Schools

Point Pleasant Beach Schools Decrease Staff

Reductions part of struggling with state-mandated 2 percent tax cap levy

At least two top Point Pleasant Beach school district positions are being lost through attrition as the district, like others across the state, struggles with a state mandate to raise the school tax no more than 2 percent.

The 2 percent cap on the school district tax levy will mean an increase of about $76 on the average home in Point Pleasant Beach, said Business Administrator Brian Savage at Monday night's budget public input session at the G. Harold Antrim Elementary School.

Developing a budget that meets educational standards while complying with the tight limit on raising taxes has been difficult, Savage said after the meeting.

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"This is the most difficult budget I've worked on in the 17 years I've been here," he said. "This meeting tonight is just for input from the community. The budget is still being worked on."

The positions lost through attrition are supervisor at G. Harold Antrim Elementary School, formerly held by Stephanie Gurgo, who retired, and high school supervisor/district supervisor of curriculum and instruction, formerly held by Terri King, said Schools Superintendent John Ravally after the meeting.

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King has been interim principal at the high school for the past five or six weeks, Ravally said.

He said the local Board of Education should decide within the month whether to make King's permanent. He said King has been working hard.

"I would love to see her in that role," he said.

By eliminating the high school supervisory position formerly held by King, the responsibility of curriculum supervision is now that of the building principals, Ravally said.

During the meeting, Joellen Arrabitto, Forman Avenue,  who said she has no children, asked if the classes can be combined to help save money.

Ravally said that would hurt the highly-individualized, quality education the students now receive.

Savage said another consequence would be a loss in revenue because fewer students from outside the district would pay tuition to attend schools in Point Pleasant Beach.

Classes usually range from 19 to 22 students in Antrim.

Kas Dyson, New Jersey Avenue, has a 14 year-old child in eighth grade and a 10-year-old child in fifth grade and told Arrabitto that the classes are really not that small.

After the meeting, Dyson said she would not want to see them get larger because she feels it would negatively impact the quality of education.

Holly Harris, a district teacher, said after the meeting that the three fifth grade classes have 20, 21 and 22 students, respectively.

During the meeting, Dyson asked if any of the field trips for Antrim students would be restored.

Ravally told her they would not be due to budget constraints.

Arrabitto also asked, "What about illegals, students who aren't American and who come to our schools?"

Ravally said school districts are not allowed to request any proof of citizenship, according to state law.

All students who enroll in the district have to prove residency, which means either owning or renting local homes, Ravally said.

The district also generates revenue through its integrated full-day preschool which combines students and special needs students and is taught by a certified teacher.

Other revenue sources include local merchants' sponsorships and donations.

Ravally said the district honors donors' requests for specific allocations, such as a donation given specifically for football, another sport or a specific extra-curricular activity.

"It's an accounting pain in the neck," he said, "but we think it's served us well because I think we get more donations that way."

Savage said the district also plans to generate more revenue by partnering with Advantage 3 (www.advantage3.com), a Maplewood, NJ-based company that uses various types of marketing techniques to help school districts and other entities raise money through corporate sponsorships.

"I'm excited about it," Savage said. "It's unique. We're not going to market with companies that are not the right fit for us, like tobacco or alcohol companies.

"Advantage 3 picked us," he said, "because we're one of the top 100 high schools in the state and companies want brand recognition."

Marketing and advertising may extend to the district's three vehicles, Savage said.

"A new state law allows us to advertise on our vehicles," he said.

The district has also included Mantoloking for the past year, with four Mantoloking students now attending the Point Pleasant Beach High School, Savage said after the meeting.

There is also a new program offering 12 adult courses such as computer instruction, pottery, art and others, to Point Pleasant Beach and Mantoloking residents.


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