My turn Joel Petlin An open letter to parents in the Monroe-Woodbury School District

I respect public education, having attended public schools for most of my educational life, as well as in my professional career, working for a public school district for over 20 years. I understand that good schools not only create good citizens, but also define entire communities. Ask any realtor: Your most expensive investment (your home) is valued by the quality of your children's public school.

More than just English and math courses, public education should provide all the tools needed for students to be prepared for college and career. Well rounded public school students need exposure to music, art, drama, sports, debate, advanced sciences and technology, in order to have a solid foundation for their future.

All of these exist in the programs of the Monroe-Woodbury School District. In fact, more than just having these programs, M-W students have excelled in them, winning state championships and national prizes in numerous sports and academic competitions. For all of these achievements, you have much to be proud of.

It is therefore quite disconcerting to see such a shift in focus, and downright fear and anger by the M-W family, over the proposed annexation of land into the Village of Kiryas Joel. Don’t misunderstand me: I completely understand many of the concerns of neighbors regarding the environmental impacts of annexation.

What I do not understand, however, despite a careful review of letters, legal opinions, you-tube clips and published interviews, is how the annexation, if approved, will have a catastrophic impact on M-W schools.

Point 1: Nothing has to change

The petitioners for annexation live in the M-W School District boundaries, and even if their municipal boundaries are amended, this land is still in M-W’s jurisdiction.

School districts boundaries rarely follow along municipal borders, and there are many other parts of towns and villages currently in the M-W District.

One of the concerns was “how will we be able to manage an influx of population in this area?”

The simple answer is: The same way that it’s being managed now.

Over 150 Hasidic families live in this area today. As reported in this newspaper, 10 children from among these families are classified for special education.

The other Hasidic children from this area receive transportation and textbooks, and none attend the M-W public schools. The combined annual cost of all of these services is less than the estimated $1 million in M-W property tax generated by these families.

If the dreaded influx of additional families would occur, what would change this simple equation? Even if there were to be more special needs students, and more children in need of books and buses, the taxes on additional homes would offset the cost of the services.

I wonder if the M-W Annexation Committee considered the revenue offset of additional taxpayers?

Point 2: The Board of Education has the option to solve this “crisis.”

N.Y. State Education Law sets out the method by which school districts may alter their boundaries. At any time, even today, the M-W Board could decide that it no longer wants to be responsible for providing educational services to this area, and could petition that the boundaries be altered.

If the Kiryas Joel School District Board of Education would concur, then M-W would not have any further tuition costs for these special needs students, nor transportation and textbook costs for the areas non-public school students.

There are those that argue that M-W could not sustain a $1 million tax revenue loss from the loss of this land, causing all the remaining M-W taxpayers to pay more in their taxes. Or worse, this could mean a loss of programs like participation in the successful “Odyssey of the Mind” competition.

Once again this calculation ignores the “expense side” of the equation. The removal of expenses for those living in this area would have the net effect of balancing the budget - a loss of revenue (taxes) is matched by a loss of expense (educational services).

The most significant change if the M-W Board votes to alter its boundaries, would be the fact that these Hasidic families would no longer be eligible to vote in M-W elections, nor serve on the MW Board of Education. This would end the debate over whether M-W will become a district like East Ramapo in Rockland County, where their Board of Education is controlled by members of the Hasidic community.

Point 3: Though many felt that M-W was the best entity to direct the environmental review, the district should not be entangled in this process.

While both M-W and KJ school districts are interested in the outcome of the annexation petition, neither should be controlling the process. The letter from the DEC rejecting M-W’s request for “lead agency status” should be viewed by the district as a blessing. No school district has any SEQRA experience beyond what they may do for their own facilities, and certainly not for a municipal annexation.

The cost of engineers, planners and attorneys to prepare an environmental impact statement would easily have cost M-W taxpayers more than $300,000. In this economic climate, with tax caps and gap elimination adjustments that reduce state aid to schools, it is irresponsible to incur these costs.

Of course, both districts should participate in the environmental review, with whoever is eventually designated as the lead agency. Both our districts could provide valuable information on our programs and services.

But I do not believe that any school district should be involved in determining who should live in their district, how land should be zoned or municipal boundaries drawn. It is our obligation to best serve the students that cross through our doors, no matter their race, religion or economic status.

By way of example, I do not believe that the M-W Board took any interest in the large scale development being constructed at Woodbury Junction, though clearly that project will generate a far greater impact to classrooms in M-W Schools.

Beginning in 1989, the M-W Board of Education determined that it was in their best interest to support the creation of the Kiryas Joel School District. We are indebted to them, particularly to the late Roberta Murphy, Orange County legislator and M-W Board president. She had the vision to understand that both districts would be stronger if allowed to provide the services necessary for their own communities.

Over the last 25 years, our administrators have worked closely with their M-W counterparts- business officials, transportation supervisors, special education directors and of course, superintendents- sharing ideas, programs and cross-contracts for services. There is no need to alter this spirit of cooperation.

I urge the M-W Board, officials and parents to refrain from viewing this moment as an attack on the MW schools. I have every reason to believe that the students of Monroe-Woodbury will continue to excel in scholastic achievements and athletic competition for decades to come.

Respectfully,
Joel Petlin, superintendent

Kiryas Joel School District