District does not want students to walk to school

The Upper Freehold Regional School District does not want students to walk or bike to the new middle school when it opens this year.

Board of Education Vice President Joe Stampe met with Upper Freehold, Allentown and Monmouth County officials to discuss the lack of sidewalks along Route 524, which leads to the new middle school. He encouraged the entities to apply for New Jersey Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School grants for sidewalk construction. He said Route 524 needs sidewalks that connect Allentown to the new middle school, which is located in Upper Freehold.

Stampe said that state law requires students to walk against traffic to school. He said this would result in students having to walk on the side of Route 524 that has a very small shoulder.

“The board is not encouraging people to walk or bike to the middle school,” he said. “There will be no bike racks — to discourage people from riding on a very busy road with no sidewalks.”

Stampe said it would likely take a year for Upper Freehold and Allentown to apply for and receive grants for sidewalk construction. He said the county has expressed interest in placing a traffic light at the busy intersection of Old York, Ellisdale and Breza roads.

Superintendent of Schools Dick Fitzpatrick said the school district recommends that students attending the new middle school take advantage of the subscription bus service or carpool to school in the coming year.

The school district has eliminated free transportation for students living less than two miles away from school. As per state law, the district does not have to provide free transportation to middle school students living under two miles away from school but was doing so before having to make budget cuts this year. The district is offering fee-based transportation to these students at a cost of $275 per child with a family maximum of $500 for the year.

The school district anticipates honoring all requests for subscription bus service. Requests for scholarships to cover bus fees are available for financial hardship and will be based on the federal free and reduced lunch eligibility guidelines. Requests will be held in confidence and may be submitted by contacting the superintendent’s office, according to Fitzpatrick.

The new middle school currently has a temporary certificate of occupancy, with a certificate of occupancy expected before the school is scheduled to open to students on Sept. 13, according to Fitzpatrick.

“We seem in excellent shape for the certificate of occupancy,” Fitzpatrick said.

Principal Mark Guterl will welcome Stefanie Negro as the school’s new vice principal. Negro, an Allentown High School English teacher, will teach until 9 a.m. and then serve in the vice principal position for the remainder of the school day. The Board of Education appointed her to the new position on Aug. 18.