POLL: Should Lakehurst Consider Ending Ties With Manchester High School?
Lakehurst educators investigating possibility of moving high school students to Jackson
Education officials in Lakehurst are considering sending borough high school students to Jackson, a move that would end a longtime relationship with Manchester.
Speaking at the board's June regular meeting, Manchester's Superintendent of Schools David Trethaway confirmed that Lakehurst has commissioned a feasibility study into whether its students could be better served at Jackson Liberty High School.
"Jackson is a very nice district," Trethaway said. "I'm kind of prejudiced, though. I think we do some great things at the high school with [Principal Alexander] George and his staff."
Jackson Superintendent of Schools Thomas Gialanella said in a statement that his district is considering the possibility of educating Lakehurst students and confirmed that discussions are "ongoing."
Requests for comment made by Manchester Patch to Lakehurst interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark C. DeMareo and Board of Education President Joann Septor were not returned.
Septor told The Asbury Park Press that moving students to Jackson Liberty would save borough taxpayers a still undetermined amount of money and may offer students greater access to educational programs.
"I don’t know if Manchester has that much to offer us anymore," Septor told the APP.
If Lakehurst, a borough surrounded by Manchester, decides to move its students to Jackson Liberty, which would require about 5 more miles of travel, it would "change the dynamic" at the home of the Hawks, said Manchester Schools Business Administrator Craig Lorentzen.
"With the close proximity of Lakehurst and Manchester, these children grow up together," Lorentzen said. "They participate in clubs, sports and other activities throughout their childhood together."
Manchester's contract with Lakehurst for the 2012-13 school year is for 155 students at $14,000 per student, according to Lorentzen, a rate that remained stable from last year.
The tuition fee of $2,170,000, in addition to a $240,000 resource room component, totals $2,410,000 in Lakehurst tuition for the upcoming year.
The 2012-13 contract reflects an adjustment from the 2009-10 contract for enrollment and tuition, as Lorentzen said the state until recently took three years to certify tuition rates.
"Therefore, when the contract between Lakehurst and Manchester is developed, it is based on an estimated number of students attending and an estimated tuition rate based on the last certified tuition rate available at that time, which is the rate from three years ago."
As such, a credit of $107,180 is included in the contract, which "represents changes in enrollment and tuition rate versus what was billed during the 2009-2010 school year," Lorentzen said.
"It ensures that we are not charging more than our actual cost per pupil to educate a student," Lorentzen said, adding that the district cannot charge more than what it costs to provide an education.
According to the Jackson School District, its 2011-12 cost per pupil cost was nearly $12,000.
Lakehurst 'becomes a part of Manchester'
Losing Lakehurst's high school students — the borough has only an elementary school that teaches children through eighth grade — would have an impact on Manchester's budget, "but more importantly it would have a greater affect on our students," Lorentzen said.
Trethaway noted that the Manchester Hawks' 2012 class president Jessica Pedroza is a Lakehurst resident. At this year's graduation, she spoke about coming to school in Manchester four years ago.
"Being welcomed to the Hawks' Nest was a change compared to tiny Lakehurst," Trethaway quoted from Pedroza's address.
"That is a big thing that we see — that Lakehurst automatically becomes a part of Manchester," Trethaway said. "I think Manchester has a lot to offer."
Lorentzen said that there has been some recent misinformation that Manchester has overcharged Lakehurst for tuition.
"This is simply not accurate, nor is it allowed," he said. "Lakehurst is being charged what it costs to educate a student in our district."
The "extensive" documentation and reports from Manchester's auditors ensure that the district charges the proper tuition, according to Lorentzen, as "the certified tuition rate and resource room rate are determined by these reports."
When Manchester receives its certified tuition rate from the state for a school year, administrators compare the actual number of students that attended versus what was billed and make up the difference.
"Any excess or shortage of charges in that contract year are adjusted in the current contract," Lorentzen said. "Throughout the years, there have been both excesses and shortages in these contracts."
The decision, which has no timeframe, ultimately rests with the Lakehurst Board of Education, said Donald Webster, Manchester's Board of Education president.
Gialanella, the Jackson superintendent, said fiscal issues are not the only concern.
"There are still many things to consider other than financial issues, though," he said. "It will be something the district, the board and the Jackson public all need to talk about."
WhitingBoy
12:13 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
“Lakehurst has commissioned a feasibility study into whether its students could be better served at Jackson”
“may offer students greater access to educational programs.”
“Gialanella, the Jackson superintendent, said fiscal issues are not the only concern."There are still many things to consider other than financial issues, though," “
What are the other concerns? Is it a better performing district? What is better? If they are saying they are moving to save money, then say that. If they are saying Jackson is a better performing district (higher scores, better safety, etc), then say that How can we vote on whether this is a good idea if the article tip-toes around actually giving information.
Manchester Resident
1:20 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
What a shame...the Manchester and Lakehurst children are more intertwined than ever now. They share all sports, scouting, dance and other activities with each other. Each of my four Manchester children have several good friends in Lakehurst. I believe it is unfair to the Lakehurst children to place them in a large school with which they have very little ties to. I, as well as my three sibling, attended Lakehurst and then graduated to Manchester. It was intimidating enough to leave our small elementary school, let alone being placed in a school that is 3 to 4 times larger. I live in Pine Lake Park so this does not directly impact my family but having been a student of Lakehurst, I am concerned for those at Lakehurst Elementary now.
Rontr
3:45 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
LakeHurst Should just merge with Manchester on all services, cops,school and maintenance, Problem Solved , Make me Mayor , I will Also lower taxes with that deal
JD
4:14 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
$14,000 per student seems high...
They don't deduct for the "per student" money coming from the state. I believe that it is about $5,000 per student... therefore should cost around $9,000 per student.
They will probably save at least $2000/student by going to Jackson.
Scott Neuman
8:17 pm on Friday, July 6, 2012
If Jackson is an option, shouldn't all surrounding schools also be option? Lakehurst is the donut hole of Manchester. Keep Lakehurst children in a top notch school. Keep them at Manchester, or as I like to say, within walking distance of home.
WhitingBoy
11:00 am on Saturday, July 7, 2012
@ScottNeuman
I think the intimation is that they don't feel Manchester is a top notch school (although it is only hinted at in the article). I'd would love it if a reporter would dig a little deeper and get a story so we can really comment.
Da Gr8 1
1:16 pm on Saturday, July 7, 2012
We should send the whiting kids to jackson also. Trethaway is a disgrace and should resign after the crap he has pulled this year.
ballyjduf
9:49 am on Sunday, July 8, 2012
I agree Trethaway is a disgrace and should resign
Jethro Redman
8:23 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
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Jethro Redman
8:25 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
If you people only knew, Trethaway ? you should check out Dave Galveo now thats a disgrace. Im not defending any of them but there is some shady stuff going on there.
Hurstian
11:50 pm on Monday, July 30, 2012
I am a resident of Lakehurst. I graduated from Lakehurst and Manchester as well as my family. Mrs.Septor talks about the tax payers saving money but still CANNOT give the tax payers an amount...Seems fishy.... Why would parents want to commute an extra 5 miles one way to take their children to practices? Our children bond with Manchester students some starting at the age of 5. Now when they graduate they would be thrown into a huge school not knowing anyone. Is that fair to our children.. Yes I am a parent of two Lakehurst students and think it is unfair for my children to be sent to Jackson.If I wanted them in Jackson I would have moved to Jackson. I think if the deal went thru parents should have the option. I personally think its all about saving a buck.. WHY now is Manchester High not good enough for our Lakehurst kids? THEY the Lakehurst Board of Ed tip toes around the actual facts..
Jethro Redman
12:09 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
It will take the FBI to clean up the Manchester school district. Let your children go to Jackson at least the administers are honest. I know first hand the corruption that is going on in Manchester .
Hurstian
9:24 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Have you met any administration that is honest with parents? What do you know Jethro about Jacksons administration? Do your children go there? If Manchester is so bad why do you leep your children there?
Jethro Redman
4:10 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012
My kids are out of there ,besides I wouldnt let my kids go to a middle school contaminated with mold
wolfman
3:06 pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012
hey lakehurst resident I dont know what town you live in but I am from lakehurst born and raised and lived here for 42 yrs and a graduate of LES and MTHS I would not classify our town as a "SES" as you say. If these kids drop out Im sure thats not the schools fault sounds more like parenting to me. Besides everytown has its share of drop outs and low income areas especially in manchester which has several. They have plenty of dumps in town and plenty of drop outs so I dont know about you but I think Lakehurst has better kids anyway and has always supplied alot of athletes to that school for years. None of my teachers there every singled me out because I was from Lakehurst because I was an athlete and a good student. So becareful with catagorizing us as low income mutants you sound silly. Blue collar not low budget. Just FYI LES was nationally recognized and was on the good morning america program years back for its outstanding achievement in education I doubt any local Elementry Schools and the mighty school districts that they have such as Manchester or Jackson have EVER been honored in that respect. But most of you from town have only lived in our town a very short time but long enough to buy into the demeaning status that surrounding towns like Manchester like to say about Lakehurst because they have no history of there own. Without Lakehurst there would be no Manchester and thats as simple as it gets. God bless the Hurst!