Hackettstown Schools
Are plans finalized for what is going to happen 're locations for elementary and middle school kids in Hackettstown? Heard a teaser on WRNJ but did not catch the report.
Papa I'm not sure if plans are finalized but I am surprised more talk about these proposals hasn't occurred. If you look ok the school website the various options will cost approximately $20 million and up. We need to be sure changes of this magnitude are really necessary. This administration and board has added a lot of administrative positions. Taxpayers need to keep an eye on this or we will be paying for a long time.
TigerparentThe superintendent's winter 2015 report is posted on-line..which indicates that new boundary line will be discussed at a future meeting.
http://www.hackettstown.org/Page/7194
Also, you can use the link from the newsletter to see all of the proposals that the architects have submitted. The dollar amounts involved are quite interesting.
http://www.hackettstown.org/cms/lib7/NJ01000669/Centricity/Domain/36/14102-hackettstown%20present-2014-12-10.pdf
nancy Question, don't we senior citizens of Hackettstown have any say. The 20
million in administrative costs will be horrible for those of us on fixed/
retirement income. We barely got a $15. per month increase in 2015. Do we,
as seniors and residents get to vote on this huge spending issue. Most of
us are already paying an average of $8,000. in property taxes, two thirds
of it goes to schools. At age of 70 plus we are unable to absorb these
huge increases. What say you other senior citizens of Hackettstown?? When
do we get to vote on this matter? or.... don't we have any say in upcoming
huge tax increases. Hey moms... why would you be wanting to drive your
children to more than one school in order to attend your childrens school programs.>?
really disgruntled senior citzen of hackettown
toni torchia Psst...it's call voting! Hackettstown has one of the most abysmal voter turnouts for the school budget. Less than 1000 people vote. How many voters in town?
emaxxman eMaxx is right, however there is no longer a vote on the school budget. The answer is to go to meetings, ask questions and share your opinion. This is a huge issue and I am really surprised fewer people aren't speaking out. Why are the expansions necessary? Why is it important that the elementary populations be balanced? What does the DOE base their space numbers (used in the report the board posted) on? Is there a law saying ours must be that size? What is the consequence if they are not? Is the education we are offering compromised by having less space, would there really be an improvement if we have a bigger gym, library, etc?
bac A big expense like this will require a referendum. If within cap, no need to vote.
btownguy There is no way the property taxes on these new developments will even cover the debt service annually if they float a $20,000,000 bond for the expansions. The additional services that will be required and the increase in traffic will be putting a strain on everyone's budget and quality of life in my opinion. I am not sure how seniors on a fixed income can afford to stay in their homes.
kb2755 You have no need to go vote the BOE knows best how to spend your money the shame of the hole thing is that the people have lost control of teir BOEs they have become a govenering body of their own the best thing any one can do is go to the meetings bring a friend go as a group and and stand up to them take back the education in your town
Caged Animal Just look at that elections. A lot of these BOE members go unopposed. I went to one meeting at the high school and one BOE member cut off and intimidated a person from the audience that was asking questions. I totally lost respect for that Board member. I would definitely not be voting for him again.
CJ. "one BOE member cut off and intimidated a person from the audience that was asking questions"
yes, this happens too often, a bunch of entrenched bullies who lord it over their fellow community members.
caged is right on again, as usual, the only way is to show up in force and stand up to the bullies on the board. bring like minded people with, bring written communications and read them into the meeting minutes, mail the same letter to the entire board and the local papers and radio stations. give a heads up to the local media outlets (easton times, rnj, nti, etc) let them know when the meetings are and to send reporters.
make your voices heard, loud and clear.
20 million dollars to rearrange the schools? tell me again how 'it's.all.about.the.children'
wow, just wow, what has happened to our nice little community?
BrotherDog Easy Easy Everyone.
The 20 mil was the extreme case and it ain't happening. They're going to move the line to even out the student population in the 2 elementary schools.
The study was done mainly to appease the parents who don't want their kids being sent to another school. The price tags of the alternatives opens peoples eyes to reality.
Put the torches and pitchforks back in the shed.
that was always my suggestion, a simple line change to even out the population in each elementary school. never thought a dramatic change was needed. But they did the study as Bill mentioned so those parents that might have to switch schools understand how much the alternative would cost.
it was sad the low turnout these meetings had since it was such a huge topic and could have effected just about every resident in town
darwin the superintendent plays favorites, wastes a lot of money on unnecessary things, and is ruining the Hackettstown schools
One reason, among others, given for a school tax increase is the loss of ratables. Viable businesses generate tax revenue. Yet, 99 apartments are being considered for the Bergen Tool site. Unless these units are age-restricted, more kids will lead to more taxes. Even if each unit housed only one school-age child, that's 99 more children. It's doubtful that the taxes those apartments would generate would offset the school tax burden.
Frank73 
iJay Moving the line would be the fair thing. Not sure about now but when my daughter was in WG, class size was close to 30 students per class. But my son went to Hatchery and to my surprise classes there were about 20 kids per class.
So in general the kids at HH were getting a better education, more time from the teacher per student, than the WG kids. And we all pay the same tax rate.
And this has been ongoing for at least 15 years or more, since the homes were built across from the hospital.
hktownie "One reason, among others, given for a school tax increase is the loss of ratables."
Who said that, and what are the specific ratables in question?
GC if your a senior citizen and don't want 3/4 of your taxes going to school budgets, move to a 55+ community like in middle and south jersey.... otherwise you are going to pay no matter what. my husband's parents are moving to one in monroe and their taxes are $1,200 a year.
I think 80% of Monroe's population is 55+, lol... they built thousands of units about a decade ago.
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