BOE Must Show Why New High School Is Needed: East Brunswick Mayor

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — On Monday, Mayor Brad Cohen gave the State of the Township address and spoke at length about the district building a new high school.

In his address, Cohen criticized the Board of Education for its handling of the new high school project and said the Board must show the public why a new high school building was needed. He also called on the BOE to work collaboratively with the Township on the project.

“A new high school is a once-in-a-generation project. And the costs are borne completely by the residents and property owners in the township through a referendum,” Cohen said.

“For a referendum to be successful, it is critical that the board remain transparent and clearly make the case to the public for the reasons for such a massive investment.”

Cohen said his administration was keen to work with the BOE on the project, as they recognize the importance of top-quality education.

“They must show why we need a new high school and what other options have been considered,” Cohen said.

One of the reasons stated for the new high school was the growing number of enrollments, which could be exacerbated by upcoming apartment projects. However, Cohen said that a recent demographic study, which was published in January, showed that there was no enrollment issue in the school district.

“From their own capacity experts, school capacity hasn't changed. And it sits at a little over 9500 students. That's the school capacity,” Cohen said.

If a new high school was needed, then it would be primarily due to the condition of the building and its ability to provide a 21st-century education to students, the Mayor said.

“But stop leading the public to believe that we are at or expect to be near a capacity issue. It's just not true. When it comes to options, the school board and the school administration should explain clearly to the public, all the options that have been considered,” Cohen said.

Along with an explanation, the BOE should also provide the public with a full explanation of the pros and cons of each option, and why they decided to build a new high school, Cohen said.

He also noted that the BOE had one meeting with the ad hoc committee for the new high school. The committee is expected to complete its work by June and give the BOE direction on proceeding with the building process.

“This will be seen by the Board as justification to move forward with planning, architectural, engineering, facility planning - all to be ready for a referendum by the November 2024 election cycle,” Cohen said.

“Now with inflation, supply chain issues, increase in interest rates, let us all be fully aware that this will be an expensive endeavor.”

Cohen said the township supported the school district and is willing to use PILOT money secured through ongoing redevelopment projects to help with the school's building needs. However, the offer comes with conditions.

1. The Board of Education and its administration must work with township departments from the beginning of the project. This includes the Planning and Engineering Department, Police Department, Department of Public Works, water and sewer utility, township administration and the Mayor’s office. “We must all be working together to avoid costly errors,” Cohen said.
2. The BOE needs to get out into the community and engage the support of residents. “Everybody needs to feel that they are part of the process, and everybody needs to see a benefit to a new high school,” Cohen said.
3. The new plans must include a community center on the grounds of the new high school. “Absent definitive proof given to me and our township professionals, that there is no land available for a center, we must show residents that there is a public purpose besides the public schools,” Cohen said.

The Mayor said he has no intentions of looking for a new property for a community center when one can be provided to residents free of cost and from a property that doesn’t pay taxes.

“And I do not buy any claims of security issues,” Cohen said. "I don't think that any of these requests are onerous. I suggested the Board of Education take the offer, as PILOT funds can and should be used to offset the final cost of this $300 million project.”

Cohen said East Brunswick residents deserve to know why they're shouldering tax increases when the school district already receives massive funding from the state.

“We want to be your partner and do what is necessary to preserve the quality of our schools that continue to be the envy of our neighbors and the reason that people move here,” Cohen said. “But on behalf of the residents of East Brunswick, this is not carte blanche.”

(In the coming days, Patch will highlight each topic addressed by the Mayor in the State of the Township address.)

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