The township school board is hosting monthly forums for families to share their thoughts on a variety of topics.
Subjects include school transportation; curriculum; and security, among others. The goal of the unofficial gatherings is for residents to share their thoughts on an issue, then help formulate a related plan.
The Dec. 9 forum focused on the district’s future plan for housing in light of new units along Cattell Road. The potential influx of students has led the district to consider additions for existing schools and construction of a new one. Details can be accessed on the district’s website.
“If we get any more, probably 200 to 300 units or higher, we will have to build,” said Superintendent Kevin Kanauss. “I feel like all of our family forums will focus solely on this topic, because it is such an important topic for this district. This is a community decision; this isn’t a Kevin Kanauss decision.”
“It was a great night,” board President Joe McKenna said of the December forum. “We had about 30 people, we had a questionnaire and there were a lot of things that went on.”
The family forums began in October of 2024 after multiple complaints from residents about a lack of timely communication from the district. Some cited its announcement just a month before school started that a major busing change would require students living within a 2-mile radius to walk to their schools.
“The safety of our children cannot be overlooked,” said resident Brandon Monahan at an earlier forum. “We’re in a school district with limited sidewalks and surrounded by busy streets and state roads where drivers often disregard the traffic laws.”
The outcry highlighted the importance of better district communication not only regarding timely news, but in coming up with solutions. The date of the next forum has yet to be announced.
“We’re going to discuss this throughout the steps and the process,” Kanauss said of the housing project, “and we will come together and come up with something that would either go to a vote or that will have an impact on this town and community.”
