Seneca High School got a chance to show off its accomplishments at last week’s Lenape Regional High School District Board of Education meeting.
Principal Jeff Spector gave a presentation to the board, recapping the school’s 2012–13 year and honoring various groups for their efforts.
The biggest noteworthy event was when Seneca hosted the New Jersey Commissioner of Education. Aspiring cooks and culinary students made lunch for the Commissioner. Spector said that he was very impressed with how the event turned out.
“It really was a good afternoon because it was a good way to show him all the things we do,” he said.
The biggest fundraiser for Seneca was a “Walk Under the Stars” event in which students did laps around the school’s track late at night to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The school ended up raising $26,105.
One student was on hand to be specifically honored by the board. Nate Foulk became the first student in Seneca’s history to receive a perfect score on the National Latin exam. Spector also noted that Foulk will receive an Eagle Scout award in the near future as well.
In Other News:
- The Lenape District completed its Chris Herren assemblies two weeks ago, with Shawnee and Seneca High School hosting him in the first week of December.
Superintendent Carol Birnbohm spoke about the incredibly positive reaction that students from the district had to Herren’s assemblies.
The board was prepared a packet with reaction and photos from students who were moved by Herren’s speech. She said that many students took to Twitter following the assemblies with their reaction and want to further
“There’s a photo of a wall in one of the schools with purple squares,” Birnbohm said. “Those are all students who pledged their allegiance to Project Purple.”
The assemblies didn’t just touch students, according to Birnbohm, but it touched Herren as well. He used a story that was shared by another student in the district at his final presentations at Seneca.
Birnbohm said that yet another student took a message outside of the drug and alcohol theme and said that Herren also spoke about not judging others and treating everyone fairly, tying in with the district’s Deft the Issue message.
- The Board of Education approved a donation made by the Seneca Class of 2013. The donation, worth $1,200, will pay for lighting for the armed services monument and flagpole.
- The Board of Education reviewed and approved the district’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the 2012–13 fiscal year at their meeting last week.
The report, which was prepared by Kevin Frenia of Holman Frenia Allison, revealed that all is in order with the district’s finances as has been the case in past year.
“Our surplus is under the limit,” Business Administrator James Hager said.
The school district’s fund balance decreased from the beginning of the 2013 fiscal year. The district began that year with a balance of $11,268,155 in July of 2012 and finished the year with $10,255,594 in June of 2013.
- The Board of Education will hold its reorganization meeting on Jan. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at the district’s building in Shamong.
