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[quote="Guest"][quote="question"]In the meeting, did the attendees show favorable or unfavorable responses to the consolidation idea?[/quote] First, they were clear that the meeting was to discuss the "process" and not the actual opinion on consolidation per se. Second, they did not solicit open opinions but asked for half-a-dozen or so "process" questions or clarifications then cut off questioning before it was done on its own accord, due to time. They emphasized there would be a future opportunity for open questioning of the proposals before any action, down the road. That said, a couple things were clear: 1) People were definitely concerned about wanting to preserve the status quo and not inherently favorable to consolidation, 2) The speaker went on and on at such length about how much he liked Cranbury and how sensitive he would be to any possible change that many of the things people might of snuck into their "process" questions were probably relieved by his overall assurances. I know I would have insisted on saying more, process or not, had he not already covered many of my concerns, and there was no need to hear myself talk or preach to the choir...[/quote]
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<table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="100%" class="forumline"> <tr> <th class="thCornerL" width="22%" height="26">Author</th> <th class="thCornerR">Message</th> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row1"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>Cranbury Press</b></span></td> <td class="row1" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Fri, Oct 24 2008, 4:05 pm EDT<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: Consolidation plan outlined</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody">Consolidation plan outlined <br />Thursday, October 23, 2008 3:15 PM EDT <br />By Davy James, Staff Writer <br /> <br /> CRANBURY — The final word on consolidation of the Cranbury School District with the Princeton Regional School District will lie in the hands of voters sometime in 2010, once a report of the advantages and disadvantages has been completed, according to Middlesex County Superintendent of Schools Patrick Piegari. <br /> <br /> Dr. Piegari laid out the task he has been given by state Legislature on Tuesday at the Cranbury Board of Education meeting. <br /> <br /> Approximately two dozen members of the public were also in attendance as Dr. Piegari laid out his mandate to consolidate all districts that don’t have an existing kindergarten through 12 structure into one that does. <br /> <br /> ”The new role of the county superintendent looks at district control, the budget, transportation plans and areas related to shared services,” Dr. Piegari said. “I want to make you aware of the process, my role and the timeline associated with the process.” <br /> <br /> Dr. Piegari will begin working with a task force of key administrators, board members, select community members and officials from school districts familiar with previous consolidations. The group will examine and collect data for consolidation of school districts in Cranbury, Milltown and Jamesburg. <br /> Dr. Piegari will then present his findings to the commissioner of Education and present his list of advantages and disadvantages in a public hearing in each district. He said he expects this to occur sometime around March 2010. The plan will then go to a public vote, which would require both districts affected by the consolidation plan approve of the plan. If that were to occur, he said, the earliest the consolidation could go into affect would be July 2012. <br /> <br /> He said a potential consolidated Cranbury-Princeton school district would have one superintendent, one business administrator, similar curriculum, schedules, salary guides, services and programs. Dr. Piegari laid out what he called his own personal biases when examining consolidation. <br /> <br /> ”I’m a strong proponent of neighborhood schools,” he told the board. “Unless someone can shake me around and tell me why I should move kids out of their neighborhood I wouldn’t do it. I don’t want to put kids on buses for long periods of time unless someone can tell me how that would improve their quality of life and the plan would have to provide financial savings.” <br /> <br /> Dr. Piegari said a plan that resulted in an increase in taxes for either Cranbury or Princeton wouldn’t make sense and that he wouldn’t compromise the quality of education in either district. He also said a plan that involved sending students from Cranbury to Princeton schools and vice versa just for the sake of mixing things up wouldn’t make sense either. <br /> <br /> Dr. Piegari said he believes the quality of education in Cranbury is excellent and the district is run very efficiently, leaving open the possibility that consolidation would not be in either district’s best interest once the plan is completed. <br /> <br /> ”If the data is compelling and it costs more, then how can I in good conscience support something that doesn’t make sense?” he said during the meeting. <br /> <br /> Board members said they were pleased to hear what Dr. Piegari called his personal biases. <br /> <br /> ”Dr. Piegari laid out what he calls his biases, which are strong values I know I share and the members of this community share,” said board member Wendi Patella. “Continuing educational excellence, his desire to keep neighborhood schools and the irrational nature of putting elementary school students on buses are starting points we can agree on. Though I was pleased to hear many things he said, I remain somewhat nervous about the implications down the road.” <br /> <br /> Cranbury residents in attendance said they didn’t support consolidation of the district. <br /> <br /> ”I support the existing structure and don’t want to see it change,” said resident Rich Stiglic. “Consolidation would turn our district into something like South Brunswick.” <br /> <br /> School administrators said they appreciate Dr. Piegari’s willingness to listen to the input of the public and the board and are hopeful the data will reflect the Cranbury School’s efficiency. <br /> <br /> ”In my view the Cranbury School District is very efficient and high achieving,” said Chief School Administrator John Haney. “We treasure our relationship with Princeton and frankly, from an educator’s standpoint, the relationship we have at present is working quite well.” <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.packetonline.com/articles/2008/10/23/cranbury_press/news/doc4900c42503ac1027863049.txt" target="_blank">http://www.packetonline.com/articles/2008/10/23/cranbury_press/news/doc4900c42503ac1027863049.txt</a></span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row2"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>Jersey Dad</b></span></td> <td class="row2" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Wed, Oct 22 2008, 9:45 pm EDT<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: Re: State eyes consolidation of local schools</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody">Thank you to those who attended the meeting and then took the time to inform the rest of us.</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row1"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>Guest</b></span></td> <td class="row1" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Wed, Oct 22 2008, 6:39 pm EDT<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: Re: State eyes consolidation of local schools</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody"></span><table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3" border="0" align="center"><tr> <td><span class="genmed"><b>Guest wrote:</b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="quote">IRobbinsville, Allentown, or SB are possibilities.</td> </tr></table><span class="postbody"> <br /> <br />Of those, SB is the only one physically adjacent to us so it would make the most sense. I hope this remains only theoretical.</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row2"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>Guest</b></span></td> <td class="row2" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Wed, Oct 22 2008, 6:00 pm EDT<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: Re: State eyes consolidation of local schools</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody">I think Princeton is the only option. East Windsor and Hightstown are consolidated, Monroe is already building a new HS and is at capacity, Plainsboro would require a breakup of the WWP school district as well as a new build for a HS. <br /> <br />Robbinsville, Allentown, or SB are possibilities.</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row1"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>Guest</b></span></td> <td class="row1" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Wed, Oct 22 2008, 5:39 pm EDT<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: Re: State eyes consolidation of local schools</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody">I would have thought the same but the superintendant wasn't putting any focus on staying within a county as it was. And Plainsboro is in a successful district with West Windsor already so they are not a candidate. <br /> <br />I think we're a long was from losing the Princeton relationship. But if it did happen my guess is we'd be married with South Brunswick. Monroe and Jamesburg will be together and Monroe is another high growth requirement district as it is. They will not want to marry two super high percentage growth places at the same time.</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row2"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>Guest</b></span></td> <td class="row2" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Wed, Oct 22 2008, 5:38 pm EDT<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: Re: State eyes consolidation of local schools</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody">Consolidation at this time is voluntary - however this could change in the next few years. Laws are constantly added to or amended. Look what happened with COAH. We need to try to keep the status quo but have a plan B prepared just in case there is some drastic changes in the near future (most probably caused by COAH or a new state legislature rulings).</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row1"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>Guest</b></span></td> <td class="row1" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Wed, Oct 22 2008, 5:32 pm EDT<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: Re: State eyes consolidation of local schools</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody"></span><table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3" border="0" align="center"><tr> <td><span class="genmed"><b>Bob D wrote:</b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="quote">If I'm not mistaken Princeton has been concerned about the number of students Cranbury sends to their High School. Although they like the tuition they receive from Crambury they are concerned that they won't be able to handle additional students if our numbers continue to increase. Whatever our COAH numbers are they will have an impact on the high school enrollment. At that point if we are still in a sending/ receiving relationship with Princeton they could ask us to leave. Although this would have to be approved by the state we could be in a situation where we have to either find another school district that would accept our students on a sending/receiving basis or be forced to consolidate with another school district such as West Windsor, East Windsor. or Monroe. <br /> <br />There doesn't seem to be any clear cut direction for Cranbury with COAH hanging over our head.</td> </tr></table><span class="postbody"> <br /> <br />The state would probably want us to stay within our own county of Middlesex. So, west windsor and east windsor would probably not be an option. However, plainsboro more that likely would be better fit.</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row2"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>Guest</b></span></td> <td class="row2" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Wed, Oct 22 2008, 3:47 pm EDT<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: Re: State eyes consolidation of local schools</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody"></span><table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3" border="0" align="center"><tr> <td><span class="genmed"><b>question wrote:</b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="quote">In the meeting, did the attendees show favorable or unfavorable responses to the consolidation idea?</td> </tr></table><span class="postbody"> <br /> <br />First, they were clear that the meeting was to discuss the "process" and not the actual opinion on consolidation per se. Second, they did not solicit open opinions but asked for half-a-dozen or so "process" questions or clarifications then cut off questioning before it was done on its own accord, due to time. They emphasized there would be a future opportunity for open questioning of the proposals before any action, down the road. <br /> <br />That said, a couple things were clear: 1) People were definitely concerned about wanting to preserve the status quo and not inherently favorable to consolidation, 2) The speaker went on and on at such length about how much he liked Cranbury and how sensitive he would be to any possible change that many of the things people might of snuck into their "process" questions were probably relieved by his overall assurances. I know I would have insisted on saying more, process or not, had he not already covered many of my concerns, and there was no need to hear myself talk or preach to the choir...</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row1"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>Bob D</b></span></td> <td class="row1" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Wed, Oct 22 2008, 3:30 pm EDT<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: Re: State eyes consolidation of local schools</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody">If I'm not mistaken Princeton has been concerned about the number of students Cranbury sends to their High School. Although they like the tuition they receive from Crambury they are concerned that they won't be able to handle additional students if our numbers continue to increase. Whatever our COAH numbers are they will have an impact on the high school enrollment. At that point if we are still in a sending/ receiving relationship with Princeton they could ask us to leave. Although this would have to be approved by the state we could be in a situation where we have to either find another school district that would accept our students on a sending/receiving basis or be forced to consolidate with another school district such as West Windsor, East Windsor. or Monroe. <br /> <br />There doesn't seem to be any clear cut direction for Cranbury with COAH hanging over our head.</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row2"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>question</b></span></td> <td class="row2" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Wed, Oct 22 2008, 1:01 pm EDT<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: Re: State eyes consolidation of local schools</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody">In the meeting, did the attendees show favorable or unfavorable responses to the consolidation idea?</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row1"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>Guest</b></span></td> <td class="row1" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Wed, Oct 22 2008, 11:07 am EDT<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: Re: State eyes consolidation of local schools</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody"></span><table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3" border="0" align="center"><tr> <td><span class="genmed"><b>Quote:</b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="quote">A bigger district might also be able to cope with a 30+% population growth as a result of COAH. I do not favor consolidation but am simply pointing out some of the arguments in favor…</td> </tr></table><span class="postbody"> <br /> <br />Thanks for the report. <br /> <br />I am in favor of consolidation with Princeton if we are "forced" to comply with the COAH3 rules.</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row2"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>James</b></span></td> <td class="row2" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Wed, Oct 22 2008, 10:56 am EDT<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: Re: State eyes consolidation of local schools</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody">Thanks. The summary is about what I believed the scenario would be so I'm glad it was nothing more drastic. I guess everything schools, COAH and our fates all lie in the 2009 state election.</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row1"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>Attended the Meeting</b></span></td> <td class="row1" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Wed, Oct 22 2008, 10:35 am EDT<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: Re: State eyes consolidation of local schools</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody">The meeting went as well as could possibly be expected under the circumstances. The attendance wasn’t as good as I would have hoped, but the new district superintendant charged with running the consolidation study and recommendation made it clear in every possible way short of saying something that would get him in trouble (the Star Ledger reporter was there) that he thought Cranbury was doing a great job and why change it… He previously was a superintendant for Middlesex County so he was already familiar with our district. He made it clear he thinks we’re already very financially efficient versus other small districts and that we are not even that small compared to other K-8 districts, some of which have as few as 70 students. Others with as few as 200 students (versus our 898 students) are bloated with administrative positions which we are not. I spoke to him individually after the meeting and he went so far as to say that if he had school-aged kids he would want them to come to Cranbury and he can understand people moving here for the schools and it would be inconsistent with his principles to recommend anything that would undermine that… <br /> <br />He also outlined the process a bit. The gist is he doesn’t see this coming to a vote of the Townships until April 2011. A majority in each Township – Princeton and Cranbury – would have to approve it or it is dead, based on the current legislation. <br /> <br />Also, he said even if consolidation was recommended that he would definitely recommend a structure that preserved local schools and not support, for example, bussing K-8 kids between Cranbury and Princeton. He also said that even if Princeton was K-5, 6-8 that there is no reason Cranbury couldn’t remain K-8 at its school even in the event of a consolidation and that he had seen that work elsewhere. <br /> <br />All that said, there are still some risks: <br /> <br /> -- The Legislature could revise or supersede the current law, making the consolidation mandatory or giving the final decision to an authority other than this superintendent or the voters. He acknowledged that the law as written is biased toward consolidation . The law in one place even specifically says that it is the job of the superintendent to recommend consolidation of all K-8 programs into K-12 districts. That shows you where the bill's sponsors heads were – they proposed a study but dictated its foregone conclusion. He insisted another part of the law contradictorily gives him discretion to recommend based on pros and cons and he plans to use that part and ignore the other part. Still, if the law changes it may be out of his hands. <br /> <br /> -- His recommendations could be ignored. Or he could be replaced with a less honest, reasonable, favorable superintendent before the multi-year process is complete. Also, at the moment he has the lead in the Princeton-Cranbury study but since the positions are County-based and Princeton is in Mercer County, he does have a colleague. It is possible in the future the colleague may assert himself on behalf of Princeton and take a diverging position. <br /> <br /> -- COAH could change his conclusions. He clearly was not up-to-speed on our potential COAH impact and even gave a hypothetical example, which I think he thought was designed to seem wildly improbable, of how 150 new homes would impact the student growth population and change the economic assumptions. When I asked him about this and quoted the real potential COAH # after the meeting he clearly was taken aback by it and said, “that is substantial and could change the equation.” The issue is he is charged with trying to find the best overall economic solution, while trying to preserve the quality of the education. I believe in his integrity to try and do the latter. But he will follow the facts and he was clear that thinks like the need to physically expand the school or other substantial growth burdens could impact the conclusions about what is feasible and most appropriate. <br /> <br />In the (at the moment) unlikely event that the schools did consolidate, it was clear that Cranbury would lose most of its control over the schools. We would clearly have a minority of the students and have the minority of the combined Board of Education in any scenario. On the other hand, I suppose, it is possible a consolidation would reduce our costs since Princeton profits from our tuition program now, has a high tax base and the bigger district might do better with bussing, textbook, supplies and other purchasing bulk negotiation advantages, etc. A bigger district might also be able to cope with a 30+% population growth as a result of COAH. I do not favor consolidation but am simply pointing out some of the arguments in favor…</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row2"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>Guest</b></span></td> <td class="row2" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Thu, Oct 16 2008, 4:23 pm EDT<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: Re: State eyes consolidation of local schools</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody">Meeting info: <br /> <br />Date & Time: 10/21/2008 7:00 PM <br />Place: School Cafeteria <br />Description: <br /> <br />Dr. Patrick Piegari, Middlesex County Executive Superintendent will discuss the subject of district consolidation.</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row1"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>Cranbury Press</b></span></td> <td class="row1" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Thu, Oct 16 2008, 3:50 pm EDT<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: State eyes consolidation of local schools</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody">State eyes consolidation of local schools <br />Thursday, October 16, 2008 2:46 PM EDT <br />By Davy James, Staff Writer <br /> <br /> CRANBURY — Middlesex County Executive Superintendent of Schools Patrick Piegari will meet with the Board of Education at 7 p.m. Oct. 21 in the school cafeteria to discuss consolidating the Cranbury School District with the Princeton Regional School District. <br /> <br /> ”I’m going to be doing a review with the board about new regulations that are required for me to develop a plan for K-8 consolidation into a K-12 structure,” Dr. Piegari said. “We will be talking about the process of the study I will be conducting and the procedures I’m required to follow as per state legislation. This will include timelines for the process and we will open up a question and answer session with the board following the presentation.” <br /> <br /> Dr. Piegari had a similar meeting with Jamesburg in September and Monroe and Jamesburg in the spring. <br /> <br /> Cranbury School officials said they are unsure as to what the consolidation plan would entail, including issues related to busing and other details of enrollment. <br /> <br /> ”Dr. Piegari doesn’t know what the plan will look like yet because he’s still gathering data,” said Cranbury Chief School Administrator John Haney. “The way the process works is, Dr. Piegari recommends a consolidation plan because he’s been directed to do that. He’ll produce a study of what the consolidation might look like, timelines, how the process would work and other issues related to it.” <br /> Mr. Haney said the findings would be presented to the voting public after the study is complete. The plan would go to a public vote in March 2010 in both districts. If either Cranbury or Princeton vote no, the consolidation would not occur. However, the state may mandate consolidation anyway, according to Mr. Haney. <br /> <br /> ”It becomes a possibility, but we don’t know how likely it would be,” Mr. Haney said. <br /> <br /> Board officials are concerned about the ramifications of a possible consolidation with Princeton. <br /> <br /> ”Many people in Cranbury are not supportive of consolidation,” said board member Wendi Patella. “We have a unique K-8 building that’s the center of the community.” <br /> <br /> Ms. Patella said the board is anxious to hear what recommendations Dr. Piegari will discuss because of concerns she has about the differences in the two districts. <br /> <br /> ”They don’t have a K-8 structure in Princeton,” Ms. Patella said. “They have one middle school with 750 kids and four K-5 elementary schools. <br /> <br /> ”We have concerns about busing young students and what kind of representation we would have on the school board, which is based on the percentage of students. If Cranbury students make up 10 percent of the total student body, then we would only get a percentage of seats based on that.” <br /> <br /> Cranbury students attend Princeton High School and the school board has a representative who sits on the Princeton Regional school board and votes on issues that directly affect Cranbury students attending the district. <br />... <br /> <br /><a href="http://www.packetonline.com/articles/2008/10/16/cranbury_press/news/doc48f78b6916be1810771232.txt" target="_blank">http://www.packetonline.com/articles/2008/10/16/cranbury_press/news/doc48f78b6916be1810771232.txt</a></span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> </table>
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