MIDDLE TOWNSHIP – The Board of Education has hired a veteran from the Millville Public Schools as the new superintendent of Cape May County’s largest school district.
Stephanie DeRose, currently assistant superintendent for grades 6 to 12 in Millville, will take over the duties in Middle Township as of July 1. She replaces the retiring David Salvo, who has been with the district since 1995 and has served as superintendent since 2014.
DeRose has been with the Millville district since 2006. She has served as a vice principal, principal and now assistant superintendent. Prior to joining the Millville schools, she was a teacher of students with disabilities at Vineland High School for five years.
She holds a bachelor’s from Rowan University and a master of education from Wilmington University. She lives in Ocean City with her husband, Quinn, and their son, Anthony.
DeRose was given a five-year contract at an initial salary of $190,000.
She will be responsible for a district of just under 2,700 students with an operating budget of $48.6 million and total revenues of $56.4 million. The budget is supported with $29 million in taxpayer levy. In Middle Township the school levy is just over 50% of the total tax bill property owners pay.
DeRose comes to Middle after the district recently lost a referendum question in which 66% of the voters said no to the district’s proposal.
Residents were asked to allow the district to bond for $26.5 million to create new pre-K classrooms at Elementary School #1 while relocating second graders to renovated space in Elementary School #2. Funds were also to be used to upgrade unit ventilators in two schools and make improvements to athletic facilities, including installing synthetic turf at Memorial Field.
A major goal in the proposed bond issue was to expand facilities to accommodate more pre-K enrollment. In an op-ed, Salvo said, “[Middle] has a waiting list of 100-plus children for its state-funded, tuition-free pre-K program. A building addition and renovations at Middle Elementary School #1 would provide the space for full-day pre-K and reduce costs for families spending $10,000-plus per year for private preschool.”
How the school district reacts to the failed referendum and which portions, if any, of the planned bond spending the BOE decides to go forward with using operating funds will be an issue in the budget formulation process this year.
DeRose expressed delight with the opportunity to lead the school district.
“Everyone has been so welcoming throughout this process, and I look forward to building strong relationships within the school community,” she said. “I am excited to lead the district in creating an environment where every student can thrive, and every staff member feels supported in shaping the future.”
Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
