CAPE MAY — Following the resignation of Business Administrator Terri Nowotony effective Sept. 15, Cape May Elementary School Board of Education is seeking to share a new business administrator with Sea Isle City Elementary School.
Executive County Superintendent Terrence Crowley attended a special training session of the Cape May school board Aug. 27.
Cape May Elementary School Superintendent Victoria Zelenak said the school was seeking to share a new business administrator with another school district as an interlocal agreement. She said she sent letters to all the business administrators in the county seeking a shared service agreement but she did not receive any positive responses.
Zelenak said she and Crowley met with administrators from the Sea Isle City School District last week, which is seeking a business administrator one-and-half-days per week. Cape May would have the administrator three-and-one-half days per week.
Sea Isle’s Business Administrator Earl Vassallo is leaving in four weeks.
Zelenak said Sea Isle was interested in a shared services agreement. Both schools are facing challenges with declining student populations.
Cape May Board of Education passed a motion endorsing investigating an interlocal agreement with Sea Isle City Elementary School.
Zelenak said a less experienced applicant could hold a certificate of eligibility after receiving their degree and be mentored for one year and take additional courses to receive a Standard Business Administrator Certificate.
She said she interviewed three persons who had certificates of eligibility.
Nowotony, who will serve as business administrator at Atlantic County Special Services School District, has offered to be mentor to a new business administrator, she said.
Crowley said he would contact retired business administrators to see if they were interested in the position. He said they would have experience and knowledge of operations.
For a retired business administrator, they must leave the pension system if the position continued past two years. They may continue at a different school district after two years, said Crowley.
A retired person would not require health benefits, he said. There are several options for a contract such as an independent contractor agreement.
A business administrator could be paid just for days worked from the school’s general fund, said Crowley. He said an administrator could also have a contract and become an employee of the school district.
He suggested Cape May Elementary School hire the business administrator and “sell that service to another district.”
Crowley said the Sea Isle City and Cape May schools use the same accounting system, which was a “huge” plus.
He said the state, which is pushing for regionalization of districts, wants to see shared service agreements among schools.
Nowotony’s workweek was reduced to four days per week, two
years ago. The new position would cover three-and-one-half days per week.
Crowley suggested the position be evaluated to see if the needs have changed and if any unnecessary work could be eliminated.
Zelenak said Cape May Elementary would need an interim business administrator as of Sept. 15.
A vacancy is opening on the Cape May Elementary school board. The board will interview applicants and appoint a person to fill an unexpired term ending in April 2009.
Applicants must be a Cape May resident and a registered voter.
