Lack of answer only raises more questions

With the state government taking far too long to make the necessary decisions regarding Monroe's quest to build its new high school in Thompson Park, it would make good sense for the Board of Education to come up with a backup plan. It's been more than three years since township voters approved an $82.9 million referendum on the high school construction, yet still there is no sign of a shovel going into the ground, only a seemingly endless wait for more approvals.

What was reported to be a Jan. 4 deadline on the latest state decision came and went, and now the state has asked for a new archeological study to be performed on the park land.

One result of this extensive wait has been a major increase in costs for the new high school, to the tune of $36 million. Another has been the expense and inconvenience of dealing with classroom trailers to accommodate the overcrowded high school conditions. Less tangible is the ongoing division among local residents over the land swap needed to build the high school in the park.

The swap involves the township trading 172 acres of property for 35 acres of Thompson Park, on which the new high school would be built. The township would also have to pay $1.127 million to cover the higher value assessed on the current park land.

The exchange cannot be made until the town receives approval from the Department of Community Affairs (DCA). The release of restrictions from the Green Acres division of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is also required. There is a lawsuit filed against the town by citizens' groups opposed to use of the park land.

Regardless of how anyone originally felt about the proposal, it appears high time that the school board figures out where it will build a high school if the park land does not come through. While some board members have suggested doing so, the board majority favors staying the course.

The course, however, seems endless. While due diligence is expected on the part of the state, the land swap matter should have been decided long ago. The fact that three years have passed since the township began the application process is unacceptable to the taxpayers and children of Monroe.

The indefinite delays make one wonder, not so much when the township will finally get an answer, but why the decision has yet to come and why no one in any position of authority has been able to expedite the approval process.