Monmouth Beach School Images …

by Greg Kelly · Published April 20, 2024 · Updated September 3, 2024

Learning at the beach …

The Monmouth Beach Public School first opened its doors to students and teachers in October 1909. The educational facility has gone through some monumental changes — both people and place — in the ensuing century-plus. Presented here are some distinctive Monmouth Beach School images from various times, places and sources. As of today, Yelena Horré is the Superintendent/Principal and Karen Dolan is the board of education president.

The place is on my mind because June 1974 marks the 50th anniversary of my graduation from the Monmouth Beach School. Talk about ancient history — the year I earned my diploma the 1973-74 school budget was $374,000. Today, the annual education bill tops $6.5 million.

• Monmouth Beach School History — HERE

Our Ivy League — Monmouth Beach School on Griffin Street, 1955. For the 2024-25 school year the annual education budget is $6.7 million spent on 218 students. About $4 million goes to teacher salaries and $1.2 million more for their health benefits. The school will spend about $120,000 on substitutes. The school lost $355,000 in federal funds and the state is stingy to Monmouth Beach as well, providing only about $250,000 for its annual contribution — MORE INFO.

Fast Times — Ice boaters on Manahasset Creek, 1930s. Note the school in background. In February 1908, Elisha Price, a member at the nearby Long Branch Ice Boat & Yacht Club, set a world record for speed of 140 mph. At the time no human had ever traveled faster, according to the Shore Press.

Walk-to Learning — The “Neighborhood School,” 2018 (Frank Snead Photo).

Look Out — The borough school and park on Griffin Street aerial image, May 2018 (Frank Snead Photo).

Land of Discovery — Monmouth Beach School, 1940s. The launch pad for many good and decent people.

From the Top — Monmouth Beach school aerial image, June 2021 (Dave Booth Photo).

The Cost of Education — Monmouth Beach School annual education expenditures through the years’ have been (rounded figures): $3,000 in 1909-10 • $8,500 in 1926-27 • $12,000 in 1930-31 • $8,800 in 1942-43 • $49,900 in 1953-54 • $73,500 in 1957-58 • $151,100 in 1965-66 • $291,500 in 1971-72 • $409,000 in 1974-75 • $553,200 in 1977-78 • $973,600 in 1983-84 • $1.1 million in 1987-88 • $1.9 million in 1991-92 • $2.3 million 1996-97 • $3.2 million in 2004-05 • $4.3 million in 2008-09 • $4.7 million in 2015-16 • $5.4 million in 2020-21 • $6.2 million in 2022-23 • $6.7 million in 2024-25.

Missing Person — Monmouth Beach School, 1950s. On Christmas Eve 1926, George Carhart, the school’s 65-year-old janitor, mysteriously disappeared. His body was recovered from the Shrewsbury River four months later. His son, William — was quite the civic-minded fellow — serving in the US Navy in WW I and later as borough mayor, commissioner, clerk and school board president. A NYC native and Warton School of Finance grad, he died in March 1964.

Open Up — New Monmouth Beach School dedication, Red Bank Daily Register, March 1976.

Color-Coordinated — Monmouth Beach School, 1950s (Dawn Rise Photo). According to the Long Branch Daily Record, the February 1909 vote to buy the “old Cook lot” on Griffin Street for a new borough school was approved by just 3 votes out of 150 cast.

Look of Learning — New Monmouth Beach School sketch proposal, 1973. Robert E. Cook was the architect. The $1.5 million school opened in 1976.

In the beginning — A Long Branch Daily Record front-page story on the first ever graduation at the Monmouth Beach School held in June 1911. Nine students got diplomas.

Monmouth Beach School, 1970s. Philadelphia architect Clyde S. Adams designed the redbrick, four-classroom schoolhouse (it’s a Georgian-revival pattern).

’70s Schooling — Portable classrooms installed at Monmouth Beach School, 1972.

Monmouth Beach School after new construction, 1975.

Down in Flames — A newspaper report about the first ever vote to build a school in Monmouth Beach, Long Branch Daily Record, July 1906. Although potential students (78) outnumbered voters (48), the $20,000 project was easily rejected.

Snow Day — MB School area surrounded by the elements, 1970s.

Monmouth Beach School basketball team, 1950s.

“Dandy Andy” — Mayor David Stickle (l) presents Andrew Cancalosi a “Key to the City” award and borough proclamation with his beloved daughters (Judy and Laurie) by his side at borough hall, July 2022 (Jack Flaherty Photo). Recognized for “exemplifying the very spirit of volunteerism and community service,” Andy was the longest serving president of the Monmouth Beach School Board Education at 18 years. First elected to the board in 1965 and its leader by 1970, Andy used all his considerable energy, smarts and good humor to advance the cause of modern education for the town (messy but necessary work in 1970s Monmouth Beach). All his efforts mattered when a new $1.5 million school opened in 1976. He retired from the board in 1989. Andy was a US Army veteran and also served over 50 years with the borough’s Shade Tree Commission and Fire Company. Starting in 1959, Andy was a top advertising account executive for the Asbury Park Press. Born in Jersey City, Andy passed away in March 2023. His loving wife, Grace, died in March 2000.

Old School — Teachers Eleanor Van Note and Alice Johnson, 1972. Combined the two ladies taught for over 75 years at the Monmouth Beach School.

“Fire Hazard” — MB School on Griffin Street, 1974. By this time, school officials considered the 65-year-old building potentially dangerous. It was demolished in April 1982.

Still Picturesque — Monmouth Beach School, 1981. For the 2022-23 school year, the proposed per-pupil spending cost is about $22,500. Enrollment is about 260.

Innocence Gone Forever — The venerable Monmouth Beach School is torn down, April 1982. C.A. Lertch Wrecking Company of Wall Twp. performed the sad duty.

Eager Minds — Fire Prevention Month and borough firefighters at the school, October 2022.

MB School teachers (from left) Alice Johnson, Eleanor Van Note and Helen Kittell at Borough Hall, 1940s.

“Ground-Breaking” — Mayor Sidney Johnson (l) and Board President Andrew Cancalosi (r) commemorate the start of a new $1.5 million Monmouth Beach School, 1975.

In the beginning — fighting learning in Monmouth Beach. APP, March 1909.

Good-bye Monmouth Beach School — Asbury Park Press, April 1982.

Monmouth Beach PBA members — sponsors of the annual Field Day & BBQ held at the MB School on Griffin Street, June 2022.

Testimonial dinner for MB School teacher Alice Johnson (second from right), 1950. Mrs. Johnson graduated Chattle High School in Long Branch in 1907. She began her Monmouth Beach teaching duties in 1921.

MB School Class of 1972.

Monmouth Beach School on Griffin Street, 1970s. It took four tries before borough voters approved a new school and the land to build it on. Finally in February 1909 voters closed the deal and approved (76-73) buying the property of Jesse V. Cook and building a new $14,000 school. Within nine months it was ready for students. Jesse (who passed away in 1924) left a solid legacy too. His son (Frederick) and grandson (Clarence) both went on to serve as school board members. They were town leaders as well. Fred, a school board president and fire company charter member, died in 1956. Clarence, a borough commissioner and clerk, died in 1979.

MB School Flag Day ceremony, June 1966.

MB School “tire playground,” 1980s. The seven-structure kid’s tire park opened in May 1979. Built by 100 volunteers and $2,000 raised by the school PTA.

The MB School 1st grade performs “The Three Little Pigs” on Griffin Street, June 2021.

MB School, 2010s.

MB School students perform in an outdoor play “Annie Kids,” May 2021.

MB School, 2010s.

MB School celebration. Red Bank Register, June 1969.

New MB School dedication. Red Bank Register, March 1976. The new school cost $1.4 million. The old school dated to 1909.

New MB School sketch proposal. Red Bank Register, March 1974.

Close call for education in MB. APP, March 1909.

Dedication plaque from the first MB School, 1909.

MB School teacher Eleanor Van Note reviews her last Flag Day ceremony, June 1972. Mrs. Van Note taught in MB for 47 years. A 54-year Oakhurst resident, she died in Sept. 1988 at age 86.

Gov. Chris Christie visits MB School after Hurricane Sandy repairs, June 2013.

MB School staff, 1966.

New MB School under construction, 1974.

Dedication plaque for new MB School, 1975.

MB School Yearbook, Class of 1966.

MB School report card cover, 1967-68.

“White Caps” Yearbook dedication to Jim Carr, MB School gym teacher, 1970.

Good-bye to the original MB School. APP, April 1982.

MB School cornerstone, 2018.

MB ballplayers on Racoon Island, 1974. (Dan Hennessey photo). Click photo to enlarge and find MB School students.

MB School on Griffin Street, 1969.

MB police officers after playing the MB School 8th grade, 1982.

New playground at Griffin Park, 2019.

Karen Ginty, MB School kindergarten teacher and NJ Teacher of the Year, 2006-07. Mrs. Ginty is also a recipient of the NEA Foundation’s Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence.

MB School Grade 5, 1973-74.

MB School Grade 3, 1971. Mrs. Van Dyke teacher.

MB School Grade 2, 1970-71

MB School Grade 2, 1987-88. Mrs. Dottie Hansen teacher.

MB School, 1950s.

From left: Frank Bannon, former MB School principal; Laura Bradley, MB School PTA president; and Albert Park, MB School principal, 1962.

MB School new addition seen from Griffin Street, 2019.

Flooding in front of MB School, 1971.

Dedication of Captain James R. Heimbold memorial field at Griffin Park, 1972. Across the street from the MB School of which Capt. Heimbold was a graduate.

MB School PTA past presidents, 2009.

MB School 5th grade class, 1971.

Church of the Precious Blood Catechetical Center, 1973. At the time MB School was renting the parish center for 7th and 8th graders.

MB School Halloween Parade, 1952.

Griffin Park flooding during Hurricane Sandy, 2012. Even with modest storms the water often presented a challenge for parents picking-up and dropping-off kids at the school.

Baseball field at Griffin Park, 2017.

MB School 1st grade, 1962.

MB School painting by Dr. Patti Barham Campbell, 1977.

MB School, 6th Grade, 1965.

MB School students party at Borough Hall, 1960s.

MB School PTA show, 1950s.

Flooding on Griffin Street near MB School, 2018.

MB School on Griffin Street, 1950s.

MB School new playground under construction, 2018.

MB School kindergarten class, 1967.

Monmouth Beach School 8th grade class, 1983.

Monmouth Beach School faculty, 2016-17.

Sunshine flooding on Griffin Street at MB School, 2018.

MB School 3rd grade class, 1967.

MB School 1st Grade, 1962.

MB School PTA show at Borough Hall, 1959.

Flooding at MB School on Griffin Street, 2018 (Frank E. Snead Photo)

Kittell’s from left, Helen, Ellen and Melton, 1901. Helen was the MB School principal from 1922-46 — when first hired to lead the school her annual salary was $1,500.