BarryC
10-11-2007, 02:26 PM
Across the Mullica River from here is Washington Township, Burlington County. The county population as of the 2000 census is 621 people. Physically most of the township is within state parks and forests. Washington Township shares a municipal court with neighboring Bass River Township, where the court is actually located. Neither township has a police department, so the State Police patrol in the area. This courthouse is tiny, about the size of a small ranch house.
The township consists of 2 or 3 unincorporated villages, one of them being Green Bank. The one and only school in the township is the Green Bank Elementary School. As of the 2004-2005 school year there were 102 students. The old school was a bit too small, and they had set up some trailers/portable buildings near it for additional space (but not for regular classroom space, as far as I know). The teachers and workers in the school constantly complained about having to do this. Finally a new, larger school was built, right next door. The two schools closely resemble each other, although the new one is obviously bigger. But according to what I've heard the new school is way too big, and those who voted for it to be built are now having second thoughts, and wishing they had voted no. I don't know why it was never done, but you'd think they would have just put a nice big addition on the school and been done with it. But no, they had to build a new school that now nobody wants.
This school is also a part of the Interdistrict Public School Choice program. http://www.state.nj.us/education/choice/ For 2007-2008 school year there were 59 seats available, although maybe some of them have been filled by now. But the school has been in this program for a long time, long before the new school was built. I think the 2006-2007 school year was the first year for the new school.
The township's high school students are bussed to a regional high school way down in Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, southeast of here. It's got to be a ride of at least 15 miles for the kids, maybe longer.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated story, the regional school district here has just voted for a new, additional high school to be built. Where I grew up in North Jersey, each municipality had its own high school. But in this part of the state we have regional school districts, with high schools in each regional district, that serve multiple municipalities.
As of right now we have two high schools in this district:
Absegami High School, located in Galloway Township, serves students from Galloway Township and Egg Harbor City. 1,545 students attend the school.
Oakcrest High School located in Hamilton Township, serves students from Hamilton Township, Mullica Township, the City of Port Republic and Washington Township. 2,108 students attend the school. (Washington Township and Port Republic each is its own district.)
The new high school will be located in Egg Harbor City and supposedly will serve students from Mullica Township and Egg Harbor City. The school was voted in by an extremely wide margin. I forgot to vote until it was too late in the day, when polls were closed, but I would have voted no. Mullica Township, where I live, is mostly rural, almost 100%. Egg Harbor City, once you get out of the little downtown area, is also mostly rural. I can't think of an area in either municipality where I wouldn't mind if they built a new high school. But the location has been chosen, and it's going to cause nothing but trouble with school bus traffic, and the trouble you get with hundreds of high school kids all in one place. I don't want it. That location will be less than 5 miles from here.
The township consists of 2 or 3 unincorporated villages, one of them being Green Bank. The one and only school in the township is the Green Bank Elementary School. As of the 2004-2005 school year there were 102 students. The old school was a bit too small, and they had set up some trailers/portable buildings near it for additional space (but not for regular classroom space, as far as I know). The teachers and workers in the school constantly complained about having to do this. Finally a new, larger school was built, right next door. The two schools closely resemble each other, although the new one is obviously bigger. But according to what I've heard the new school is way too big, and those who voted for it to be built are now having second thoughts, and wishing they had voted no. I don't know why it was never done, but you'd think they would have just put a nice big addition on the school and been done with it. But no, they had to build a new school that now nobody wants.
This school is also a part of the Interdistrict Public School Choice program. http://www.state.nj.us/education/choice/ For 2007-2008 school year there were 59 seats available, although maybe some of them have been filled by now. But the school has been in this program for a long time, long before the new school was built. I think the 2006-2007 school year was the first year for the new school.
The township's high school students are bussed to a regional high school way down in Hamilton Township, Atlantic County, southeast of here. It's got to be a ride of at least 15 miles for the kids, maybe longer.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated story, the regional school district here has just voted for a new, additional high school to be built. Where I grew up in North Jersey, each municipality had its own high school. But in this part of the state we have regional school districts, with high schools in each regional district, that serve multiple municipalities.
As of right now we have two high schools in this district:
Absegami High School, located in Galloway Township, serves students from Galloway Township and Egg Harbor City. 1,545 students attend the school.
Oakcrest High School located in Hamilton Township, serves students from Hamilton Township, Mullica Township, the City of Port Republic and Washington Township. 2,108 students attend the school. (Washington Township and Port Republic each is its own district.)
The new high school will be located in Egg Harbor City and supposedly will serve students from Mullica Township and Egg Harbor City. The school was voted in by an extremely wide margin. I forgot to vote until it was too late in the day, when polls were closed, but I would have voted no. Mullica Township, where I live, is mostly rural, almost 100%. Egg Harbor City, once you get out of the little downtown area, is also mostly rural. I can't think of an area in either municipality where I wouldn't mind if they built a new high school. But the location has been chosen, and it's going to cause nothing but trouble with school bus traffic, and the trouble you get with hundreds of high school kids all in one place. I don't want it. That location will be less than 5 miles from here.