Task force grapples with crowded schools
BY JOHN DUNPHY
Staff Writer

There are approximately 15,000 students in the Edison Township school system.

And officials said there are more on the way.

With two new housing complexes nearing completion — one on Woodbridge Avenue near Middlesex County Community College and another at Camp Kilmer, the Edison Township public school system is gearing up for another influx of students this fall.

That’s why the Edison Board of Education and Edison Township have established the Mayor’s Task Force on Education, which held its first meeting last week at J.P. Stevens High School, Grove Avenue.

The partnership has been created to “establish a coalition of concerned and involved individuals dedicated to supporting Edison’s Board of Education and school administration in order to provide children and their families of Edison Township with the very best learning opportunities,” according to a press release.

Members range from local business leaders to teachers, Board members, Township Council members as well as Mayor Jun Choi.

One of the first issues the task force is planning on tackling is the severe overcrowding already putting Edison’s 17 public schools in a bind.

“We all know that school overcrowding severely hinders the learning environment in our schools,” said Choi. “We must resolve to attack this situation and not let it persist.”

Dennis Pipala, chairman of the task force on education, said recent studies by the district have projected another 350 students coming to the public school system in the next few years.

“With this new influx of students, the situation could get very critical,” he said. “We’re looking for some creative ideas, any ways we can all support our school system.”

Several suggestions were made by both task force members and the public in attendance, including the option of creating specialty schools in the township.

Board of Education President Barry Miller, who is also a member of the task force, said specialties could range from mathematics to science to music. Students would attend these schools and concentrate on the areas of knowledge they excel at while easing the population burden of the other public schools.

Currently, J.P. Stevens High School serves approximately 2,200 students, while Edison High School adds another 2,000.

Miller said building a third nonspecialized high school in the town was unlikely.

“The problem with building another full high school is you need approximately 40 acres, and where will you find that in Edison,” he said. “Not as much acreage is needed for a specialty high school.”

A $15 million referendum by the Board of Education was voted down in September by township voters, which would have been used for additions and improvements to district schools.

Pipala, a former Board of Education member, said the first public task force meeting went well.

“What we wanted to emphasize was that the task force was really in support of the Board of Education,” he said. “We’re looking for creative ideas, any ways we can all support our school system.”

The mayor’s office recently received over 500 responses from residents who expressed an interest in offering input and ideas on how to improve various parts of Edison, as well as those interested in serving on one of the Township’s 17 governmental boards.

“The promise of having everyday citizens involved in government empowers us all,” Choi said. “Empowered citizens are people who keep watch over their government and hold their government accountable.”

Miller said he is optimistic about the future of the Edison public school system and the creation of the task force.

“Our main concern is the education of our students but also our taxpayers,” he said. “We’re all taxpayers here trying to reach a happy medium.”

The next task force meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Feb. 21 at Edison High School.