Banisch Associates, Inc.

 Hunterdon Planning and Design      http://www.banisch.com/index.htm

111 Main Street    Flemington, NJ 08822    908-782-0835

05/09/08

TITLE: Due to numbers polytech loses 2 classes
DESCRIPTION:
Time: 10:48:40

ARTICLE

The classes at Polytech are run based on enrollment figures from the sending high schools.  The student population of a class dictates the economical decision to offer it or not.  This year unfortunately the school had to eliminate (2) programs:

Marketing – Due to declining enrollment over the past 8 years.  One of the reasons for this decline is that marketing is now offered in all the sending schools so ptech competes for classroom participants.   

JAROTC –  Eliminated due to the rigid and unwavering government regulations necessary to run the program. Ptech was able to run JAROTC for 2 years without meeting the 2-teacher mandate.  But next school year (2008 – 2009) they were required to have 2 teachers and the school could not justify this based on enrollment figures. 

In both cases, the decisions were difficult to reach.  The recent Polytech BOE meeting was very emotional.  Many parents, students and teachers were there to voice their opinions.  The board spent 3 hours after the open meeting to arrive at their decision. Economics and fiscal responsibility of the board and freeholders were guiding factors.