'Caring' is used ad nauseam at school board gatherings

Millions and millions of our tax dollars down the drain due to cost overrun with nary a brick in place on the new Upper Freehold Middle School at the Ellisdale site. The then sitting members of our school board campaigned vigorously and sold the Ellisdale site to the public, while also dividing the community and leaving wounds that have yet to heal. These people must be held accountable for their unwise decisions. The school board often appears, to this writer, as an extension of the PTA. Candidates for the board are selected from a group of parents and often run unopposed. It seems to me, the major prerequisite for board membership is to be a "caring person." The word is used ad nauseam at school board gatherings. It is, in reality, a code word for having kids in the system: more kids, more caring. With approximately 70 percent of our tax dollars going to support our schools, the general public must take a greater interest in school board matters, especially the selection of board members. We need a board that reflects a more balanced cross section of our community. We can no longer afford to leave the governance of our schools to the parents and educators alone.

We, as a community, may have to make some difficult decisions in the coming months. It's obvious to me, we need a new school. The board may come back to the public asking, among other things, for millions of dollars to make up for the current short fall. It's going to be an interesting and expensive time to watch the caring folks on the board, who made unfortunate choices, seek a way out of this financial mess.

We are fortunate to have Mr. Joseph Stampe at the helm. President Stampe was not on the board when the site was selected, the school designed, or finances arranged. Mr. Stampe appears to have the political skills necessary to overcome some of the difficulties facing our community. I wish him well.

Raymond Murray

Upper Freehold