New High Tech High Coming to Central Regional Schools

Central Regional Middle School and High School will be home to a new high technology school within a school this fall.

“ ‘High Tech High at Central Regional’ will start next year,”  Superintendent of Schools Triantafillos "Tom" Parlapanides announced at last night's Board of Education meeting.  “We just found out today. This is a good thing.”  

The district received approval from the New Jersey State Department of Education on Thursday to host the high technology school under the state’s Interdistrict Public School Choice Program. Central Regional was one of 56 schools chosen to be added to the program, which currently has 15 participating school districts, according to the DOE's website.

Under the Interdistrict Public School Choice program, students are given the option of attending a public school outside of their home district without cost to their parents.

Student tuition is paid by the state to the host school district., he said.

Parlapanides estimated that tuition for the Central Regional school district would range from $6,000 to $10,000 annually, depending on enrollment.

For the first two or three years the funds will be put back into the program, he said.

After that, the district will absorb the costs using the funds to lower the budget, among other things, Parlapanides said.

 “Choice...benefits taxpayers because [host] districts are tapping a new revenue source,” said state Acting Education Commissioner Chris Cerf in a press release describing the program.

 “It’s a clear sign that districts are taking steps to make better and more efficient use of their available space,” Cerf said.

 The new school within a school will have enough seats to accommodate 150 students from throughout Ocean County, and an additional 150 students from the Central Regional school district. The program will include grades 7 through 12.

“We have the space," Parlapanides told members of the public before the start of the meeting. "Enrollment has been declining.”

Each student in the program will receive an Apple iPad. This goes hand in hand with the program's focus, which will be computers.

“We are also in the process in installing Wi-Fi  throughout the school buildings,” Parlapanides said.

Students will also receive the Princeton Review SAT prep course.

Transportation of up to 20 miles, or funds to pay for transportation, will be provided by the home district of a student attending the choice school. If the school is outside of the 20-mile radius, transportation will be the responsibility of the student‘s parents.

Prospective students will be required to fill out an application and taken a written test. Test dates will be advertised in the near future, Parlapanides said.