Schools are valuable community assets

Dear fellow community members of Allentown borough and Upper Freehold. I am reaching out today as a neighbor and local realtor regarding our upcoming school budget vote on April 21.

All of us have been adversely affected either directly or indirectly by our dismal economy. Every year, in an effort to be fiscally responsible to the taxpayers, the school board has gone over the budget line item by line item to cut anything that is not critical to the continued success of our children. This year is no different.

Our communities have wisely chosen to support all the necessary financial requirements that the district has put forth to improve our programs and build a new school. The results for the children of our community is clear — improved state test scores, award winning sports programs and a report card ranking of 90 out of all the schools in the state. Our costs for educating a student are below the state average, and among the lowest in Monmouth County, yet we continue to see improved student achievement due to enhancements such as curriculum supervisors, additional advanced placement classes, increased professional development for our teachers and new math and writing programs.

For those of us who do not have children in the school district, our home values are not dipping as low as some of our neighboring communities.

As announcements regarding economic remedies continue, experts predict home values will stabilize by the end of this summer. The No. 1 factor in determining home value is the quality of the community's school district. I have seen beautiful homes, comparable to those in Allentown and Upper Freehold, selling in different school districts for vastly different prices. It is financially prudent to support the continued growth of our schools.

Our towns are already desirable. Our schools are one of our community's most valuable assets. Supporting the forward momentum of the Upper Freehold Regional School District is an investment in our children and our future. Although I am a member of the Upper Freehold Regional school board, the above message represents my personal views and is not intended to represent the board at large. Thank you.

Patty Hogan Board of Education member

Upper Freehold