Villadom Times Weekly Newpaper Online-March 4, 2009 Issue

Ho-Ho-Kus March 4, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 3 Trustees approve new 10-year contract with Highlands by Jennifer Crusco The Ho-Ho-Kus Board of Education last week signed a new send/receive contract with Northern Highlands Regional High School in Allendale, which covers 2008 (retroactively) through 2018. The previous contract, which took effect on July 1, 2002, was due to expire in July 2012. “The community is happy with Northern Highlands. We have a great mutual relationship,” School Board President Peter Terenzio said. He explained that the Ho-Ho-Kus trustees were seeking a long-term agreement. “There was no down-side to doing this early,” Terenzio added, noting that there was no change in the cost to HoHo-Kus during years one through four of the new agreement. In year ﬁve of the contract, he said, slight increases will take effect. “We’re very happy to have this done,” the board president added. School Superintendent Deborah Ferrara said the cost per Ho-Ho-Kus student attending Highlands is currently $10,965, which includes tuition and transportation. The district also pays an additional $897 per pupil to cover the cost of the high school’s science wing addition, which was approved in a 2004 referendum. Ferrara said the per pupil cost would rise to $11,985 in 2012, and would end with a per pupil expense of $13,894 in the ﬁnal year, which will be the 2017-18 academic year. “We have an excellent relationship with Northern Highlands,” the superintendent said. She pointed to the well-executed articulation of curriculum within the Quad District, which includes Northern Highlands and its three sending districts: Allendale, Ho-Ho-Kus, and Upper Saddle River. “We think it’s a great relationship and I believe our families do as well,” Ferrara added. Asked about the number of Ho-Ho-Kus eighth graders who would continue their education at Northern Highlands in September 2009, Ferrara reported that of the 64-student eighth grade class, 54 students plan to attend Northern Highlands this fall. Two have said they would not attend the regional high school, and eight are undecided. Ho-Ho-Kus has been sending its high school age students to Northern Highlands since the 1990s, when the district severed its send/receive relationship with Midland Park High School. Ho-Ho-Kus maintains a single K-8 school, and has sent its students in grades 9-12 to Ridgewood, Midland Park, and Northern Highlands over the years. Currently, Ho-Ho-Kus voters approve a single budget that covers education for students K-12. CAN’T WAIT FOR SPRING? SPRING LANDSCAPE PROJECTS Pre Season Pricing in Effect Now is the right time to start plans on your Then Don’t! �� Weeping Pine Nursery �� Free �� No Obligation Est. & Design �� Winter specials available now for a limited time only. Call Robin at 973-636-7000