Public Engagement & Transparency

· Many residents are unaware of the project.

· RTMSD will not share a site feasibility study & relevant documents that informed the Board's decision to move forward with the $84 million project, even bringing in an attorney, using taxpayer dollars, to fight a taxpayer’s "Right to Know" request.

· At an April 30, 2025 district meeting advertised as an opportunity for “questions & discussions”, public input was shut down. Instead of allowing residents to speak, the format was changed; attendees were handed index cards to write questions, which were then screened, effectively silencing community voices.

· The school district expressed its site selection priorities as: location, property size, property cost, transportation impacts, timeline to develop the property, & site attributes: safety, accessibility, entry points, utilities, drainage, soils, & environment integration. The results of the district’s application of the site selection priorities for this property are not posted or made available to the public.

Broken Promises

· The proposed land development rests on broken promises & is in direct conflict with the Township’s Comprehensive Plan & the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan, undermining goals for stormwater management, traffic reduction, cut-through management, open space preservation, neighborhood integrity, & schools.

· The proposed K-1 Center runs counter to the Township’s vision: “Middletown will be a safe, connected and resilient township that values a family‐oriented community, neighborhood integrity, and responsible growth.”

· The proposed K-1 Center fails to support the Township’s stated objective: “Encourage compatible land use, redevelopment, and revitalization that will protect the stability & enhance the character of mature neighborhoods” & is in opposition to the expressed action item: “Encourage a continued dialogue with residents regarding traffic, cut‐through traffic, and speed in residential neighborhoods to protect the safety of pedestrian mobility.”

The Township's Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan

· The Township promotes environmental stewardship through recycling, carbon-reduction efforts, and Environmental Advisory Committee activities, such as education of the harmful effects of artificial lights and the planting of native trees to support watershed health and climate resilience. As a designated Bird Town, the Township encourages healthy wildlife habitats. Clearing woods (which absorb carbon dioxide, offset climate change, and prevent soil erosion), lighting fields, and replacing grass with plastic is not protective and does not match these goals.

· School board members campaigned on supporting neighborhood schools, yet this regional school proposes to place a large, institutional building in a quiet, residential area going against everything the Township publicly proclaims to provide, protect, and preserve

· The board states that a primary location focus is on “new residential developments.” However, the Rose Tree parcel is in an established neighborhood. The proposal does not integrate with the community’s character or infrastructure. The site is not walkable, there are no sidewalks & no street lights.