Stokes Or No Stokes?

March 2011.

The nonprofit Berkeley Township Education and Environment Foundation is born. The group has a sole purpose — to raise money for the elementary school students' traditional trip to Stokes State Forest in Sussex County.

James J. Byrnes — who was Berkeley Board of Education president at the time —takes over as chairman of the foundation. The group's board of directors consists of Byrnes, board member Dawn Parks and Michael Hill, with more members to be added.

"It's a great environmental trip," Byrnes said back then. "For some kids, it's their only trip out of Bayville. They get to share a lot with their friends, learn a lot about the environment and learn a lot about life. That is something you can't put a monetary value on. I know the board is committed to this foundation and making it work."

March 2012.

Things have changed. The 42-year-old Stokes tradition has become mired in behind the scenes political disputes and finger pointing. Only $300 has been raised for the cost of the trip, estimated to run around $80,000.

Byrnes made a swift transition from school board president to Township Council president in January, when he was sworn in to fill an unexpired term. Steven Pellecchia is now board president.

And parents may be understandably confused about whether their children are going to Stokes this year.

It all makes Peggy Crawford — one of the original members of the Berkeley Township Environment and Education Foundation — sad and annoyed.

"I tell them the Foundation is trying desperately to arrange for the trip and the board (Berkeley Board of Education) and Joe (Superintendent of Schools Joseph H. Vicari) are throwing up roadblocks."

Crawford and Board of Education member Dawn Parks were angered by Board President that the Foundation had failed to raise money for the trip.

"I just think people need to know the truth," Crawford said. "If there are specific reasons why they don't want this, man up and tell me. The kids are expecting to go."

Foundation members have suggested various fundraisers, like fifth- and sixth-grade students compiling a cookbook which could then be sold, car washes, entertainment coupon books, can shakes at local stores and more.

When Crawford went to the microphone at the Feb. 9 board meeting, she again discussed the cookbook and the possibility of getting it out in time.

Vicari responded that he was concerned about liability from children who might be allergic to some ingredients in the cookbook.

"The problem is so many students have allergies," Vicari said. "Who takes the responsibility when somebody purchases a cookbook. Who has the responsibility?"

Pellecchia — who was appointed board president at the February meeting to replace  — said recently he supported the Stokes trip.

"I'm in favor of Stokes Forest," Pellecchia said. "The last episode in this long and drawn out situation was the Foundation was going to go out and raise money. They wanted to start with a cookbook. But nothing else came of it."

Foundation members "never" came to a board meeting and offered support, Pellecchia said.

"We offered support to that foundation," he said. "They promised they would get car washes, go to businesses in town. The foundation hasn't done anything for the children. Whatever they needed, they would have gotten."

But Crawford, board member Dawn Parks and other foundation members and concerned parents have spoken repeatedly about the trip at the monthly school board meetings.

The fundraisers never took off because they required either school board or administrative approval, which was not given, Crawford said.

When asked earlier this year if the Stokes trip was still on, Vicari replied "I am not involved in that program at all."

Board Vice President James Fulcomer was prepared to discuss the Stokes trip in detail with Foundation members last week, at an board education committee meeting.

Fulcomer wanted to review what progress school administrators had made with the trip and possibly meet with field trip coordinators.

The agenda was set. But Pellecchia reshuffled board committee appointments the day before and took Fulcomer and Parks off the education committee. The meeting with the Foundation members was cancelled.

The Stokes trip — a three-day, two-night program at Stokes State Forest in Sussex County run by Montclair State University's New Jersey School of Conservation — was part of the curriculum for the district's fifth-graders for 40 years.

But the program came under fire during the 2008 budget process. Voters defeated a referendum on the Stokes trip and it was cancelled for the 2008-09 year. The trip was reinstated in the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years, after a grassroots campaign by parents, students and some staf

At this point, Crawford wants to focus on saving the trip for this year, even if it means shortening the length of the trip.

A New Jersey School of Conservation official said earlier this year the school was holding a spot open for the Berkeley school district because it had been with the program for so many years.

"They are willing to work with us in whatever capacity," Crawford said. "One night, two nights. I'm think at this point doing one night with one group, one night with another group. That is, if we can get this to work."

Fulcomer introduced a motion at the Feb. 9 board meeting that called for parents to chip in $150 for their child to attend the trip. The board approved the resolution.

"My understanding is that the (Stokes) program coordinators are appointed in September," Fulcomer said. "I am sure they haven't been appointed yet. I would do anything to facilitate the program."

Since board members passed the resolution, they need to help make the trip happen, he said.

"Why should students in the sixth grade now be the first not to go to Stokes," he said. "It just doesn't seem right. We try to teach the children ethics and honesty. If you say you are going to do something, you should do it. Not to have it would set a terrible example for our children."

The next Board of Education meeting is slated for 6:30 p.m. on March 8 in the auditorium at the Berkeley Township Elementary School at 10 Emory Avenue.