Montgomery Township schools do not need to offer a Pre-Kindergarten program. The state-mandated program is for the 28 special needs districts where the children do not enter Kindergarten with the basic skills necessary to succeed. Our students enter Kindergarten ready to learn and with the requisite skills. Most of Montgomery's children already attend private preschool programs, many at the township run Kid Connection. The taxpayers would have to finance facilities, staff, transportation, and equipment at great expense with no benefit to the community.
Education is the priority of a board of education member.
The importance of a strong education is reflected in the numbers of new residents who claim to have chosen Montgomery because of the schools. We also have a responsibility to the taxpayers to deliver that education in a cost-effective way. Montgomery was ninth in New Jersey Monthly 's ranking of high schools and yet we place in the bottom half of the state in per pupil expenditures. We have done much to contain costs since I have been on the board. We have reduced taxes by sharing facilities, equipment and services with the township.