Assembly passes bill to let Cherry Hill, Merchantville study a merger
Philadelphia Inquirer - Edward Colimore - A measure that would clear the way for Cherry Hill Township officials and a Merchantville citizens group to study merging the...
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
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Another positive step for New Jersey!
Last night someone reminded Council that Gov. Cahill had gotten interstate 295 moved from its original path to instead skirt Tavistock, a municipality of 7 properties.
As I remember the complaint of the superintendent of Barrington, that rerouting caused the slicing of his school district into halves.
What do you think of the saving of Tavistock, Cruiser?
Did we have any doubt! Awesome news!
Does it really mattered what happened in Tavistock? We are about our town.
Talking about "our" town, did anyone get the news yet that the PUBLIC HEARING on the School budget is scheduled for next Tuesday, 22 March at 7:00 PM in the school library?
The school budget will be published in this Friday's Retrospect.
So the school budget will be published in a weekly newspaper that very few in town subscribe to and the public hearing 3 days later will be announced in that same paper.
There is virtually nothing about the budget or the public hearing on the School District's website yet.
Am I the only one in "our" town who thinks that this is unacceptable?
Sorry, I thought I put my name on the last comment. I meant to do that.
Tavistock is not a real town. It is a golf course. This "borough" was founded by rich people, with personal connections to the governor and the railroad company (which then dominated state politics), who simply wanted to have cocktails at the country club in what was a dry town.
No, I am with you. Why does the school budget have to be kept such a big secret - it is our money they are collecting for taxes. We support the school. I do not care if we lose the school in a merger - it won't be worse than what we are dealing with now! Did anyone else see that Haddon Heights is interested in our high school students? What, 25 of them or all of them that graduate (room for just 25 not acceptable)? This is just smoke and mirrors to make us further believe that this town can sustain its own school district. The issues with sustaining the elementary school will continue even if our HS kids go to another district - but in the end it is still a huge improvement over Pennsauken. Still want the merger though - let's see our application get resubmitted now with Cherry Hill with the new legislation to DCA and get our study!!!
Who pays for the study if Borough Council does nothing now that it recinded its resolution?
If the petitioners want their own study commission appointees, shouldn't they pay with C.H.?
Unbelievable, smoke and mirrors?, Retrospect?, gosh almighty give me a break. How many people attended the last school board meeting, or the one before that? There are no grand conspiracies going on people, there are no grand schemes to keep the budget a secret. All State laws regarding the budget, publishing it, discussing it, etc. are being met. Why in the world are people so negative? Doesn't this get old, is this really what people think? So glad the Pro Consolidation Study members are the pariah for our town. The only comment I agree with and is correct is that the School's website SUCKS!
The stealth nature of school board elections and budgets goes well beyond the perfunctory communication of them. The problem starts with the special date of the elections, away from normal election times. The intent is for few people to appear and for the election to be won by cliques of various special interest groups.
I expect there will be an event for children at the school on the night of the election and that parents attending the event with their children will be well primed to vote. All part of the efforts of the cliques to get an easy win.
I hope that the candidates for the board reveal their position on the merger issue in their campaigning.
The principal offset to the cliques are the efforts of governmental watchdogs. Keep up the good work watchdogs!
Slicing and Pasting - I have no idea as to the merits of I-295 being where it is versus somewhere else. It has probably been fifty years since wll of that was decided. The road has been a fantastic success, that is the main thing.
I think "communities" like Tavistock should not be allowed. The value of that real estate should be as supportive of government as similar real estate in regular communities. I don't see why Tavistock, Pine Hill or Teterboro should be entities separate from the communities around them. Why should they get a real estate tax bargain?
Merging them is the amswer.
The pariah of the town started long before the Pro Consolidation group stepped up to do something about it. And I'm not voting in the next school board election even though I have for the last ten years. It doesn't really matter now who fills those seats; the clique can fight amongst themselves for them.
Cruiser, I guess you know ALL about
the School Board cliques, Remind us again how long you sat on School Board.
So what you're telling us is that the only way you won that seat is votes from YOUR special interest group?
Cruiser: The problem starts with the special date of the elections, away from normal election times.
The intent of a special date away from other elections was to separate school board candidates from local politics.
Big cities --the type of government you lobby for-- were controlling the school boards for political appointments, money and power.
As you have said many times, you would pull that fence down. For efficiency, wasn't it?
To Cruiser: This year the school board election will take place on Wednesday, April 27, during Spring recess, so no special event will be held for children on election day. Normally, school elections are held on the third Tuesday in April, but since that is the start of Passover, the date has been changed to the 4th Wednesday.
To Of Special Interest: No one has to win a School Board seat through the efforts of “special interest” cliques. For the past several years, all anyone has to do to get a seat on the BOE is submit a petition and stay alive until election day.
Funny Gail, but not not exactly accurate.
2 years ago there were 5 people running for 3 seats. This year there are 4 people running for 3 seats.
You're right ... my comment was not "exactly" accurate, but it was pretty close. Allow me to fix it.
In almost every BOE election fo the past 20 years, BOE candidates have faced no opposition at all, and in some elections, write-in candidates have won 1 or 2 seats.
So Gail, as a former school board member yourself what do you think that says? I would think based upon your experience you would support most if not all of the current member serving on the Board. There are no hidden agendas and I know for a fact the last few years the board has made every effort to be as upfront as possible with the budget. How about if we try a positive slant on things for a change?
This year, despite economic hardships that many Merchantville residents continue to suffer from, the school board reinstated just about every program and person it had cut last year.
Where's the wisdom in keeping everything the same? Did the Board ask the administrator to try anything new? To make do better with somewhat less? To motivate improvements without spending more money on them?
When Field Commander Rommel (The Desert Fox) was asked about his tactics in North Africa, he said, "Montgomery keeps attacking me in the same old way and I keep defeating him in the same old way."
Residents have been asking the school board to investigate new ways to improve student learning in the Merchantville school ... ones that save money while improving instruction. Last fall the board created a workshop of volunteers to find new educational approaches. But the school leader did not attend and it seems that by Christmas all efforts had dissipated ... in the same old way.
The same old way is exactly why people feel the way they do about things being cliquish and that no one new can do anything. So glad the consolidation study bill went through so things can change not only for the school but for all of the issues that people are concerned about for improving our community. Out with the same old way and in with the new - it is about time.
To answer Anon 5:57 PM:
I think the fact that there’s often no competiton for BOE seats says that the public just doesn’t care, or they don’t think they can make a difference or they think everything is copasetic ... no problem.
Why do you always insist that everyone be positive? Don‘t you understand that “the world owes all its onward impulses to men ill at ease”? (Nathaniel Hawthorne)
In fact, based on my experience, I do not support many of the current Board members. They’re far too accepting of the apparent inability of the school staff to improve our State test scores. Most don’t even care that they’re not even shown last year’s scores (along with a remedial plan) until well into January ... only 3 months before the 2010-11 tests are given.
Even after they’re elected, some Board members tend to miss a lot of meetings. Of the past 18 meetings, one member has skipped 8 of them, another has skipped 6. If you’re not there, you can’t make a difference.
But I’ll go along with you -- everything is hunky-dory with the school board. Henceforth, I will have no complaints. That will make you happy, and that’s what it’s all about. No negative thoughts ... gotcha.
What are you talking about?? How many programs were cut last year and who are all these people reinstated this year? The only thing I can think of is that the school is reinstating the state funded afternoon Pre-school program. Something most districts don't even offer. By the way parents are already lining up for this program. This is a great program and offers the children a head start. Got a problem with that too!
Of Special Interest, my recollection about by two elections is that I was unopposed insofar as ballot candidates were concerned. So I did not need to pander to a clique to get elected. I was not associated with a special interest group. I felt most of the special interest groups, which were well represented on the board, did not like me. But I had my allies and got some important things done.
Separate and Equal - you can believe the old adage about school elections being distant from other elections to keep them out of partisan polictics, but the major reason they are the way they are is to make them an obscure non-event which can be better controlled by the special interest groups, the cliques.
Gail, you missed my point, but responded in your usual sarcasm. That's OK though I simply stated that this is a good budget, has been transparent, and should get some support especially from someone as knowledgable as you. But alas you would rather continue a negative montra. How can you state that board members are far too accepting about the lateness of the reporting of the test scores. Maybe some of us choose to use th old adage 'Praise in Public, criticize in private' but how would you even know? When was the last meeting you attended and where are you getting your information? Apparently the smae place "Same Old" is because he is just as wrong as you. But to end on a positive note I still like you.
Sorry but one little one-half day program for head start funded by the state does not impress most of us. We want better on every level and will get it by consolidating with a better school district like Cherry Hill. Won't settle for less than all of our students getting what they deserve. And try as the school board has - there has not been success. It's time to move on from them too.
Hey, 'Praise in Public, criticize in private', leave Gail alone in your trash talk.
Not only am I on her side, the facts are too. State scores should have been made public in the fall ... by law. And public education is supposed to be public, not private caucuses.
In the "new ideas" workshops last fall any idea that smacked salaries or working conditions or administration, that idea got as much flying time as Howard Hughes' Blue Goose (one test flight).
Last year tax payers spent thousands on a new computer-interactive mathematics program which included its own assessment component. The Board President had told the public beforehand to give the school time to implement the changes and then to check student basic skills performance. Well, the program was introduced BUT NOT ITS ASSESSMENT COMPONENT. And did student performance improve? No! in the same old way.
Don't we have to take the test scores with a grain of salt? Don't these scores include the scores of special education students? If we have a larger percentage of special ed students, won't that affect our scores?
Same Old, tak eit easy no trash talk from me Just an observation. Settle down...maybe you should get out to a board meeting an express your displeasure instead of taking pot shots on this forum. Settling for the same old is unacceptable but if you dont participate you are equally at fault.
To Anon 3/16 (11:07): I cannot comment yet on whether or not the school budget is a good budget, as you say, or even if the budget process has been transparent. Maybe the budget WILL get my support, but that won’t happen until I actually get to SEE it. That’s not an unreasonable request.
maybe you should get out to a board meeting an express your displeasure
Done several times over several years ... attacking in the same old way and getting defeated in the same old way?
Spanish instruction was added back into the budget.
The kids don't know basic skills but they will be able to chat about the failings in two languages, both at the street level of grammatical knowledge, of course, sort of like a few anonymous commenters who wear their ignorance proudly as well ... and complain rather than apologize when others point out the sloppiness.
The question to ask --but we can't ask it according to Rule #8-- is why would some want to merge for better schools when they don't give a hoot about a good education themselves?
@In The Same Old Way - The children were taught Spanish last year so I don't understand the comment about it being added back in. I am looking at a copy of the budget right now, can you direct me to where that line item is?
To “Wondering”: Are you looking at the budget that appeared in the Retrospect today? If so, then I would guess that if Spanish were added back, maybe to the lower elementary grades, that would appear under the line item 11-1XX-100-XXX, Instruction, Regular Programs. That line item is $88,542 more than last year’s budget.
It doesn't seem to fit under any other line item in the published budget.
Maybe you can ask that question at the budget hearing on Tuesday.
Gail - Yes - I have a copy of the budget as it appears today. However, I didn't suggest that Spanish was added back in. "In the Same Old Way" did. Spanish was never eliminated last year to be added back in. That is why I asked him/her where he saw it in the budget.
Agains, those who say there is more than test scores are usually those who have very low test scores.
Why don't you compare the 8th grade merchantville scores to Caruso, beck or rosa. Rosa has the HIGHEST test scores of any middle school in S Jersey. It is half east and half west. How can anyone say these scores are close to merchantville. Rosa is like 96% and merchantville is 46%. Yeah, real close. Sure let's open the door for those kids...why not?
You are so high on your horse it is appalling. We do have our kids' education as a priority as well. It's not our fault that we don't have as much money to throw in the pot as you do. This is why the State of NJ is so pro-consolidation. They have everyone's interest at heart. It's a shame your children have such ignorant parents. Education begins at home.
...as much money to throw in the pot
The problem here in Merchantville is not how much money is thrown into the pot. Our per pupil cost is not low.
The problem is how the money is spent. And just as important, our school personnel are not utilizing their time and energies well.
Did you ever walk into a demonstration school? One where visitors arrive every day to see how learning is taking place --not teaching, learning? Well, the atmosphere radiates intensity, excitement, productivity among all students and all faculty.
Marginal student performance tells us that our "radiation" level is too low in the pot.
Why wasn't the news on this thread put on the Merchantvillenj.gov website as an update to the consolidation process? Our government should be telling us about this - you have to see it on a blog and not there???
Why wasn't the news on this thread put on the Merchantvillenj.gov website...
Without apologizing for them, let me suggest that from comments I hear they are just learning how to make the site a part of their communication system.
If they did get the web act together I don't know if I would be any happier. It is difficult enough to get letters every three months explaining how this cost and that cost and every other cost must be increased for property owners. I might prefer that the town website be dedicated to beautiful pictures and calming music.
So who attended the Public Hearing on the School Budget?
Did not attend the meeting on the School Budget. Was it mentioned there that the money that came back into the budget was for a lottery for the afternoon Pre-K program and did not include all of our precious youngsters? Apparently, no one bothered to tell the parents who brought their kids for the round up for registration until they were filling out the paperwork. Is it any wonder the School Board acts surprised that not enough people show up for the meetings when the parents are not told up front about what is going on in the district? Those people were totally blindsided. Going to a meeting would not have made a difference - that is why people do not go, feel like they are wasting their time. This will only push more people to want consolidation with another district. There is a lot of resentment from people here who have the youngest of children starting out in the district on the wrong foot, so to speak. Not a good way for a parent to have a first experience with their school district. Don't blame them at all for feeling the way they do and they are writing to the school to express their negative feelings. More momentum for consolidation, not to keep the school.
did not include all of our precious youngsters
Ya know it would be nice if you could keep a little logic in your argument.
Are you saying that because only a portion of the pre-K will get funding that the other pre-K parents will vote for consolidation, thereby forfitting a Merchantville school for all Merchantville children including their own?
What's the old pre-kindergarten saying? ... Engage the brain before opening the mouth.
It is a good thing we only have one Anonymous commenter to contend with.
How about being upfront with parents about the program? Why blindside them. Yes, they will have distrust going forward for the school board and want to vote for the merger. N excuse for how poorly they were treated, they will look for a way out of the school. How's that for logic??? What the heck is that quote anyway, you make no sense. How about Merchantville School opening it's mouth before engaging with parents about their children.
To the anonymous “Speaker for the Blindsided” (3/24-9:50 AM):
You say the unhappy parents of next year’s pre-schoolers are writing to the school to express their negative feelings about a possible lottery for a Pre-K program in Merchantville. If we were consolidated with Cherry Hill, would those same folks be complaining that Cherry Hill does not have a regular pre-K program AT ALL? Or that they only offer 1/2 day Kindergarten programs?
You are ridiculous. Your day has passed. So have the good old days of Merchantville. We will vote for the merger. Our numbers grow everyday...
Gail - that's not the point. The point is that Merchantville was not up front with the parents of these kids before registration. What is so hard to understand about that? Cherry Hill's policy is obviously known.
Take your crystal ball and shove it! Sore loser - like attending board meetings is the answer to raising children. Don't pawn off the School's ignorance - that is caring and being involved! This is the year 2011 in case you didn't know it.
To “Speaker for the Blindsided”: Try to cut us old folks a little slack -- our brains aren’t as fast as your.
Are you suggesting that if the parents had known that a lottery for next year's pre-K classs might be necessary that some of them would not have taken their kids to the registration roundup?
Certainly a note on the school district’s website at the time the Roundup was announced would been a good thing. Would that have been enough? I’m trying to understand -- help me out here.
Also, do you really think the fact that Cherry Hill has no reg. pre-K and only 1/2-day K is well known?
just some friendly advice from a grandparent--
If a couple with children can survive on one income then make do. Whichever parent earns less should consider staying home full time with the children for their sake. This can be mom or dad. Many of today's problems stem from parents having a lack of time being involved.
Sorry, will slow down. Don't think parents would not taken their kids if that's what they wanted to do with the information they had (but they didn't). And, yes, a simple posting on the school website would have been some kind of notice but not done. Also, paperwork was sent home from the school and did not contain information about the lottery - this was the formal notice of the program. You can't blame people for being upset about not being informed. It's in the Merchantville Observer that many people got today but that's too late as registration day has passed and it's not even from the school. And another good point from grandparent, we live in a very fast paced world and it's not slowing down for any of us so we parents do the best with what time we have. Did not appreciate the person who made the assumption that our kids would turn out on drugs - they had no right to say that. We can and will do better for our kids to have a promising future and be good, responsible citizens. And hopefully not grow up to post something that intolerant of how other people do things or that they want change.
It is very well know that Cherry Hill does not have Pre-K and 1/2 day K as that is the norm for most districts in NJ of that size. And it's not enough to keep people from voting to go to that district.
You people knew the deal when you moved here. You've lived here for a few years and now you've got the audacity to sidestep our town leaders and lobby the legislature to get your way. Unbelievable. Their is a reason we elect representatives. Our elected officials alone should decide whether this is a good idea.
Anon said: "Our elected officials alone should decide whether this is a good idea."
WOW! How far out is that?! Surely the residents should make that decision.
To what deal are you referring? And is this some monopoly being run down in borough hall? You mean we don't want them telling us what to do? We pay the taxes and they have sidestepped the people. Now the tables have turned. Your anger is translucent. You need to accept the new legislation supports the people who presented it - The Petitioning Group. Let's get this study done and vote for the merger. Enough already.
There's a cobbler shop in Haddonfield operated by a very old man who has the greatest sense of values ... and a display of his folks on a hutch accompanied by an American flag. He says he feels very lucky to have immigrated here and become an American citizen as soon as he could.
The cobbler used to be really cheap --new soles for $20-- but his son took over the management recently and the old man apologized to me for the higher prices.
With shoes to be repaired or not, I recommend to some of you commenters a drive to Tanner St. just to feel the ambiance surrounding a man who has in his heart and mind not a single criticism of our laws and government.
Now, on your way out of town take Hopkins Lane off of Grove Street to see the dozen red and white signs on every lawn opposing "high density redevelopment at Bancroft".
Do you remember the architect hired by AST to build high-density, 60-ft tall buildings on our downtown triangle? He was the town planner for Haddonfield at that time. I wonder how he's doing.
On the other side of Bancroft is the Haddonfield Memorial High School. Do not go in that direction because your lips will purse (dense wrinkles) with envy that our kids can not attend that school. Merchantville is sometimes call the poor man's Haddonfield. Why don't we merge there for economic diversity. Sounds like a political winner and the cobbler would pay no mind.
Haddonfield wanted our high school years many years ago. Unfortunately, there was a lawsuit and it was determined we had to stay in Pennsauken. Don't think they want to be bothered anymore. They don't have as many resources as Cherry Hill for a merger. Besides we don't border with them at all - but it would be nice - but not likely put on the table.
The court determined that the reason merchantville wanted to move their kids to haddonfield was racially motivated. That was unacceptable and they should stay in their send receive with pennsauken. Haddonfield's interest was marginal at best and when this happened they wanted out big time!
court determined that the reason merchantville wanted to move their kids to haddonfield was racially motivated
I think the only people who believe the "racial motivation" arguments are those who speak them. And I am not sure they believe either. Let me guess without checking, was it Anonymous who suggested it? Of course!
320 young kids with a 40-some percent mix wouldn't mean diddily to either district or to ourselves.
Ktbf.
Again that many kids would matter. Cherry hill looks at new population each year and fine tunes accordingly. That many children is huge and we will not absorb the group.
Go to meeting and understand. We are closing a couple schools.
Mrchantville students are not even on the radar.
We are closing a couple schools
The Cherry Hill Public Schools system is made up of 19 schools: an early childhood center, twelve elementary schools, three middle schools, two traditional high schools, and an alternative high school program. It is the twelfth-largest school district in the state of New Jersey and one of the largest suburban districts. This year, the district will top 11,800 students and enrollments continue to grow. The district has grown by about 2,000 students in the last 12 years. The system has 1,400 employees, including 1,000+ teachers.
Stop feeding the troll.
You are such a liar and full of drama. There will be no effect from the 10 of you. Just go away already. The new law has passed. You are a day late and a dollar short Joker.
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