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Fanwood resident urges district to review policy 5756 and for towns to share pilot revenue with schools
Summary
A Fanwood resident urged the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board to re-examine policy 5756 amid litigation in New Jersey and called municipal pilot payments a "Ponzi scheme," urging revenue sharing with schools. The board did not take immediate action; staff were reminded public comment may lead to further investigation.
Gary Morris of Fanwood spoke during public comment, asking the board to reconsider district policy 5756 in light of a lawsuit he said is proceeding in New Jersey. Morris said the policy "allows a biological male to play on a girls sports team" and "allows teachers to withhold information about students from parents," and urged the board to review the policy to avoid becoming the subject of similar litigation.
Morris also criticized municipal pilot payment arrangements, arguing they shift revenues to towns at the expense of schools and create long-term budget shortfalls when pilots expire. "It's literally a Ponzi scheme," Morris said, adding that pilot revenues should be shared with local schools to prevent recurring shortfalls.
Board members did not take action during the public-comment period; the chair reminded speakers that public comment is an opportunity for the board to listen and that not all issues will be resolved that evening. The board may delegate investigation or request additional information from staff if it decides to pursue the matters raised.
The statements by Morris are recorded in the meeting transcript as public comment. The board did not offer a response during the public comment beyond standard procedural notes about next steps.
