Politics & Government

Sampson Praises Howell Schools During Council Appearance

Discussed several initiatives coming to FRHSD

Since taking over as superintendent of the Freehold Regional High School District in June Charles Sampson said he has tried to visit each of the eight communities that send students to his schools. On Tuesday night that meant a stop at the Howell Township council meeting where he not only talked about new programs coming to the district, but also praised those already implemented at the high school and lower grades as well. 

Of the 12000 students served by the regional high school district Sampson said Howell represents roughly a quarter of that population. The superintendent said he had come to the meeting from Howell High School where marching bands from around the district came together for their annual festival on the Rebel football field. 

It is events like that which Sampson said have impressed him about the school since taking on his new position. I love coming to Howell High School," he said. "The spirit in Howell High School is literally second to none." He said he had recently been to an awards ceremony where the school's principal Zina Duerbig was as Principal of the Year for the state. During the presentation Sampson said a video was shown highlighting some of Duerbig's work. "It really captured the spirit of the school and the initiatives she has really overseen to build a community spirit," he said. "You can feel it in the building."

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In addition to the work being done at Howell High School Sampson also talked about future plans for the district including ways the regional and local districts can work together to help each other. Part of that includes the development of a strategic plan which Sampson said he hopes people from all over the district will contribute feedback to. "There will be a number of opportunities for community members to get involved," he said. The goal, he added was to have the plan in place by the spring so it can be fully discussed from there.

With the economy impacting not only municipal budgets but school budgets as well Sampson also said having the Howell Public Schools work with the regional district and other districts in the region can benefit everybody. Sampson said with plans coming down not only from Washington DC but Trenton as well with possibly sweeping Curriculum changes everyone will need to work together. "A lot of what we were used to doing in high school is now being done at the middle school level," he said. 

Find out what's happening in Howellwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Core classes including Algebra 1 and geometry could be taught at the younger levels if the proposed changes are implemented in the district. "The collaboration between the K-8 districts and the Freehold Regional High School District are incredibly important at this point in time time," Sampson said. "We have partnered with a number of K-8 administrators and representatives from the Freehold Regional High School District to share the cost of some of the expert training that goes along with navigating those standards."

Sharing costs is another area which Sampson said he would like to see implemented more around the region in the future. "My broad vision is to leverage the size of the region as a whole for a number of initiatives like that," he said. Whether it was for technology, training, software, supplies or any other number of things he said their size could help them make those items more affordable. 

Speaking to the council Sampson was also addressing two graduates of the district in Mayor Robert Walsh and Councilwoman Pauline Smith. Walsh, who graduated from Manalapan High School and saw his children go through the schools said he has been encouraged by what he has seen from Sampson so far. "There's a lot of excitement and a lot of fanfare about you coming to the Freehold Regional High School District," he said. "It's a tremendous district. I've watched it grow, I've watched it excel for years and years."

Despite graduating from the home of the Braves, Walsh said when the two schools meet on the football field Friday night he will be cheering for the Rebels to emerge victorious in what figures to be a pivotal A North battle. As for the man now in charge of the district Walsh said, "I'm looking forward to all the great things I know you'll be doing for the young men and women of Howell Township."


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