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Asbury Park School District’s Educational Renaissance has begun.

And Superintendent Dr. Lamont Repollet and the faculty will share the details of how they plan to ‘Build a Brighter Future’ for the district’s 1,998 students during an informative open house 6 p.m.  Friday in Council Chambers at 1 Municipal Plaza.

“We are building an educational platform and we are going to make sure it’s strong,” Repollet said Thursday night before a small group of Homeowner’s Association members. The informative session was held at the district’s new administrative offices at 910 Fourth Avenue.

The former pre K through 12 Abbott district consists of five schools, 234 faculty members. It is ranked 313 out of the state’s 339 public high schools with a 7.48 to 1 student/teacher ratio. It spends $30,845 to educate a student, the fifth highest in the state.

But with new hires and shifts in its executive staff, new programs at every level including identifying at risk students, the educators hope to make Asbury Park a school district any parent would be proud to send their child.

“All stakeholders will be accountable for perfecting their craft,” Repollet said.

Its mission: to provide all students with a comprehensive and progressive education where everyone possesses the skills and character to succeed in a diverse, evolving global society.

“It takes a village to raise a child and we need to be able to make this village work,” Repollet said. “Hold us accountable. Come to Board of Education meeting and you say I want this district better than it is right now but then you are going to need to back that up because I’m going to say – what can you do.”

Among their recent student accolades is the Debate Team’s recent participation at Harvard University’s Debate Camp where they placed second.

“If you want to compete then we are going to put you in an environment that is the best,” Repollet said of sending the students to Massachusetts.

Also new is the Career and College Readiness program – their answer to an anti-drug, anti-crime, and anti-gang program, Repollet said.  Through internships with local business and organizations, students are able to learn about career and job opportunities throughout the city.

High School career academies include Allied Health STEM, Law and Public Safety, Information/Technology, and Humanities.  At the middle school level, character building initiatives are in place and chess and stock market game clubs are being formed. The elementary schools have implemented the Young Scholars Institute and STEAM Academy while the Pre K program has updated their program.

The weekend continues with back to back events in support of the city’s educational initiatives.

From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday the Annual Back to School Block Party will be held at Donal Hammary Community Courts on Prospect Avenue. The event features free food, book bags, school supplies and other giveaways as well as games, rides and face painting.

From 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday the First Annual Charity Softball Tournament “Music Saved My Life” will be held at the Asbury Park High School field to support the Asbury Park Music Foundation and their Youth Initiative program.  All proceeds will help fund Hope Academy Charter School’s new music program, the Hip Hop Institute at the Boys and Girls Club and the Asbury Park Recreation Summer Camp.

Teams from the Asbury Festhalle Biergarten, Smith Group, the Asbury Park Fire Department, 1^st Constitution Bank, Lakehouse Music Academy, Madison Marquette, iStar, Asbury Underground, Sackman Enterprises, Eneractive Solutions, Asbury Park Police Department, Asbury Park Press, Johnny Menotti and Johnny Mac’s will compete against a backdrop of live music and food provided by Mumfords Café.

Donations can be made at MuiscSavedMyLifeNJ.com or send a check payable to: Asbury Park Music Foundation, PO Box 1396, Asbury Park, NJ 07712.

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