School Enrollment Study Yields 'Surprising' Figures
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O 'n J SCOTCH PLAINS HUTU VOLUME 19 NUMBER 35 SCOTCH PLAINS • FANWOOD, N.J. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1977 20 CENTS A Mini-Preserve School Enrollment Study Yields 'Surprising' Figures Lee Named Group Projects Student B'ball Coach Numbers Thru '82-'83 ¥• Bill Lee, who has spent ten V •I years as Physical Education By the 1982-83 school year, just five years hence, the Scotch Plains- If teacher and basketball teacher at I Fanwood school district is highly likely to be faced with substantially •'. i.: .';--. Terrill Junior High School, lower enrollments than are being experienced today ... and, more moves up a notch this season, to important, with thousands fewer students than were housed in local assume a coaching post at schools during the "Peak" enrollment years of 1969-70. An Ad Hoc Scotch Plains-Fanwood High Study Committee, named in May to consider the closing of a School(s) School. Lee replaces Joe A wildlife preserve's a spot where trees and wildflowers, animals in September of 1978, found enrollment projections "surprising." Coleman, who resigned from the and birds live a free and unthreatened existence. It needn't be all that Back in 1969-70, there were big. One Scotch Plains family has its own wildlife preserve, and they coaching post after last year's eight elementary schools, with a nation). The two junior highs aim to try to keep it, undamaged and protected. Toward that end, the season. peak enrollment of 4360, a peaked in 1970-71 — a year J. Craig Baileys, of 1470 Cooper Road, at the southwest corner of Lee coached the eignth grade capacity of 4,188 (.with 25 behind the elementanes, at 1899 Cooper and Terrill, have erected a cute sign, to let the world know team during his years at Terrill, students per general classroom) students, attending two junior about their mini-preserve. The sign, shown above, was created by Mrs. leading two teams to undefeated and 15 substandard classrooms. highs with a total capacity of Bailey. It announced, "Cooper Corner - a Mini-Wildlife Preserve, seasons, He also coached By 1976-77, seven years later, 2107. By the past school year, Please Don't Litter." there were seven elementary 1976-77, the enrollment dropped If you're jumping to conclusions that it is the students, from two schools, and an enrollment at by 223 to 1676. and total junior nearby schools, to whom the message is directed, you're wrong. Sure, the elementary enrollment total high enrollment is projected at kids drop hamburger wrappers and soda bottles in the property at the of 2993 — down 1367 from the 1154 for five years hence — corner. But the Baileys can clean that up without too much trouble. overcrowded late sixties. By 1982-83. The projected total It's the adult world they're trying to educate. In recent years, people 1932-83. according to a carefully drop at the junior high lev-.1!, have urged cutting of weeds and trees in the undeveloped corner. detailed study prepared by the from 1970-71 to 19S2-83, would What's more, the Baileys have experienced dumping of road materials, Ad Hoc Committee, the total at be 745, or over one third. utility equipment, etc. in the "woods." the elementary level alone will be Continued On Pace S "So many people originally moved to Scotch Plains for its rural down 2,000 children from the character," Mrs. Bailey said, "but then they want to see trees and peak — just over half of the peak if projections hold. 'weeds' cut down. In our opinion, there are no 'weeds,* because DATES TO REMEMBER wildflowers are God's gift." The family is anxious to preserve their September 14 — Public corner, which some think is an undeveloped lot. What's more, they See Table want to educate the public toward their way of thinking. Hearing, School Enrollment on Enrollment Figures and Projections, football and baseball at Terrill. Pg. S Terrill Junior High, 8 pm. At the high school, he'll be September 29 — Public Blackout Dims Assistant Football coach as svell In secondary schools, the Hearing, School Facilities, as basketball, at least for the same patterns follow (as they are Park Junior High, 8 pm. Bus-Funding Discussion first year. He'll see how the dual throughout the state and the Continued On Page 6 Two citizens were in the midst of strong objection to public support fur private school transportation on Tuesday night, when a power failure caused a blackout at the Plainfield Avenue administration Attention S.P. Still No Action offices of the Board of Education, and a cancellation of the remainder of the meeting. Only a few business items were awaiting action on the Landlords On Old School One agenda of the special meeting, called mainly for adoption of a long list As attention focuses this week upon enrollment projections for the of personnel actions. Scotch Plains Director of Finance Dennis F. O'Neill years ahead, and possibility of school closings, the single school Bob Lee, a citizen, noted announced this week that which has already been abandoned here, stands a blatant reminder of items for approval which Direct bus service to private landlords who have not rebated what could come in years ahead. Old School One was phased out as a included transportation of schools is provided by the or credited eligible tenants with school facility three years back — not due to declining enrollments, children to private schools district to 90 students, while their New Jersey Tenants for at the time a decision was made to replace the elderly turn-of-the- outside the community. Were money is given directly to Property Tax Rebate are subject century schoolhouse, kids were at an all-time peak. The school was these transportation costs for parents for another 19S to substantial fines and discontinued as an educational facility because of its age, and the limitations of educational opportunity available there. handicapped children? No, Lee students. penalties under state law. was told. The items up for "But if we are providing a All Scotch Plains property Today, old School One is a ——— —- •- — approval included busing of good public school district, and owners were mailed a postcard very visible facility, boarded up However, before the Board's students to Holy Trinity School parents elect to send a child to an Continued From Page 2 and empty looking, in. the move went through, another in Westfield and Wardlaw Continued On Page 9 middle of the downtown Scotch agency of the taxpayer, the Hartridge in Plainfield. yiiliiliiiilillliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiy ^IIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMIIIIIIIIlllllllli: SB » Plains business section. The Scotch Plains Township Richard Bard, acting for | Calendar I | Index { subject of the old school is to be Council, moved in with an Board President August on the agenda for consideration announcement that the town Ruggiero, who was not present, I Tuesday, September 6 — 1 by the Scotch Plains Township I Scotch Plains Township | | CHITCHAT 10 | was having the property explained to Lee that the state | CLASSIFIED 28 1 Council in one of its. future appraised, with the possibility of mandates a transportation | Council, regular monthly § | CONSUMER AFFAIRS 30 | meetings. | meeting, Municipal Building, | condemnation. allowance of $200 to parents of | EDITORIALS 4 f The township had wanted to every child in a private school | 8:30 pm | 1 ENTERTAINMENT 13 1 The Board of Education held | Wednesday, September 7 — LAW ENFORCEMENT 18 | acquire the property for senior within 20 miles of the school a s a public sale of the building in citizens housing, but was not in a district. Parents must pay tuition I Fanwood Borough Council, I I LEGALS 27 j the spring, and it was sold for I Special meeting for approval NUTRITIONAL VIEWS 14 j position to commit money to costs. I I $185,000 at public bid, with sale that project until application for Bard noted that the school | of intern, discussion of plans REAL ESTATE 24 | dependent upon the new owner | for multi-purpose building, i II RELIGIOUS SERVICES ....IB 1 FHA money for establishment district paying the 3 | SERVICES 29 | obtaining a zoning change from of a senior citizen complex had transportation grants is | hear appeal of Norman the current business status to a | Geuder on appeal of Bd, of j S SPORTS 20 I been made. At the time or the reimbursed by the state. School YMCA 22 1 designation which would permit public sale, the township's officials provided numbers. Adj. variance. 1 S apartment development. iiiii Continued On Page 3 5 ^Village Green Historic House Landlords... LOOKING FOR Wedding Invitations? Concept Tour Continued From Face ! COME TO THE TIMES! which summarized the rebate H Explained Six local historic We ha\ e a wide selection of organization^ are making plans piogram and outlined Mayor Anne 13. Wodjcnski of for a gala Holiday House Tour nroccduies for landlords to • personal .siaiUuicry • business cards • wedding inviiations t- Scotch Plains asked this week 10 he held before Christmas. The follow, O'Neill suggested that that citkens make every effort 10 • business letterhead stationery • binh announcements participating societies v. ill Scotch Plains landlords who familiarize themselves with • wedding, engagement uimounicmcnts decorate their museums in have not complied with the township plans for development 04 festive holiday decor and open Tenant Rebate Program do so UJ of a Village Green on the THE TIMES CO their doors to the public on Sun, immediately in order to save township-owned property next S Dec. 4 from 11 to 5 pm. Five of themselves and the township the 1600 E. Second Street Scotch Plains, NJ 322-5266 to the Municipal Building, The the museums are located in cost of prosecution.