Special School Board Meeting Set For Central Regional

BERKELEY, NJ — A special Central Regional Board of Education meeting is set for this week following news that both Seaside Heights and Toms River are interested in regionalizing their schools.

At the meeting, set for Dec. 13 at 7 p.m., the board will approving a resolution to protest the regionalization study that was recently released and approved by Seaside Heights and Toms River schools.

Read More: Referendum, Regionalization Plan Get Seaside Heights School Board OK

While a referendum is planned for Seaside Heights and the towns in the Toms River Regional School District (Toms River, Beachwood, Pine Beach and South Toms River) one voice is notably absent - Berkeley Township.

"Central Regional School District has no intention of allowing any neighboring school district to financially benefit at the cost of taxpayers in the remaining sending districts of Berkeley, Ocean Gate, Island Heights, and Seaside Park," the school board previously told Patch. Read more: 'Questionable Findings' In District Merging Report: Central Regional

The proposal was also questioned by the Seaside Heights Education Association.

"We are deeply concerned that it is being rushed through with little opportunity for thoughtful consideration or public input," co-presidents Sherie Ensor and Suzanne Heagen said on Friday.

In November, the Seaside Heights Borough Council passed a resolution endorsing the conclusions of a regionalization study commissioned by the Seaside Heights Board of Education and Toms River Regional Board of Education, which says Seaside Heights should join the Toms River district for students from preschool through 12th grade.

The council resolution also authorizes a request to the state for permission to hold a referendum on Seaside Heights joining the Toms River Regional district and simultaneously withdrawing from the Central Regional School District, where the borough's seventh through 12th graders currently attend middle and high school.

This article contains additional reporting by Karen Wall and Michelle Rotuno-Johnson.