Park Avenue Elementary May Have Earlier Start Time

Come September, Park Avenue Elementary students may begin their day at 8:10 a.m., according to Freehold Borough School District Superintendent Elizabeth O’Connell. O’Connell made the announcement during the PTO presentation of the 2011-2012 budget at the Park Avenue Complex on Wednesday. Approximately 45 parents were in attendance.

Business Administrator Patrick DeGeorge said the district is considering the earlier start time to accommodate the bussing of Park Avenue Elementary Kindergarten students to classroom space in West Freehold Elementary in Freehold Township. The start of the school day at Freehold Intermediate School and the Freehold Learning Center would not change in the 2011-2012 school year.

The borough’s $20.1 million budget, which was approved by the Monmouth County Office of Education on Wednesday, includes plans to bring half day preschool classes back to the Park Avenue Complex. The district currently rents space at First Presbyterian Church of Freehold for full day preschool.

Increased enrollment has led to a lack of space at the Park Avenue Complex. The district has the added burden of its spending falling $4.3 million below an adequate level, DeGeorge said. DeGeorge and O’Connell said they have been in frequent contact with the 12th legislative district delegation about the need for the state’s public school funding formula to be followed. O’Connell noted that districts spending above adequacy received similar percentage increases in state aid this year as those spending below adequacy.

“Would it have been nice to build a new elementary school or a new extension to this one? Sure. We’re not even asking for that. We’re just asking to be funded to adequacy,” O’Connell said.

In addition to space issues, the district is considering the earlier start time at Park Avenue Elementary because of the retirement of a bus in its fleet, DeGeorge said. A three-tiered bus schedule, with Park Avenue Elementary students arriving first, Freehold Intermediate School students arriving, and Kindergarten students being transported from Park Avenue Elementary to West Freehold Elementary, would work more efficiently than the current bussing system, according to DeGeorge. The tiered bussing schedule would also allow the Kindergarteners to arrive and leave after West Freehold students; the amount of instructional time would remain the same, DeGeorge said.

While parents at the meeting raised questions and voiced concerns about the Kindergarten classes leaving the building, most, such as Kirsten Raymond, were receptive to the administration’s explanation of the budgetary need.

“The district is doing the best they can. They’re pretty transparent here. The blame really goes to the state for not using the (school funding formula),” Raymond said. “Taxpayers need to look at the numbers in the budget and understand what they’re funding.”

The district will hold an open house for parents and Park Avenue Elementary Kindergarteners at West Freehold Elementary on Wednesday, March 30 and Thursday, March 31 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Call 732-761-2124 for more information.