In other news, the Lenape Board of Education honored its longtime board member Bill Bisignino at its most recent board meeting.
Shamong Bond Referendum Defeated
The $4.9 million bond referendum proposed by Shamong Township Schools was defeated Tuesday by an unofficial margin of 584–438.
The school district is awaiting the official tally from the county.
The referendum, which would not have raised taxes, was aimed at completing the following projects for the district: HVAC upgrades and climate control with automatic temperature control upgrades, parking lot reconstruction, generator replacement and classroom door access controls.
According to a presentation created by the school district’s administrators, the school district will pay off $691,726 worth of debt in 2018, which is 83 percent of its current debt, or $830,426.
Had the referendum passed, it would have added $317,891 back to the $691,7260 decrease in debt. This still would have resulted in a net decrease in debt of $373,835, which would bring the average Shamong taxpayer’s annual school district debt service bill from $385.62 to $212.11, a 45 percent decrease.
Former Lenape High School football player suing district for $1 million for alleged racial bias
Kenya Williams Jr., a former student and football player at Lenape High School, is suing the Lenape Regional High School District for $1 million in damages for racial discrimination and bias Williams and his family claim Williams faced while a student at Lenape.
The civil rights lawsuit alleges Williams, an African American, and other African American members of the Lenape High School football team, were subjected to an “increasingly hostile and harassing environment” at Lenape where “taunts of a racial derogatory tone” were used against them.
The lawsuit claims Caucasian students openly called Williams and other African American students “n word” yet when the complaints were brought to the attention of the school and Lenape Athletics Department, the lawsuit claims the actions of the Caucasian students were “condoned.”
The lawsuit claims one example of the alleged racism took place on Oct. 13, 2015, when Caucasian players allegedly called several African American members of the football team “grease monkeys.”
Lenape Board of Education honors longtime board member Bill Bisignino
At its Sept. 27 meeting, the Lenape Regional High School District Board of Education honored long-serving Medford Township member Dr. Bill Bisignano Jr. for his service after tendering his resignation. Bisignano served on the board for 20 years.
BOE President Linda Eckenhoff expressed gratitude for Bisignano’s service.
“My colleagues on the board and I extend our deepest thanks to Bill for his dedication over the past 20 years. He has helped us move the district forward because of his thoughtful and collaborative approach,” Eckenhoff said.
“It has been an honor and privilege to serve on the Lenape Regional Board,” Bisignano said. “My colleagues are truly dedicated to the success of this district, which is evident through their consistent attendance and attentiveness at every board meeting and events throughout our schools.”
Bisignano, who is retiring, has resided in Medford for almost 60 years and has practiced as a dentist in the community for 47 years. He is a partner in Bisignano, Stone and Eckel Family Dentistry. He attended Temple University on a full football scholarship and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1970 with honors. He served in the Army for three years, having completed a rotating internship at Walter Reed General Hospital. He is an Eagle Scout and has spoken at the Eagle Scout Court of Honor.
