Mendham Students May Get Option to Attend Central
Board will vote on giving Chester, Mendham residents ability to go to West Morris Central as enrollment packs Mendham High School's classes.
Mendham High School is “bursting at the seams,” according to West Morris Regional High School Superintendent Mackey Pendergrast, and has proposed to the board of education a measure that has never been approved in the history of the district.
At its March 25 meeting, the board will decide to give Mendham High School students the option of attending West Morris Central High School if they are interested in doing so.
Mendham High School currently has its largest enrollment ever, Pendergrast said, and has noticed in the past few years that the approximately 20 to 30 students who would normally go to private school after graduating eighth grade have not done so.
“We’re looking at a situation where we just won’t have the classrooms to put the kids in,” Pendergrast said of the students at Mendham. “We could be faced with not having enough room.”
Adding trailers converted into classrooms could cost “big bucks,” Pendergrast said.
The measure for students would be purely optional, Pendergrast said, and any student that would normally attend Mendham and chooses to go to Central would have to provide his or her own transportation to school daily.
The top administrator said he’s asked about the idea frequently by parents in the district’s sending towns.
If enough students made the switch, the move could save the district on transportation costs, Pendergrast said.
The next board of education meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 25 at 7 p.m. at West Morris Central High School.
Do you think this is a good idea? Are you in favor of allowing Mendham students to switch campuses and attend Central?
Chester Parent
10:11 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
I agree with this measure I MIGHT choose to send one or more of my kids to Long Valley if given the option.
Kevin Nedd
11:55 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
West Morris Central is located in Chester, not Long Valley.
FourScore
7:56 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The school's mailing address is Chester, but the physial location of the campus is within Washington Township (which is often referred to as Long valley). Chester Parent is more correct than you are.
The Stig
10:35 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Nedd Lies . . . . SOP
Chester Resident
10:31 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
I'm confused. This has been an option for years. There have been Chester and Mendham students every year who choose to go to Central for various reasons.
PT
10:59 pm on Monday, March 4, 2013
Did Pendergrast say "seems" or "seams"?
Jason Koestenblatt
6:51 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Nice catch, PT. :)
Chester Parent
1:07 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Kevin Nedd is very astute to the rules of borders and border crossings. I simply used the word "Long Valley" because I call the High School "Long Valley," I think a much better name than the long one I can't seem to remember. But semantics are very important. Keep up the good work Kevin Nedd!!!
1819
11:14 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The West Morris Central High School building, fields, parking lots etc. are located in Washington Township, not Chester Township.
Mike
8:07 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The question is how will the students feel. Making this optional is a mistake as all students will want to be with their friends. They may get 10-12 students but will that make a difference?
Frederick Gibbon
9:12 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Mike, as I read the article I thought the same thing. I experienced this situation long ago in Parsippany school system when I was a kid - but it was forced. All of us from the other side of town hated it because we had friends in the other school and we never really fit in. BUT - if they do this they should make it mandatory and think about re-mapping the line for each school and leave it that way. Afterall it is still one school district and it would mean saving money and a better education for all.
Jillian
10:33 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Why don't they do as they did years ago..
Have Mendham Residents go
To
The High School and Chester Students go to a School
In their District..
Then give the Mendham Kids have the Option to go to Chester if they want with their Chester Friends..
Chester4ever
10:37 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
My 8th grade class was split back in 1979-80 between the two schools but I don’t recall the actual divide but I think it was main street. East of main went to Mendham and West of Main went to Central. We all survived. If they are seriously considering it should happen now because the biggest classes at Mendham from what I’ve been told is the current freshman class and the upcoming freshman class.
12345678
10:38 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
I agree with FG that re-mapping is the way to go.
mommy1
11:02 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
i agree, remapping is the way to go, the kids arent going to want to leave their friends and i wouldn't blame them. i remember a long time ago when some chester kids went to wmc. also being told it is your choice u must provide your own transport and thanks you saved the district money in not transporting you is not really a nice way to go about it
Peg O'B
12:31 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
As a kid there was NO Mendham HS and we all went to West Morris Regional HS in Chester/Long Valley/Washington Twsp--we lived to tell the tale
LVMom
6:07 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
still say the schools should be two unique curriculums with school choice.
but for now start by giving options
key is pointing out the differences between the schools
MDL
10:01 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Why has there been a fight over the school tax burden for the past year.?
Denobin
10:05 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Mendham Borough now wants dissoution of the school districts. According to one MB resident, they want to "Claw our money back from Washington Township." Apt statement. Fine, fund your own school expansion then. Do not even think about sending your students here.
LVMom
1:25 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
actually this makes sense. let's do the split now and let the chips fall where they may.
Joe C
12:39 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Seeing as its a regional district, supported by regional taxation, it makes sense to maximize the available classroom space and manage the enrollment on a rolling basis so that Central doesnt have empty rooms while Mendham constructs trailers. That way, everyone gets their monies worth...
Ruth
10:38 pm on Thursday, March 7, 2013
Having two students, one of whom went to Mendham and one who went to Central, I will tell you as a parent, both my boys were happier because they made a choice. As a parent, I must admit I was happier with Central because, at the time, it seemed as if there was more of a sense of school spirit. Maybe that has changed over the years.
I do know that as far as "money's worth". Central had to wait almost 4 years for their building projects to even begin while Mendham was finishing project, after project.