Students need library and computer classes

Shore Regional High School enjoys a reputation as one of the better schools in Monmouth County. For some reason officials of the regional district seem intent on destroying that reputation.

Most recently the school adopted a ludicrous plan to keep the high school’s library open only every other period.

When a parent complained, Superintendent/Principal Leon-ard Schnappauf explained the situation by saying the second librarian required to keep the library open all day was pulled from those duties to teach a computer class. Obviously no one would suggest not teaching the class, but didn’t it occur to Schnappauf and the board to hire another teacher?

It more than stretches credibility to suggest that the district cannot afford to have both a computer teacher and a librarian. At the next board meeting parents need to ask why such a choice was made and, sadly, they should probably keep an eye on the board to make sure something similar doesn’t happen again.

If this were an isolated case in which the district simply made an embarrassing mistake, it might be possible to overlook it. In light of last year’s attempts to dismantle the music and art programs at the school, parents who send or plan to send their children to the school should not let themselves believe that it is.

The latest move should make parents question whether decisions in the district are being made for reasons other than for what is best educationally.

The reasons for students to have complete access to a library and a competent and qualified computer teacher all day are too numerous to mention.

For Shore Regional officials to think they do not need both is incomprehensible.

The fact that the board needed a push from a parent to address this situation should make parents and taxpayers in every town that sends students to the school question the reasoning and motivations of the district’s administration and the quality of their representation.

If the situation is not quickly corrected, parents should move from asking questions to de-manding answers.

The library needs to be open whenever the school is.