The Voorhees Township Public Schools’ board of education had its monthly meeting Feb. 26 at E.T. Hamilton Elementary School, where it discussed the district’s student safety numbers and approved an increase in long-term substitute teacher pay.
Anti-Bullying Coordinator Susan Donnelly presented figures from the district’s Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) report, representing the period from July 1 to Dec. 31 of last year. It is required by the state twice a year.
According to Donnelly, the district experienced eight HIB investigations, with only one being a confirmed case. She also reported on acts of violence and vandalism within the district over the same time period, during which Voorhees’ schools had four reported cases.
“Our numbers are significantly low compared to years in the past, which is a great responsibility of our anti-bullying specialists in all the buildings,” Donnelly noted.
Gov. Phil Murphy’s budget address was Feb. 25. Haley said the district received its state aid allocation in the days following.
According to figures provided by the state Department of Education, Voorhees Township Public Schools are to receive $5,265,788 in state aid, which is a decrease of $293,494, or 6 percent, from the previous year.
The board is now able to create its tentative budget, which will be up for preliminary adoption on March 18. If approved, it will be submitted to Camden County on March 20, according to Haley. A public hearing for final adoption will be held May 6.
Per the meeting’s agenda, the board of ed approved an addendum to the district’s contract with ESS Northeast regarding its pay rate for Discretionary Long-Term Teachers, increasing the rate for both half- and full-day substitute positions.
According to Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Diane Young, the district has had trouble filling, in particular, long-term math and science substitute teaching positions. The rate had been $150 for a full day; following approval by the board, the district now offers $250 per day for the long-term substitute position.
Young says the rate is for teaching positions expected to be open for an extended period of time, such maternity leave or medical leaves of absence.
In other news:
- Marlene Cosenza was honored for 25 years of service with township public schools, having started at E.T. Hamilton in 1994.
