Rising Enrollment Could Shift Where Students Attend Schools In Basking Ridge
BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Rising student enrollment in portions of Bernards Township has prompted the Board of Education(BOE) to take precautionary action.On Monday night, the BOE approved the first reading of revised Policy 5120 – Assignment of Students which will essentially allow the Superintendent to assign incoming new students in the Cedar Hill zone to Oak Street school "if it was necessary for reasons of schedule, class sizes, balancing the number of sections so that we can provide specials to the students in an efficient manner.""The proposal to the Board tonight is to amend that policy to provide for that possibility should that need arise to manage the sections better," said Superintendent Nick Markarian at the BOE meeting.Markarian said he didn't anticipate needing to use this policy for the upcoming September unless there is an unusual enrollment change in the next month."But I think it's important to start looking at this policy as we go forward to balance some of the sections in the elementary schools, in particular, Cedar Hill. As we know, Cedar Hill has had an increase in enrollment beyond what the other elementary schools have seen, and it's created some challenges for us in scheduling that we need to have some ways to navigate," said Markarian.Board member Keith Molinari noted that this policy change would not impact exisiting currently enrolled students at Cedar Hill or their siblings coming into the school."If they are in elementary school, they will stay where they are. And if they already have a sibling at Cedar Hill and live in that zone, they can still go to Cedar Hill. So we are not going to break up any siblings going into elementary school or change any existing schools," said Molinari. "This will just be for new students entering the system if the Superintendent decides to exercise it."Board President Jennifer White asked if Cedar Hill zone students assigned to Oak Street would still receive busing, and Markarain confirmed they would."I am very happy with this just because my kids are at Cedar Hill and I know it is very close to being over the limit," said Board member David Shaw. "I think this gives us a tool that makes us be proactive here so that if the numbers do go the wrong direction, that there is more kids than we expected, we have a way to alleviate that for them."The first reading policy was ultimately unanimously passed by the BOE. A second and final reading is expected at the Aug. 25 meeting.Have a news tip? Email [email protected] article Rising Enrollment Could Shift Where Students Attend Schools In Basking Ridge appeared first on Basking Ridge, NJ Patch.
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