At the Wednesday, May 10 joint Board of Education meeting and Spring Sports Recognition ceremony, the board and Palmyra’s educators discussed the achievements of Palmyra’s current students as well as one particularly notable graduate.
Palmyra’s Board of Education adopted the 2017–2018 budget unanimously and without any questions at the Wednesday, May 10 meeting in Charles Street School. The total 2017–2018 budget is $18.01 million, with $10.22 million to be raised through taxation.
The average Palmyra home valued at $147,605 will see a school tax increase of approximately $101 per year, and the tax rate per $100 of assessed home value will rise by 7 cents.
Wednesday’s meeting was held in conjunction with the district’s Spring Sports Recognition ceremony. Before adopting the budget, the board was treated to performances from Charles Street School students, and in return, students from all of Palmyra’s schools were recognized in front of the board, their parents and Palmyra’s educators.
The night opened with a performance by the Charles Street Trio consisting of elementary students Roman Pallotto, M’Kai Williams and William Weaver who played their brass instruments for those in attendance. A solo singing performance by Charles Street student Kiyomi Okazaki followed.
Following the musical performances, the night’s recognitions began with sixth-grade teacher Amanda Ehret congratulating the 12 Charles Street sixth graders who participated in the Perennial Math Competition at Rowan College at Burlington County on April 22. She said the experience showed the students there are a multitude of ways to be competitive.
“You can compete not just athletically but in academics as well,” Ehret said.
Palmyra High School’s spring sports teams also received their accolades Wednesday night with athletic director Mike Papenberg congratulating the high school’s spring track, softball, baseball and boys tennis teams.
School board President Nancy Brett made note that a number of Palmyra High School’s athletes participate in multiple spring sports, which is unusual at larger schools.
“It’s only in Palmyra that happens, so congratulations on your athletic ability in all the sports that you play here at Palmyra,” Brett said.
Following the sports recognitions, the board discussed how to recognize a Palmyra High School graduate in the 2017–2018 budget. Superintendent Brian McBride encouraged the members of the board and public in attendance at Wednesday’s meeting to attend the events related to Dr. Clarence B. Jones’ visit to Palmyra on June 6 and 7.
Jones will return to Palmyra for the first time since his graduation in 1949 for a two-day event that starts on June 6 with the dedication of the “Dr. Clarence B. Jones Institute for Social Advocacy” followed by a fundraising dinner. On June 7, Jones will lead a roundtable discussion titled “Realization of the Dream: Reviving Peace, Love, Unity, Compassion and Prosperity in our Community in 2017.”
The board approved a transfer of $7,000 from the district’s general fund to the student activity fund to cover expenses related to Jones’ visit. Any funds that remain unused will be returned to the general fund at the end of the year.
The goal is to beautify the library and some of Palmyra’s exterior in anticipation of Jones’ visit. Jones is being recognized by the school for his work with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as his attorney and speechwriter.
Also, included within the 2017–2018 budget is $293,645 to go directly to a capital reserve fund for architectural design planning for future updates and upgrades to existing facilities. Several members of the board discussed having met with an architect. The district is taking the architects’ suggestions for improvements to the facilities under advisement.
The board’s next meeting will be in a month on June 14 at 7 p.m. in the Delaware Avenue School.
