Online Discussion: Is West Windsor Ready To Merge?
A simple article on the WW-P School District budget deliberations, which started at the bottom of page 18 in the December 3 issue, generated 32 comments online at www.wwpinfo.com.
The object of most of the attention was a reference to the savings of nearly $1 million realized — for now, at least — by the postponement of the opening of the Princeton International Academy Charter School. The proposed Chinese language school continues to be the subject of much discussion:
“Our property tax has gone up by 50 to 75 percent in the last decade without the presence of any charter schools. The local school boards wanted residents to believe that PIACS will result in higher property tax, yet failed to indicate that our school budget has gone through the roof over the past decade without any charter schools competing for it.
“The Superintendent said she would be able to pay 15 teachers with the money WW-P would have to send to the charter school. Now that there is no charter school, can we have the 15 teachers, now? South Brunswick has a full day kindergarten. Why can’t WW-P?
“WW-P needs competition in public education. Period. In the long run, everyone in the district would benefit.”
As has been noted before, some supporters of PIACS seem convinced that the WW-P News serves as a “mouthpiece” for the WW-P school administration.
“OK, WWP News,” wrote one online reader, “you need to be reaching out to PIACS board to counteract [assistant superintendent David] Aderhold’s erroneous claim here. When will you do this? Otherwise, you just appear to be a WW-P administration mouthpiece with no ability to get counter claims. When will your reporter start covering PIACS board meetings since PIACS is also a public school? For example, last year we learned that WW-P intentionally underbudgeted what they were supposed to have given PIACS and the finance guy [Larry] Shanok claimed that would then go into tax relief for WW-P taxpayers. Any follow up to that erroneous claim?”
The lead story in the December 3 issue, the negotiation discussions between West Windsor and Intercap over the proposed redevelopment near the train station, also commanded some online interest, with the proposed 800 units of housing of concern:
“West Windsor is adding to the housing problem we have in this country. [Intercap’s Steve Goldin] can’t be all that bright if he hasn’t figured out that the housing bubble is over. This will add to West Windsor’s housing supply and put a drag on prices. More vacant storefronts coming soon.”
The Intercap proposal seemed more suitable for a big city than little old West Windsor, noted another post: “These people running the board just do not understand. West Windsor has no draw. We are not like Paris or even Princeton. I got a good laugh out of that one. Hint: When people in New Jersey don’t even know where West Windsor is, that’s a problem when you need the foot traffic to stay in business. Mark my words, this will flop, an absolute disaster.”
The bottom line: “West Windsor should not be in a rush to settle with Intercap. The Council is surrendering without a fight.”
Another online comment suggested that West Windsor would do well to merge with another municipality:
“We have only 27,000 residents, hence a mayor who is only part-time and we even share a school with Plainsboro because we are that tiny. West Windsor spends like we have a budget of an entire city and a burden that continues to grow because of this wrong thinking. West Windsor is too small and needs to merge with another township to eliminate duplication of costs. A new system needs to be in place. Talk to Chris Christie. If you have ideas that can help, I encourage you to contact him.”
