As the New Year comes and we look toward what 2016 may have in store, it is important to take a look back at the year that was.
Last year was a busy one for the township of Shamong. From the action-packed school year to the numerous significant events handled by township committee, there is plenty on which to reflect.
Shamong Township talks cemetery plans
A township expenditure listed was the purchasing of land for the township for $223,000. The land — located on Willow Grove Road between the municipal building and the Indian Mills Volunteer Fire Station — is intended to become the site of the new cemetery the township is looking to install as a new means of income. The 7.5 acres was acquired solely with the township’s funds, so there are no restrictions or ties on it.
“If for any reason the cemetery option doesn’t work out, it will just be a piece of property that the township owns as an asset and can be put to other use, held for future committees to decide or even sold back on the market if need be,” Township solicitor Douglas Heinold said previously.
Addison Bradley gave an update on the cemetery initiative in July. A subcommittee had been created; it has reviewed a certificate of authority; and it was working on submitting one to the state board for review.
Bradley said the proposed name would be “Pinelands Memorial Park, a Country Cemetery.”
The committee unanimously approved to submit applications required to apply for a cemetery in September.
Shamong township and school districts increase taxes
In April, township committee anticipated a two-cent increase in the local purpose tax, meaning Shamong residents living in the average assessed home of just less than $308,000 will pay an extra $61.60 in annual municipal taxes. In total,Township Administrator Susan Onorato said the average Shamong homeowner would pay about $250 more in property taxes this year, when considering municipal and school tax increases. The K-8 school district’s budget included a $120.95 average increase, while the Lenape Regional High School District’s budget included a $62.94 average increase.
While the committee was not thrilled about the increase, members were happy to keep it to about half of last year’s $510 increase.
The township did provide some good news at the meeting, notifying residents it had received a $220,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation to repair Oak Shade Road and a $150,000 Burlington County Municipal Park Grant, which the committee plans to put toward the repaving of the tennis courts at Dingletown and also the tennis and basketball courts at Stony Creek.
The large increase from the K-8 district is in large part due to the unauthorized early retirement plan from more than a decade ago, according to Business Administrator/Board Secretary Marie Goodwin. This issue surfaced about a year ago when the state Division of Pensions and Benefits, which oversees all pensions and benefits for public employees, argued that Shamong’s early retirement benefits program was never properly approved by the state, and therefore the district now owes the state money. Without this penalty, the tax rate increase would have been less than 1 percent for this year, officials said.
The K-8 budget continues all programs, including athletic and extracurricular activities. It also supports increases in technology.
Winter storm Jonas hits Shamong
Winter storm Jonas was a record-setting one that caused many regions much distress and was responsible for 60 storm-related deaths nationwide.
At least 14 states received more than a foot of snow. It was the single biggest snowstorm on record for at least six locations in four states — New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Shamong recorded about two feet of snowfall.
Luckily, John Lyons, the Pinelands Community Emergency Response Team management leader, put together an impromptu emergency operations center with various radio communications to keep in touch with the county, public works, the fire company and neighboring town Tabernacle for the entire weekend.
As far as Shamong is concerned, there were no power outages or damage reported.
Lyons also started the official Shamong Township Office of Emergency Management Facebook page in January, a vehicle of communication created just in time for the storm.
There were more than 300 people following the page in the first few days. The page reached more than 2,700 people through the posts put out during the storm.
One thing Lyons plans to push to residents through these vehicles of communication is the Swift 911 Alert System that went live in mid-January. The system replaced Code Red and is used by Burlington County and towns throughout the county to create voice calls, emails and text messages for emergency notifications.
All residents who haven’t already registered with Swift 911 are encouraged to follow the instructions listed on the township webpage regarding how to register for Shamong alerts. Those without Internet access will be able to sign up via telephone by calling the township office at (609) 268–2377.
Forest fires affect Wharton State Forest
According to the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, the Phillips Bridge wildfire consumed 113 acres by nightfall.
Firefighters spent the day trying to control the blaze as helicopters took water from Atsion Lake to douse the flames.
On Nov. 22, a fire at Wharton State Forest burned more than 200 acres on the southwest side of Route 206. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service, along with the Waterford Fire Department and the New Jersey State Park Police, worked to contain the fire. The fire was under control by Nov. 23.
There were no injuries, and no structures or roadways affected by the fire.
The Pine Barrens is specifically susceptible to fast growing forest fires because of vegetation growing underneath the pine trees. The Pinelands contain shrubs that can catch fire and spread the blaze faster than it typically does in most areas.
Shamong Township general happenings
• At the first township committee meeting of the year, the group experienced a changing of the guard.
Timothy Gimbel was appointed by his fellow committee members as the township’s new mayor, taking over for Kenneth Long. Michael Di Croce was also nominated by the committee to become the new deputy mayor.
Sean Gray and Michael Cooney were then sworn in as committee members for a three-year term ending on Dec. 31, 2018. Gray and Cooney will team with Committeeman Martin Mozitis to round out the new group.
• The township put into action a 10-year plan that prioritizes the roadway repairs and resurfacing needed while not breaking the bank and placing unrealistic tax burdens on Shamong residents.
Beginning around July 5, crews were out repaving and doing cement work on many of the township’s roads including Silver Lake Drive, Princeton Drive, Concord Drive, Lamplighter Drive, Cobblestone Lane and Candle Court. Despite already planning to repair more roads than last year, the township also has a running list of other roads that could use immediate maintenance.
The road program was amended to include repairs of damaged stormwater inlets.
The committee expects that this 10 Year Roadway Repair and Resurfacing Plan will help set the township on the right path to its the future.
• At the Pine Barrens Festival, an individual or group from each town is identified for outstanding volunteer service and presented with the Pine Barrens Festival Service Award. This year in Shamong, Kim Albertson and Marni Mitchell were chosen for the award.
• Township committee had a contested election with incumbents and Republicans Mayor Timothy L. Gimbel and Deputy Mayor Michael DiCroce running for the two open seats against the two write-in Democratic candidates Robert Rinaldi and Jeannette Amodeo. The two incumbents synched the win with DiCroce received 35.26 percent of the votes, and Gimbel received 35.21 percent. Rinaldi and Amodeo received 14.31 percent and 15.15 percent of the votes, respectively.
Shamong Township Schools welcomes new board secretary/administrator
On April 13, the Shamong Township Schools’ Board Administrator/Board Secretary, Marie Goodwin, accepted a board secretary position with Medford Township Public Schools.
Goodwin was thoroughly enjoying her time in Shamong and had nothing but great things to say about the district, but acknowledged the opportunity she was presented with as a perfect fit for her at this point in her accomplished career.
Goodwin would assume her new position on June 13.
After job postings and interviews, Laura Archer was unanimously approved for the position of business administrator/ board secretary for STS. She started July 1.
Working in schools since 1999, Archer held various positions in schools such as accounts payable manager, health benefits manager, accountant, controller and eventually assistant business administrator.
Archer comes from the Hopewell Valley Regional School District, where she has been assistant business administrator for two years. She has learned a lot from business administrator/board secretary Robert Colavita during her time at Hopewell Valley Regional School District and felt it was time for her to further her career.
STS looks into bond referendum
Shamong Township Schools announced it was going out for a bond referendum over the summer.
Archer said now is the best time to go out for bond, as the state will pay up to 40 percent of allowable costs associated with improvements for buildings and grounds; interest rates are historically low, and there are indications that interest rates may increase moving forward; a large chunk of the school’s debt will be paid off by May 2018; and construction costs are projected to increase.
The debt paid off by May 2018 would reduce the overall K-8 school taxes for residents starting in 2019.
The bond referendum projects are estimated to cost $5.39 million. If the bond referendum is passed, the average Shamong homeowner, with a home valued at $308,080, would pay an additional $156.47 per year in K-8 school taxes.
The numbers approved are based on a 15-year bond at a 3.2 percent target interest rate.
The school is going out for referendum to do projects that include classroom, gym and cafetorium air-conditioning for Indian Mills Memorial School; telephone, messaging, clock, PA and mass notification system upgrades for both schools; generator installation and related standby power work for both schools; parking lot, walk and curb restoration at IMMS; well pit upgrades for IMMS; upgrades and replacements of the electrical mains on the roof at Indian Mills School; and ATC upgrades to digital controls at both schools.
For a full breakdown of the projected costs, a PowerPoint is available at the school district website.
Archer said $4.3 million of the projects are eligible for state aid; projected state aid would be $1.7 million.
The vote on the bond referendum will take place at the Indian Mills Memorial School on March 14.
The new district website that launched Dec. 13 features a section of additional information on the bond referendum. How to register to vote, all PowerPoints, frequently asked questions and more on the bond referendum can be found by visiting Shamongschools.org.
Shamong Township Schools general happenings
• Indian Mills Elementary student Jonathan McAveety won the statewide New Jersey Education Association essay contest to induct a New Jersey resident into the New Jersey Hall of Fame. McAveety’s essay detailing why Dr. James Still should be inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame was selected among all of the essays sent in statewide.
Still was born in Shamong to a mother who was an escaped slave and a father who was a former slave who had purchased his freedom. Still taught himself medicine by reading books and learning from elders and Native Americans in the area. He went on to put his skills to use and became known as “the black doctor of the pines” and one of the wealthiest men in Burlington County.
Due to McAveety’s win, the district got a visit from the New Jersey Hall of Fame Mobile Museum.
• Indian Mills Memorial School held its annual winter sports banquet in February. This year’s banquet was a particularly special celebration because both the boys and girls basketball teams won the Eastern Burlington County Basketball League Championships. The girls team finished with an undefeated record. The cheerleading team also made headlines as it competed in its members’ first competition and finished second out of 31 schools. This is the first time the cheer team has competed since 2001.
• Superintendent Christine Vespe announced the school district calendar for 2016–2017 would be completely in line with the Lenape Regional High School District calendar for the first time ever upon ratification from the STEA.
For the new contract, there is a 3.25 percent increase to the money paid toward staff, allowing for raises for each step in the guide. There were health insurance changes as well, increasing co-pays from $10 to $15, but the board offered to pay for long-term disability insurance for full-time employees.
In the salary guide, a teacher entering the district with a bachelor’s degree makes just more than $50,000. On the higher end of the bachelor’s scale, which includes multiple years of experience, a teacher can make about $84,500. A teacher toward the top end of the master’s degree scale would make about $88,500.
The STAA contract is similar to the STEA contract, as it received the changes made to health benefits, including the long-term disability for full-time employees. The only difference is the STAA has a 2.75 increase over the next three years.
The contracts will run through June 30, 2019.
• The BOE will see Jeffrey S. Warner and Jeffrey Siedlecki filling the two open seats on the board, as they both ran uncontested in the November election. Siedlecki received 49.12 percent of the votes, and Warner received 50.41 percent of the votes.
• Eighth grader Shane Dunn came in first place, not only at the South Jersey Meet of Champions, but also for every race he participated in this season. It was also the first time at Indian Mills Memorial School a student came in first place at the Meet of Champions.
LRHSD upholds policy barring homeschool students from extracurricular activities
In the spring of last year, Tabernacle resident Adam Cunard and his family requested the district to allow him to try out for the Seneca High School football team, despite a policy that makes him ineligible since he does not attend a district school. Cunard and his family had reached out to the district for several few months in an effort to get the policy changed not only for himself, but other homeschooled children, and when they heard nothing, they turned to friends, the community and the media to get the word out to come to the October LRHSD BOE meeting.
Cunard and his mother Marni gave a multitude of reason they believe homeschool students should be allowed to play for the local school district, including paying taxes and social benefits. Marni said she could provide references of character and equivalent education, and how other surrounding school districts allow homeschool students to play.
LRHSD Board Policy №2630 states, “Students who are educated elsewhere than at school are not eligible to participate in LRHSD curricular (e.g. field trips), extra-curricular (e.g. clubs, band) or athletic programs or activities.”
The Cundards came to the November BOE meeting to once again plead their case.
Undeterred, board member Joseph Borucki of Evesham motioned for a vote to not change the policy. He said this is not an educational issue, but an extracurricular one, as extracurricular participation is not a right, but a privilege for LRHSD students. He said the policy is designed specifically for students to ensure a level playing field.
The board unanimously voted in favor of upholding the policy.
Seneca High School’s JROTC program earns recognition
Through its curriculum and leadership training, the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program prepares students for a three- or four-year ROTC scholarship at more than 1,000 colleges and universities.
Fortunately for Seneca High School students, their school is the only one in the Lenape regional district that offers the Air Force program.
Before participating in the JROTC Physical Fitness program, all cadets are required to complete the AFJROTC Physical Fitness Program Cadet Participation Consent Form and health screening questionnaire.
All cadets are required and expected to wear the uniform, meet grooming standards and participate in the scheduled PT activities each week. This is all in addition to the prerequisite aviation science, leadership education, and health and wellness classes.
The goal of the JROTC program is to develop citizens of character dedicated to serving their nation and community.
It was confirmed that Seneca High School’s chapter is doing a remarkable job of just that. Because of this, Seneca’s JROTC Unit NJ-20101 earned an overall unit assessment score of “exceeds standards,” the highest rating attainable during its rated unit evaluation on March 14.
Program leaders Maj. (Ret.) Sean P. Hoggs and Master Sgt. (Ret.) John Brooks were recognized for creating a dynamic and supportive learning environment coupled with an excellent community outreach.
LRHSD general happenings
• Up for re-election for the Lenape Regional High School District Board of Education were Medford Lakes representative Steve Lee, Mt. Laurel representative John Jeffers and Shamong representative Ted Shinske.
All three members ran unopposed and won their respective elections.
During its annual reorganization meeting, the board also nominated and approved the appointment of Southampton representative Linda Eckenhoff to the position of board president. Eckenhoff previously served as vice president for the past two years and will take over for Medford representative David Stow, who held the position for 2014 and 2015.
The board then nominated and approved the appointment of Mt. Laurel representative Paula Lee to vice president.
• At the Janurary LRHSD BOE meeting, it was announced Niche.com named LRHSD as №9 in the nation with the best administration for 2016. Niche.com provides K-12 and college rankings based on statistics, student and parent reviews, expert insights, state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT and ACT scores and the quality of administration and teachers.
• Students in the Lenape Regional High School District now are able to use several 3-D printers and other technologically advanced systems, in a district-wide Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math program, thanks in part to a generous grant from BAE Systems, Inc, located in Mt. Laurel.
A $7,500 grant from BAE Systems in 2015 provided the necessary funds for the printers, which students in all four schools in the LRHSD — Lenape, Shawnee, Cherokee and Seneca — are using as part of Project Lead The Way. BAE Systems donated another $7,500 to the district for the program again this year.
The Pathway to Engineering program is a highly competitive program designed to attract and retain students interested in pursuing a STEM-related post-secondary education and, ultimately, career. The Pathway to Engineering program is a four-year sequence of courses that allows students to gain STEM knowledge and learn how to solve problems. The first year is an introduction to engineering design, the third year is principles of engineering, and the fourth year is engineering design and development.
Seneca High School was in its second full year of the program.
PLTW, a non-profit organization, is the leading provider of STEM education curriculum programs in schools across the United States. PLTW works to prepare students for the global economy, one increasingly focused on high-growth and technology-driven occupations.
• In March, the Shawnee-Seneca Iron Devils won the prestigious FIRST Robotics Competition Chairman’s Award for the second year in a row. The Shawnee, Lenape and Seneca high schools’ DECA chapters won their state and regional competitions.
• Seneca High School’s Gabriella Magasic received the student volunteer service award for her school at the May LRHSD BOE meeting. Spreading the idea of volunteering throughout the community was a goal in the work of Magasic, who volunteered at the Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees in addition to work she’s done at Virtua Hospital, National Honor Society and preparing food for the homeless.
• At the beginning of the 2015–2016 school year, the Lenape Regional High School District implemented what Superintendent Carol Birnbohm described as one of the biggest changes the district had ever seen outside of new construction — a new bell schedule.
The former 42-minute-long class periods grew to 57 minutes, days were broken into six periods, and lunch was drastically redesigned to one common “community lunch and learn” period in the middle of the day.
Students now only attend each of their classes three times within a four-day rotation, meeting with different classes at different times depending on what day it is within the rotation.
According to Birnbohm, the proposed benefits of the schedule have been playing out very close to the district’s projections, with increases and improvements to instructional time, staff collaboration and overall efficiency. Birnbohm said the district has observed a reduction in lateness and an improvement to overall daily attendance.
Birnbohm said overall disruptions to classes have also decreased — a trend she said stemmed from the longer period for community lunch and learn in the middle of the school day.
• The New Jersey Association of School Business Officials honored LRHSD business administrator/board secretary James “Jim” Hager with a 2016 Distinguished Service Award.
• Director of programs and planning Matthew Webb said the 2015–2016 school year saw students score an average score of 1589 on their SAT exams. The district’s average score was greater than the state average by 81 points and greater than the average of the entire United States by 99 points.
Webb said the 1589 score was also noteworthy as data released by the College Board shows students who earn a score of 1550 or more on their SAT exams have a 65 percent likelihood of getting a B- or better GPA during their freshman year of college.
Another area of note Webb pointed out was that 85 percent of district students who took AP exams last school year earned passing scores of three, four or five, and 95.5 percent of students in the district graduated last year.
Principal Tony Cattani of Lenape High School said more than $60,000 was donated just last year by students, staff and the community in a variety of ways.
• Seneca High School mathematics teacher and department coordinator Amy Mosser earned the nationally recognized Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching, given to outstanding K-12 science and mathematics teachers from across the country, and $10,000.
Seneca High School athletics achieve great things this year
• Seneca High School created its first dance team in late 2015, and it had its first performance at the Student Council Charity Dinner.
• Last winter, pole vault was a completely foreign concept to Seneca High School junior Brittney Raffo. She had never competed in pole vault before, instead focusing on gymnastics for most of her childhood.
Raffo ended up jumping her way up the state performance lists and into the record books.
Entering the 2015–16 indoor season, Raffo set a new personal best and broke the Seneca school record at the NJSIAA Group III Relay Championships on Jan. 17 with an 11-foot vault. Raffo reached 11 feet again at the Morris County Coaches Invitational in Staten Island, N.Y., on Jan. 27.
Raffo entered the NJSIAA South Jersey Group III meet with a legitimate chance of breaking the meet record of 10-feet, 7-inches set in 2012 by Moorestown’s Alexandra Elder. Raffo eclipsed the mark on her final attempt of the meet with a 10-foot, 8-inch vault.
Raffo had a 10-foot vault two weeks later in the NJSIAA Group III Championships, qualifying her for the Meet of Champions less than a year after she picked up the sport. At the Meet of Champions, Raffo tied her personal best with an 11-foot vault. Her attempt was good enough to finish in fourth place.
For the indoor season, Raffo won the girls pole vault at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions on June 8, making a 12-foot high vault on her first attempt to clinch the win. The victory was a high point in a season where Raffo established herself as one of the best vaulters in the state.
• Earlier this year, the Seneca High School girls soccer team made it their goal to win the sectional finals, after a heartbreaking loss last season against Toms River South, 3–2.
The team achieved that goal, winning its second-ever South Jersey Group 3 title when the girls came out on top over Highland Regional High School. Highland and Seneca game went to penalty kicks with an outcome of 4–2.
• Seneca senior Mackenzie Hoffman broke the soccer season goals record in the game against Bishop Eustace Prep School and Hoffman broke the record for career goals against Winslow Township. Hoffman had 19 goals for the season and 30 career goals.
• Seneca’s girls volleyball team broke the record for the most wins in a season, 20, coming off a record of 19 last year. It also defeated the girls teams for Cherokee High School and the Eastern High School for the first time in Seneca High School history.
