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MaryEllen Neilio formerly of Gloucester City; God and Her Family Meant Everything
Charles E. Barrow Jr., Gateway HS Class of ‘85; former National Park Volunteer Fireman

Mt. Ephraim: Pre-School Tuition $3,260, Payments Will Be Due Quarterly

By Leigh Anne Hubbs

NEWS Correspondent

Last month School Board members had announced that Mount Ephraim's half- day pre-school program would cost $3,260 for the 2010-11 school year.

Decorated Paving Tower ad The tuition will be due in two increments – one before the start of school in September and the second in January after Christmas break.

Several parents, including a mother of twins, expressed concern for the cost of the pre-school program as well as the fact that the bill is only divided into two allotments during last week’s Board of Education (BOE) meeting.

Parents suggested that the tuition payments be due monthly, which would ease their burden – especially for the payment due just after Christmas.

Board members said the monthly payments would involve additional administrative costs, so to compromise they voted and approved for the tuition to be paid quarterly.

In other news, teachers have developed a Monday-Friday schedule for the next school year to replace the former, four-day rotation schedule.

Principal Michael Hunter outlined the new schedule, and said it is less confusing because specials will be on the same day each week.

Superintendent Joseph Rafferty said he wanted to empower the teachers so that they could come up with a schedule that addresses their needs.

Board Administrator Melissa Raywood happily announced that the district will save 13 percent off of their electric bill over the next two years due to the fact that 406 New Jersey school districts are now affiliated with ACES.

Rafferty said that he will move to Mary Bray Elementary School, and Mr. Hunter will move to Kershaw Middle School.

He added that this situation is in the best interest of the students for times when his presence is required outside of the district.

  The extended school year program for special education students begins June 28. The parents of a seizure-prone student asked that their son be home schooled this summer.

During the school year the student is alone on the bus with a paraprofessional, but for the summer program other students were also to be on his bus route, thus sharing the single paraprofessional.

  For this student to be home schooled, he requires a teacher with special certifications or a teacher and a paraprofessional who possesses the necessary certifications to deal with his condition. Supervisor of Special Services Kimberly Seifring explained to the couple that she is in the process of finding a candidate for the position.

School board members discussed that even though band has been discontinued, chorus remains and band lesson instruction will continue on a reduced basis while still providing beginner instruction.

Senior privilege has been granted to a student who will be an Audubon High School senior next year.

It cost the district about $12,000. Rafferty said the this is best for the student. Applicants are recommended by Audubon Superintendent Donald Borden.

Wages of the support staff, including all non-contractual employees, will be frozen from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011.

Mr. Hunter announced May's Student of the Month winners, and added that he is looking forward to continuing this recognition program in the fall: 1st grade Nathan Gale, 2nd grade Mia Lapp, 3rd grade Alison McHugh, 4th grade David Critch, 5th/6th grade Nick Salamone and 7th/8th grade Samantha Wurtz.

The next Board of Education meeting will be 7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 12, at Kershaw Middle School.

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