The Cherry Hill Board of Education approved its 2023-’24 budget at an April 25 meeting where it continued a conversation about the use of funds to apply for ROD grants for preschool expansion and whether it has the capital reserves to do so.
The five ROD (Regular Operating District) grants the district is applying for include one for main-entrance enhancements at the Lewis Administration Building, an Emergency Notification System installed at all 19 district schools, both bathroom and preschool classroom additions at Malberg Early Childhood Center and preschool classroom additions at Kilmer Elementary School.
The total local share if the grants are approved would be $12 million.
Though several residents and board member Kim Gallagher weighed the need for the grants compared with the funds needed to support them, Business Administrator Lynn Shugars explained why she will recommend moving forward on the issue.
“It’s not often these opportunities come about, and if we had not passed the bond referendum, I would absolutely not recommend this at all, because we would have more pressing issues that we would be dealing with in terms of maintaining our current buildings,” she explained.
“But since we sold the bonds in December and were able to put them in an interest-bearing account, we are required to take anything that’s earned to offset the debt service as well.”
This year’s budget will include an additional special education class at Beck Middle School, an additional ESL teacher, three new math coaches, a special-education colleague teacher, a math/science supervisor, contractual change in health benefits and a shift in the preschool from half to full day.
In other news, the board recognized a number of athletes for their achievements during the winter sports season:
- Ari Tyson from Cherry Hill West girls wrestling, NJSIAA State champion and South Jersey Region champion
- Maya Hemo from Cherry Hill East girls wrestling, NJSIAA State runner-up and South Region champion
- Carusi Middle School cheer team, Spirit Extreme Nationals champion
- East boys swim team, NJSIAA Group A South Section and Pacific Division champion
- West boys swim team, SJISL Ocean Division champion
- East girls swim team, NJSIAA Group A state champion
- West girls swim team SJISL Mediterranean Division champion
The next board of education meeting is Tuesday, May 9.
