The board welcomed two new members as they figured out ways to tackle the declining enrollment
By KRYSTAL NURSE
The Sun
At its Jan. 3 meeting, Clearview Regional’s board of education approved accepting more tuition students, due in part to declining enrollment and budget cuts.
Clearview currently has 10 students whose parents pay $7,000 per year to attend the schools, and Business Administrator Esther Pennell said the rate is to remain the same for the 2019–2020 year, and to eliminate the 10-student cap.
“We never had a cap until a couple of years ago, and we decided we were going to put it at 10,” said Pennell. “I was thinking of just removing it. We have plenty of seats right now. Several years ago, that was not the case.”
Superintendent John Horchak said the district’s enrollment declined by 250 students over the past couple of years.
In comparison to some area schools, Clearview’s tuition rate is on the low end.
“For example, Gloucester Catholic for the senior high school, it’s actually a little low at $9,775,” said Pennell. “Pitman is our next-door neighbor, and they probably receive the most kids out of the area. Their tuition is $4,000 at this point in time. Our budgeted cost to educate our pupils this year is $13,850.”
Newly sworn in board member Scott Muscarella inquired why Clearview was higher than Pitman. Both Pennell and Horchak stated the AP, Advanced Placement, courses offered at the high school, level of expertise in the teachers, athletics and other extracurricular activities give the board the ability to charge $7,000 to out-of-district students.
Following the meeting, Pennell clarified the district is seeking parent-paid students (the term Clearview uses to describe tuition students) to help in recapturing the roughly $1.8 million projected loss in state aid.
“We lost $93,000 of state aid this year and we anticipate we’ll lose another $142,000 on top of that next year,” said Pennell. “Over the next seven years, Clearview will lose $1.8 million if enrollment doesn’t pick up. In an effort to assist with that, we’re targeting outside the Clearview community and we’re going to try and bring in additional students.”
She added the board reviews the elementary districts — Harrison and Mantua townships — every year, and the second-grade class is roughly 100 fewer, which will affect Clearview come the time they enter their district.
Pennell stated the board will notify surrounding communities for prospective out-of-district families about a February information night at the high school.
In other news, Muscarella, of Harrison Township, and Lisa M. Nole, of Mantua Township, were sworn in to begin their three-year terms on the board of education. Sherry Mongiovi-Dvorak, who was voted in from Harrison Township, notified the board she’s resigning.
The next board of education meeting will be on Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. in the Administration Building.
