FRHSD Debuts Budget Information Website

In just a few short weeks, the always-vocal audience at Freehold Regional High School District's meetings will have a chance to vet the proposed $187.6 million budget for 2010-2011 unveiled this week.

In preparation for any budget controversy--the proposal is about 7.8 percent higher than last year's and would raise property taxes in six out of eight towns--the district has compiled a Budget Information website with information, comparative statistics, and a feedback/suggestions component for users.
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Freehold Regional H.S. District OKs $187.6M budget

The Freehold Regional High School District has adopted a $187.6 million budget for the 2010-2011 school year, to bet vetted by the public later this month, according to the APP.

From the report:

The proposed budget unveiled Monday assumes the district will receive nearly flat state aid in 2010-2011, not yet a given considering the state's financial situation.
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Assembly to Vote on “Diploma Mill Bill” Thursday

Posted via APP.com:

The state Assembly is expected to vote on the so-called diploma mill bill Thursday, after it was approved by the state Senate Monday.

The bill was introduced after stories in the Asbury Park Press revealed that several Freehold Regional High School District employees, including Schools Superintendent H. James Wasser, benefited by obtaining doctoral degrees from an unaccredited, online university.

FRHSD Superintendent H. James Wasser

"The passage of this bill is essential as it directly affects what New Jersey residents are paying for school employees' salaries," state Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, who co-sponsored the Senate bill with Sen. Richard J. Codey, D-Essex, said in a prepared release. "While there is no problem with compensating people for hard work and additional education that only benefits our students, it is simply wrong to reward people with taxpayer dollars when no reward was earned."

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Letter to the APP Slams FRHSD

A letter from Marlboro resident James Sage to the APP slams the Freehold Regional High School District for failing to meet No Child Left Behind Act goals for adequate yearly progress in reading and math.

Superintendent H. James Wasser. Press file photo.

He cites Marlboro High School's failure in both subjects and the Board's refusal to acknowledge the issue when calling for parents to demand "accountability and responsibility from the board."

From the letter:
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Former FRHSD Teacher Admits Taking Kids’ Money

As a teacher at Colts Neck High, Megan Laboy told her students they would get better grades if they made charitable donations. But in reality, she admitted Friday, the money went straight into her own pocket.

Laboy admitted the crime Friday, when she pleaded guilty to one count of fourth-degree theft by deception, according to the Asbury Park Press.

In exchange for her guilty plea, the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office will ask that Laboy be sentenced to probation and seek forfeiture of any future public office.

Laboy joined the Freehold Regional High School District in 2001, but was no longer an employee by the time she turned herself in to authorities last year, district spokesman James Quirk said at the time.

Sentencing is scheduled for May 14.

FRHSD Reschedules ROTC Competition

The Freehold Regional High School District announced on its Web site that the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps drill competition was postponed due to the expected weather.

Members of the Colts Neck Guard, Colts Neck High School ROTC's armed drill exhibition team, watches as the Pride of Colts Neck, Colts Neck High School ROTC's unarmed drill exhibition team, performs at a fundraiser in 2009. Photo by BRADLEY J. PENNER/staff photographer.

The event will be rescheduled for Feb. 27 at Colts Neck High School.

Know of other canceled or reschedule events? Drop us a line so we can share the info: colleen@injersey.com.

Jeans for Teens: Colts Neck Students Collect Pants for Homeless

Has there ever been a demographic more closely tied to blue jeans than American teenagers? For one group of Colts Neck High School students, those ties have grown even stronger as they donate their own gently-used jeans to hundreds of needy teenagers in their area and around the world.

The students, organized by the Colts Neck High School National Honors Society, collected and sorted more than 600 pairs of jeans last week to donate to the Teens for Jeans program, a national partnership between the teen retailer Aeropostale and DoSomething.org.
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Wasser-Inspired Bill Dies in Legislative Process, Awaits Next Session

The Freehold-inspired "Diploma Mill" bill proposed in the NJ state legislature died this week before it could get approved in the lame duck session, according to the APP.

The FRHSD Administrative Offices in Englishtown.

The bill, drafted in response to Freehold Regional High School District's Superintendent James Wasser being paid additional salary for an unaccredited, online doctoral degree, could be reintroduced in the beginning of the next legislative session, according to the article.
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All Freehold Borough, 3 FRHSD, and 2 Township Schools Miss Yearly Progress Goals

All three Freehold Borough public schools, including the Freehold Learning Center, Park Avenue School, and the Intermediate School failed to pass the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) measure which tests students' reading and math proficiency under the No Child Left Behind Act.

Three of the six high schools in the Freehold Regional High School District also failed to pass the tests, according to the APP, including Freehold High School, Manalapan High School, and Marlboro High School. Joseph J. Catena School and West Freehold School, both in the Freehold Township School District, did not meet AYP either.
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FRHSD Cuts 15 Classes for 2010-2011

- Kim Predham -

Marlboro High School's humanities course will be one of 15 not offered by the Freehold Regional High School District in 2010-11 because of low enrollment.

And, looking ahead to next school year's budget, it could be a sign of things to come as district officials grapple with rumors of state aid cuts.
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Freehold teacher indicted in sex contact with girl

- Charles Webster-

A Monmouth County grand jury has indicted a high school teacher on charges of criminal sexual contact with a 17-year-old female student, and endangering the welfare of a child.

Authorities have alleged that Daniel M. Flynn, 36, of Brick, a teacher at Freehold Borough High School, engaged in the improper conduct with the student in the classroom after school hours, from late November 2008 through mid-March 2009.
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“Diploma Mill” Bill, Legal Fees and More at FRHSD Meeting

Freehold Regional High School District board of ed meetings are rarely quiet affairs, and last night was no different.

The FRHSD Administrative Building

The board approved a new contract for bus drivers, reviewed the district's violence, vandalism and substance abuse report for 2008-2009, and took action on an unnamed employee who was recently indicted.

A dispute over legal fees broke out (again), and a few meeting attendees chose to spotlight the news of the day: the state Assembly passed a bill that would ban school district employees from being compensated for coursework done or degrees completed through "unauthorized" institutions.

The bill now heads to Gov. Jon S. Corzine's desk for consideration.

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Wasser, FRHSD Inspires Statewide Ban on Diploma Mills

-Kim Predham-

Legislation placing new rules on the kind of course work for which school district employees can be compensated could be put to a vote next week.

FRHSD Superintendent H. James Wasser received his PhD from an unaccredited, online university.

Both the state Assembly and Senate are expected to hear a modified version of the measure Jan. 11, according to one of the sponsors, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande, R-Monmouth.

The legislation was inspired by the 2008 discovery that the Freehold Regional High School District superintendent, H. James Wasser, and several current and former staff members received doctoral degrees from an unaccredited university.
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Holiday Concert Tonight

Haven't had enough holiday cheer just yet? Head out to Marlboro High School tonight for the final Holiday Concert of the school district.

Tonight's show will feature the school bands and choral groups from 7-9PM in the auditorium. The Freehold High Schools held their holiday concerts earlier in the month.

Meetings Still On for Tonight

Freehold Borough Council will still hold a public meeting tonight, despite the weekend's weather. On the agenda are the new taxi and bicycle ordinances; the public can have their say in front of the Council tonight.

FRHSD Administrative Building in Englishtown.

The Freehold Regional High School District will also hold their scheduled meeting tonight, despite the schools being closed today. There will be an executive session at 7PM and a public session at 8PM at the Administrative Building at 11 Pine Street in Englishtown.