The tuition enrollment program has been a thriving success in Haddonfield’s public schools, reported board member Joe Ehrhardt at the Thursday, Nov. 15 Board of Education meeting.
“It’s first come, first serve on a selected basis,” Ehrhardt said.
This year, there is an average of 3.2 percent tuition students in grades six through 12.
The freshman class has seen the highest number of tuition enrollment, with 7.5 percent of students from out of the district, he said.
Based on interest observed at the recent open house, it is possible that the freshman class will have to be closed out due to an influx of applicants, as it was this year.
Potential applicants to the program are interviewed by administration to make sure they are a good fit for the district and can succeed in the placement.
A $500 deposit is required to hold the student’s spot, he said.
The program has been around for several years, Ehrhardt said, and it has seen success in its participants thus far.
After Sandy
Superintendent Dr. Richard Perry discussed the aftermath of Sandy in his regular report.
One of the three days missed following the storm was built into the calendar.
Tuesday, Feb. 19 was a professional development day, but classes will now be in session, he said.
The Monday after Easter, April 1, was originally to be part of spring break, but will now also be a student day.
The district, he said, was in much better shape than many schools across the state.
In preparation for Sandy, several conference calls were made with town officials and planning was conducted.
“We didn’t know what this was going to bring but we tried to prepare as best we could,” said Perry.
A fundraiser, the Help and Hope concert, was to be held by the district in conjunction with the borough last Sunday for victims of the hurricane in the high school auditorium.
Radnor Field?
Gene Haag of Cedar Avenue raised a concern that Radnor Field would be included in the Bancroft referendum during public comment.
“No one on this board supports doing anything with Radnor related with Bancroft in any respect,” said Board Vice President Glenn Moramarco, and it is in no board member’s contemplation.
Present board members unanimously agreed with Moramarco’s sentiments.
President Steve Weinstein was absent from the meeting.
QSAC process
The Quality Single Accountability Continuum (QSAC) and District Performance Review (DPR) for the school year were approved at the meeting.
According to Perry, the district approved the first phase of the QSAC process and self-evaluation as an administration team.
The district will then submit that to the county. The county will subsequently visit the schools in February and grade the district. From that point, they will match the score with the self-assessment.
“This is the state’s process in terms of monitoring of school districts,” said Perry.
The process is conducted once every three years.
Currently, Haddonfield is rated as a rewards district, which is the highest level possible in the state.
Auditorium improvements
The Lights, Camera, Action committee has been revamping the high school auditorium since this summer, said Perry.
A sound system was installed, painting is complete and the stage has been finished, varnished and painted black.
While painting, the curtains had to be taken down and need to be replaced.
The board approved new draperies to be installed at the cost of $34,423. The draperies were funded through capital reserves.
When the curtains are installed, sound panels will replace the curtains over the windows, which will enhance the sound system even more, said Perry.
The committee is still advising and fundraising, and replacing the auditorium’s seats has the potential to be in next year’s budget, he said.
Next meeting
There will be a special Board of Education meeting held on Tuesday, Nov. 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the high school library to discuss the wording of the Bancroft referendum.
Currently, said Perry, the bond council has been working on drafting the wording for approval.
There will be other agenda items discussed as well.
