By Allison Perrine
MIDDLETOWN – Schools Superintendent William O. George III is asking community members to take part in a confidential survey about Middletown’s school district.
In preparation for its 2020-2025 strategic plan, the school district is urging parents, guardians, public school staff, students, taxpayers and others to weigh in on a 10-question survey through Nov. 12 to help the district understand what the community wants to prioritize. The survey link is posted on the district’s website, at middletownk12.org.
So far more than 1,500 surveys have been submitted, with the top two concerns being inconsistent class sizes and decreasing enrollment, George said. Class size is an issue across the district with class sizes “approaching or exceeding” the maximum number of students per class in some grade levels. Of the 17 district schools, 12 are elementary schools.
“There’s a perception that that’s primarily in our bigger elementary schools,” said George, but it’s happening across the district.
At the same time the district is seeing an overall decrease in enrollment, as have other schools in Monmouth County. In Middletown this has resulted in a decrease in state funding and state aid. On the other hand, there is an increase in special education populations, said George, which he said were “competing agendas.”
The district saw a $1.7 million reduction in state aid over the last two years, George said. And based on what the state has shared with the district, he is expecting a further $4.4 million reduction over the next five years.
This projection is addressed in the survey by asking what survey takers think the district should do if the state aid reduction is not reversed. Seven multiple choice answers are provided. The eighth option is “other” where survey takers can leave their thoughts.
Multiple choice options include: increasing the budget up to the 2 percent cap annually with resulting tax increases; increasing the budget above the 2 percent cap, if needed, with resulting tax increases to be voted on by residents; reducing costs by eliminating programs and services; reducing costs by reducing staff; reducing costs by increasing class sizes; considering closing schools consistently under-enrolled and/or below certain capacity levels; or developing a holistic approach that incorporates various components above.
The survey also specifically questions what approach the district should take to address inconsistent class sizes versus building capacities in the different schools.
About 60 percent of survey responders thus far have been parents and guardians, George said. The other 40 percent have been staff members.
The goal is to have a blueprint prepared by early 2020 to present to the public.
The 2015-2020 strategic plan is nearing an end and, according to George, the district “accomplished an awful lot” in that plan. It mentioned several different goals for the district in the five-year span, such as providing safe and high-quality facilities, curriculum, differentiated learning, extracurriculars, professional development, community involvement, technology and community partnerships, among others.
Public forums about the 2020-2025 strategic plan will be held Thursday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. at Thompson Middle School; Friday, Oct. 18 at 9:30 a.m. at Bayshore Middle School; Saturday, Oct. 19 at 9:30 a.m. at Thorne Middle School; Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. at Bayshore Middle School central office; and Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. at Bayshore Middle School central office.
Any questions or comments can be directed to strategicplanning@middletownk12.org.
