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Guest Column
Sol and Marilyn Mix
School plan cuts costs, adds park land

The school-age population of Monroe has been increasing at the rate of 350 children per year and is projected to continue at that rate of growth for the next several years. We all know there is a desperate need for additional classrooms. In September there will be 17 trailers in Monroe to alleviate school overcrowding.

Because senior citizens constitute approximately 55 percent of the registered voters in Monroe and because the majority in all the town’s senior communities voted against the school construction bond referendum last year, it is imperative that the opinions of the seniors be heard if the new school construction referendum is to succeed. The seniors voted against the proposal for three primary reasons: cost, location and duplication of facilities.

The Board of Education, in consultation with various individuals and groups, including seniors, has developed a plan that addresses the concerns of the seniors and of other residents.

It is estimated that the cost of the new construction will be approximately $30 million less than last year’s proposal.

Approximately 35 acres of Thompson Park land located close to the current high school near School House Road would be the site of the new high school. With the assistance of our Township Council, a "2-for-1" land swap, in which the county would get twice as many acres as it gives up in Thompson Park, has been proposed. The proposal can save taxpayers from $7-$9 million in land costs. In exchange for the 35 acres the high school will require, Thompson Park will be enlarged by 77 acres at no cost to the taxpayer.

Those who have criticized the proposed site have come up with neither a specific alternate site nor methods by which they propose saving at least $7-$9 million in land costs. Those currently against the proposed site claim they are in favor of a new high school and support increased taxes to help build it. Strangely, they were silent during last year’s referendum when there was a different site; they didn’t write, they didn’t speak, they didn’t canvass. The rejected site is being developed for new housing. One wonders about the real motives of some of the naysayers.

The board and council have done everything possible to win the support of the Park Savers.

Regarding duplication of services, this location would eliminate the need to build new athletic and other facilities because they are already there.

Please note that three years ago the state offered $2.6 billion to New Jersey’s 589 suburban public school districts to partially fund school construction. As of this date 140 new suburban schools are completed or are under construction, and almost half of the $2.6 billion is spoken for. Time is of the essence. We must approve a new high school before the state funds are depleted. The state contribution to the proposed Monroe high school’s construction costs is estimated to be $15 million or greater — no small chunk of change.

The 365,000-square-foot high school building will have three floors and accommodate 1,800 students but could be enlarged to house up to 2,700 students within the same 35 acres, if the need arises. The cost of the high school is estimated to be $82.9 million, with $67.9 million to be raised by the taxpayers. Again, the $15-million difference will come from the state school construction fund.

To the opposition Park Savers member who wrote a letter to the editor ("Thompson Park the Wrong Place for New High School," Sentinel, June 5) about the grandparents whose grandchildren would be denied park space to fly kites, play ball and just run around, we grandparents say, "Are you for real?" Thompson Park is the largest park in Middlesex County. Four years ago the original 650 acres were enlarged by more than 800 additional acres thanks to our local administration and Middlesex County Freeholders. The new school would sit on the far end of the park and take up just 2 percent of the park’s current acreage. The proposed school will be adjacent to the existing high school property at the field house and football stadium. Remember, Thompson Park will receive 77 acres for the 35 acres required for the high school — a 2-percent net increase in park land.

Let’s join with the rest of the community to support our town’s children and vote yes on Dec. 9. It’s the American way.

Marilyn and Sol Mix are residents of Monroe