Schools: Community Needed on Enrollment Issue

The Washington Township Board of Education wants to involve as many community members as possible while going through the process of what to do in the wake of

The board has created an Ad Hoc Committee, called the Proposed Facilities Plan Committee, including members Kevin Daly and Chance Healy, led by Michelle Munley.

At the board’s regular meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 7, Munley gave a presentation explaining the step-by-step process the committee has laid out, estimated to take six months in total.

The most integral part of the process, however, is the community’s involvement, Munley said.

“We’re trying very hard to capture a large portion of the community,” Munley said. “This will work well with a diverse representation. The only way this will be fruitful is with community involvement.”

The committee will hold its kick-off meeting on Wednesday, March 7 at 7 p.m. at the , where it will go over what it plans to do throughout the process and how residents’ involvement will be used.

Going forward, the committee plans to look at current facilities strategy, educational programs, enrollment trends and the state of real estate in Washington Township.

The demographic study released in November by Dr. Richard Grip showed a potential enrollment drop of more than 500 students between now and 2016.

Grip’s study cited low fertility rates, unaffordable housing and an aging population as some of the reasons for massive decline. If Grip’s report comes to fruition, the district’s five school buildings will have approximately 1,000 empty seats.

Once the committee has identified all the data available and interacted with community members, it plans to develop options, prepare recommendations for next steps, and potentially implement new strategies for the 2012-13 school year, Munley said.

The committee is looking involvement from township administrators, senior citizens, empty-nesters, small business owners, students, teachers and administrators from West Morris Central High School, parents of pre-school students and real estate professionals.

Munley said the best way to contact the committee and get involved is by emailing her at mmunley@wtschools.org, or Superintendent Jeff Mohre at jmohre@wtschools.org. Interested residents may also call the board office at 908-876-4172.