an action against the ballot question and on Wednesday, September 18, the Court Judge ruled that both Sea Bright and Highlands, as well as Atlantic Highlands if it chose, can have the non-binding question on their municipal ballots.
The boroughs are still facing yet another decision on regionalization because of Oceanport and Shore Regional’s opposition to Sea Bright choosing to leave their districts to join Henry Hudson.
Their appeal to the state Department of Education Commission’s decision to enable that to happen is scheduled to be heard in Appellate Court in Trenton on Tuesday. October 1 at 9:30 a.m. The hearing is scheduled to be live-streamed for public information.
Henry Hudson Regional Board attorney Jonathon Busch was not present at last night’s regular Henry Hudson Board of Education meeting and was not available for comment.
In addition to seeking the opinion of the voters on the November ballot, Highlands Mayor Carolyn Broullon has also called for a town hall meeting on Monday, September 30 at 6 p.m. at the Highlands Borough Hall on Navesink Avenue to give residents and individuals the opportunity to learn more about the non-binding ballot question on the November 5 general election ballot.
Specifically, the Mayor and Council are seeking the public’s opinion regarding support by the Borough to explore tax relief by adding Sea Bright to the Henry Hudson Regional School District. Highlands’ professionals and the borough council members will be present to give any information available and to hear the opinions of residents.
