Evans Elementary School is still being considered for consolidation or closure, despite Mayor Randy Brown’s insistence the school will remain open.
According to superintendent of schools John Scavelli, the first mention of possibly closing an elementary school began in 2011.
“The school district was experiencing a significant budget shortfall and the closing of a school building was on the list of cost-cutting options to consider,” Scavelli said. “Since that time, the school district embarked on a strategic planning process, goals 2017. The strategic plan was finalized last year and many of the objectives have been implemented during the current school year.
“One of the objectives calls for the school district to form a committee to study the issue of declining enrollment and examine possible strategies to address the situation. Currently, this com-mittee has met twice and is scheduled to meet again in November.”
According to Scavelli, the committee is currently examining two main possibilities, elementary school consolidation and closing one of the elementary schools and participation in the Interdistrict Public School Choice Program.“The committee is comprised of board of education members, school employees, parents, and other community members,” Scavelli said.
According to school board President Sandy Student, Interdistrict Public School Choice Program is a program where kids in other towns can go to Evesham, another revenue source for the district.
“To the best of my knowledge, the program has not been implemented in a school district this size,” Student said.
According to Scavelli, it is anticipated that the committee will finalize a review of the information over the next two months.
Brown made it a point to dispel the rumors at last week’s council meeting.
According to deputy manager Monica Vandenberg, Brown wanted to address the continued rumor, once and for all, regarding the closing of Evans school.
“He emphatically stated, the school will not be closing. He added that Evesham Township is growing, not downsizing,therefore why would we consider closing a school?” Vandenberg said.
Brown said he plans to attend the next school board meeting to reiterate the same message, according to Vandenberg.
Brown couldn’t be reached for comment.
The next step for the district would be the board of education’s review of the information and to decide the possibilities “they would approve for implementation,” Scavelli said, regarding the strategic planning process.
The considerations are made as discussion of the budget begins, according to Student, which isn’t expected to begin until January.
“It’s an idea that’s being explored that’s not going one way or the other,” Student said. “It’s not a done deal. People heard it as being floated so there’s a great brouhaha, but it doesn’t mean it is a reality.”
The idea of consolidation can be attributed to declining enrollment; a trend the district has been experiencing for approximately a decade.
According to Scavelli, district hit its peak enrollment during the 2002–2003 school year.
“Since that time, student enrollment has steadily decreased. The overall drop in the number of students attending our schools today is 741 less than what it was more than 10 years ago,” Scavelli said. “The reason for this decline is simply due to the fact that there are less children being born in the community than in the past.”
According to Scavelli, a third-party professional firm conducted a demographic study in 2011,which was updated in 2012 and will be updated annually to predict enrollment numbers. The firm takes Evesham Township birth data from the state Department of Health as well as historical student enrollment trends into consideration.
“The demographic study also considers any housing developments that are planned for construction,” Scavelli said, which is currently being considered by township officials. “The 2012 demographic study already added potential students from the new housing that is currently under construction or permitted for construction.
“Even with the additional students, our overall student enrollment is projected to drop another 269 students by the 2017–2018 school year.
”The total decline in enrollment by 2017–2018 would be 1,010 students,” Scavelli said.
No decisions have been made regarding the school, but other district-owned properties have yet to be taken into consideration for additional revenue, Student said, including the district building on Maple Avenue.
“It’s been suggested the district close the admin building on Maple,” Student said. “There have also been appraisals sent out for property owned by the administration, including one sitting vacant on Route 73.”
According to Student, it has been suggested to look into new health insurance in addition to salaries and benefits, which makeup 80 percent of budget. The district is “out to bids now for health insurance,” Student said.
“The school district will hold public informational meetings regarding all budget issues, as we do each year to keep the community fully informed,” Scavelli said.
The next board of education meeting is scheduled for Thurs-day, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m. at the municipal building
