The entire Shore Regional question is downright disgusting. Not only is the Shore Regional Board of Education rude, inconsiderate and wasteful with taxpayers’ money in continuing to fight another battle while the first one hasn’t even been settled, but so are our Monmouth County and New Jersey State Education officials as well.
Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Owen McCarthy was outstanding in his handling of a tricky situation that took his wisdom and judicial knowledge to make some sense out of a situation that never should have gone this far.
The Monmouth County Board of Elections made it clear in their arguments before the Judge that it’s too late to halt a process that is letting the people express their opinion. So the Judge said yes, the people should vote on that $51 million Shore Regional wants to spend…
If they vote it down, that’s the end of worrying about how to get another $51 million. If they approve it, well, the judge said, they can’t get the money until the first issue about whether Sea B right is part of it, is settled.
It’s easy to see why Shore Regional doesn’t even mind spending tens of thousands of dollars for lawyers to fight so hard to keep Sea Bright in their fold. In spite of the money they’re spending to fight the Appellate court, not once but twice, then possibly the Supreme Court, for them, it’s money well spent if they win.
Because what they’re spending now, huge as it is, is still less than the taxpayers in Oceanport, West Long Branch and Monmouth Beach will have to pay for years to come if Sea Bright actually gets to leave the fold.
In short, they’ve depended on Sea Bright’s giant share of the total school tax bill for so long they just can’t do without it.
Again, nobody cares about Sea Bright.
They simply came up with the idea years ago that it might make sense to join with a closer neighbor. They studied it, presented facts, spread the information and asked the people for their opinion.
The majority, it seems, want to be part of Henry Hudson, even though it will cost them a little bit for a couple of years, but in the end would also be a great decision not only for taxes but for education.
The Governor and the Legislature promote regionalization for its tax savings.
Sea Bright is trying to do exactly what the Legislature wants.
Voters in Sea Bright and Highlands have said they want it.
The Henry Hudson Board of Education and all the members who have served on any of the boards in recent years have all said they want Sea Bright to join.
The courts have upheld Sea Bright’s position.
Yet Shore Regional continues to fight, continues to challenge what judges have said, continues to fight what appeals court judges have said.
And continues to cost the taxpayers of Oceanport, West Long Branch, Monmouth Beach and Sea Bright, thousands of dollars…
Not on education;
Not improving the buildings;
Not on better programs or academics for the kids;
Simply so the lawyers can continue the fight.
