Amount of politics, non-action is a disgrace

I am writing as a concerned parent in Upper Freehold Township. What is occurring in this town regarding the new middle school is a disgrace. I moved here in 2002. Little did I realize the amount of politics that goes on here. People who have moved in recently should open their eyes and see what has been transpiring. We passed a school referendum in December 2004, and until this day we have not put a shovel in the ground while Millstone has almost completed its new school. Once the referendum was passed, the paperwork should have been filed, but as I have read it was not. As I see they, the Township Committee, are elected officials whose job is to do what the voters want. The voters voted, so why was the process not started or delayed? Someone from the committee please answer that?

Now all this talk of changing the site. All of this is delaying the process more. They are talking of Breza Road as a possibility. Who is to say that the Rockefeller Group will sell the land back to us after they have invested so much time and money into their project? If they even entertain that thought, does anyone in their right mind think they will sell it back for the price they brought it for? And I would like to see how quickly all of those people who want the school put there, would still be adamant about it if we had to buy the land for $7 million, $9 million or even $10 million dollars.

Then, there is the agreement with Princeton Nurseries. Did anyone take into account if they sue Upper Freehold Township for breach of contract, how much is that going to cost? Again I want to see if those same people would be willing to foot the bill for that?

As far as the soil being contaminated, we live in a farming community, there probably has been pesticide used on all acres in this township. I am sure if I tested the soil in my back yard they would be there. Even if the land on Breza Road were to become available for the same price that it was initially sold (highly unlikely), there would probably have to be remediation done there, and again at what cost?

As far I see things, all that has been going on has been a well organized delay tactic. The only problem is that the people who are getting hurt the most are our children. I went to the back-to-school night, and all I heard was how programs are being cut, classes shortened, and how children and the school staff have to deal with that. Guidance Counselors have to use a closet. There are overflow lunchrooms, one science lab, and one computer lab for grades K-8, just to name a few.

I moved here because it is beautiful and thought it would be a great place for my children to grow up. I expect them to have not a good, but a great education. I understand that this township is in transition, but we need to move forward.

We need a school and we need it now! Enough with the politics. Every day we delay the cost of construction is going up. By the time the township committee and Board of Education find a suitable place that will keep the people who don't want the school on Ellisdale Road happy, we will be able to build a shell of a middle school that we voted for. Mind you, these people had a chance to vote down the site specific school referendum but failed.

Every voted official is saying they are doing the best they can in this situation. Let's hold them up to that. We cannot change what already happened, but let us see who from here on out takes the initiative to getting the school built. This issue is not going away, we are growing everyday, and we will probably need more schools. We need to keep people in office who are actually looking out for our children and elect others who will do they same. If we do not then shame on us, and we then will have no right to complain about our schools. This is only my opinion - one concerned parent as to where we are going with our children's future.

Arun Singh

Cream Ridge

section of Upper Freehold