All three Mayors and Councils unanimously approved enabling the voters of Highlands, Atlantic Highlands and Sea Bright to vote on whether they want to save millions of dollars and provide better education in a K-12 school district regionalization encompassing all three boroughs.
Action took place at a joint meeting of the three councils held at the Hesse Center in Atlantic Highlands, after Robert Benneke, financial analyst for Atlantic Highlands, explained in detail how an expanded Henry Hudson Regional School district can save taxpayers, conservatively $3.176 million dollars and offer greater educational opportunities for preK-12 students.
Benneke who had conducted financial research in addition to the regionalization study that the Porzio group had done for Highlands and Sea Bright, said he definitely recommended that the boroughs go forward with the plan to put the question on the ballot. Porzio attorneys have been recommended the plan since they completed their studies and review lasts year.
Vito Gagliardi and Kerri Wright, the Porzio attorneys who have done extensive studies on regionalization and are regarded as the experts in the field, said they anticipate the petition as approved by the three towns should be in the hands of the Commissioner of Education within a couple of days. Gagliardi also said since the plans the exact and precise reason why the Legislature passed the new law aiding in expanding school districts for educational and financial benefits, he does not see any problem with the Commissioner approving it in time to get it on the November ballot for the voters to make the decision. However, even if that is not possible, Gagliardi said voters could have another opportunity for a special election in January or March, and if approved, the expanded regional school program could be in place for the 2024 school year.
The regionalization question to be presented to the voters in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands is:
Shall the Boards of Education of the Highlands School District, Atlantic Highlands School District and Henry Hudson Regional School district join together to convert Henry Hudson Regional into an all-purpose PK-12 regional school district and, if authorized by the Commissioner and voters in Sea Bright, to add Sea Bright as a constituent member of the newly expanded PK-12 regional school district, with the annual and special appropriations for a three-town district to be apportioned on the following basis:
In the event Sea Bright does join the regional, following a five-year period with the transitional allocation approved by the Commissioner of Education and beginning in the sixth year of Sea Bright’s joinder, 15 per cent on each municipality’s equalized valuation as provided by state law and 85 per cent on the proportional number of pupils enrolled from each municipality on the 15th day of October of the prebudget year?
The question to be presented to the Sea Bright voters, since they are not already a part of the regional school district reads:
Upon approval by the voters of Atlantic Highlands and Highlands to convert the Henry Hudson Regional School District to a PK-12 regional school district, shall Sea Bright join the Henry Hudson PK-12 Regional School District, with the annual and special appropriations for the newly expanded three-constituent PK-12 regional school district to be apportioned upon the following basis:
Following a five-year period with the transitional allocation approved by the Commissioner of Education and beginning in the sixth year of Sea Bright’s joinder, 15 percent on each municipality’s equalized valuation as provided by state law and 85 percent on the proportional number of pupils enrolled from each municipality on the 15th day of October of the prebudget year?
The regionalization question requires a yes vote from the majority of voters in each of the three boroughs to approve the expanded regional school district.
Should Highlands and Atlantic Highlands approve it, and Sea Bright vote it down, the Henry Hudson District would be expanded to encompass a PK-12 school district in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands without Sea Bright.
Should either Highland or Atlantic Highlands cast a majority of votes against the question, then the school system would remain status quo, there would be no change from the present three boards in the two boroughs, and Sea Bright would continue in its present status with Oceanport and Shore Regional districts.
“I’m thrilled that the voters will now have the chance to vote,” said Mayor Loretta Gluckstein, “that’s what we’ve wanted all along and I’m happy to see we all agree.”
“I’m excited,” said Highlands Mayor Carolyn Broullon,” there has been so much work and so much study that went into this and it all shows both financial savings and better education, a win-win situation.” However, she cautioned, “we cannot rest on our laurels now. We have to be sure the voters know what is at stake, know about the benefits, and know they have to go to the polls to vote and make it happen.”
Gagliardi, who helped write the legislation that enables districts to expand said he was happy with the outcome of this meeting and feels confident the public will become informed and see all the benefits. “There is no question this is a great program,” he said, echoing Benneke’s words, “and I am happy to see the voters will get to voice their opinions.”
None of the professionals appeared concerned about the possibility of Oceanport and Shore Regional once again appealing the regionalization decision of Sea Bright joining an expanded school district. The Commissioner had dismissed their first complaint, and they filed a second before the Appellate Court even before this petition was presented to the Commissioner. But Benneke said considering the law created for the purposes of expanding regionalization, it is highly improbable the Court would uphold the appeal, since it would have to be proven the move for Sea Bright to leave Oceanport and Shore Regional school districts would have to be arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable, “and none of these exist here,” he said.
Should the three boroughs approve the expanded regional system, a new nine-member Board of Education would replace the three boards currently in place in Highlands and Atlantic Highlands. That board would be selected by the superintendent of Education under the state Department of Education with members of the new board appointed to one-, two- or three-year staggered terms. Four members each would represent Highlands and Atlantic Highlands and a ninth member would be selected to represent Sea Bright on the new board.
