The Cape Issues Education Subcommittee met with Dr. Judith DeStefano-Anen, interim executive county superintendent, Oct. 29. The subcommittee provided a broad agenda of issues that impact education, from preschool through high school.
Throughout that agenda, three major themes motivated the subcommittee:
* State proposals on school consolidation
* Improving the quality of education provided to the county’s young by enhancing career and college readiness skills and opportunities
* Potential for reduction in the property tax burden.
School Consolidation
On consolidation, the subcommittee proposed that the county develop a case for being one of two statewide pilot programs. The option of a countywide school district is part of Senate President Steven Sweeney’s championed Path to Progress Report.
That report argued that consolidation of school districts would result in a more integrated curriculum in kindergarten to 12th-grade education, increased availability of specialized educational resources and reductions in property taxes.
Recognizing that consolidation can take many forms, the Cape Issues subcommittee expressed its support for an active study group, chaired by an appropriately experienced individual, which would lay out the issues, and a potential roadmap for consideration by county residents.
DeStefano, a state Department of Education (DOE) employee, promised to inform the subcommittee of new developments when she receives direction from the DOE. Without more direction from the DOE, DeStefano felt unable to engage with the subcommittee on the consolidation topic.
Recently, Sweeney said that application guidelines for school regionalization study grants are imminent and should be posted in December. The grants would presumably distribute the $2 million earmarked, according to Sweeney, for regionalization pilot programs. The posting of such guidelines is a potential opening for county schools to explore the potential benefits of consolidation.
Quality Improvements
The Cape Issue subcommittee expressed concern that county school districts need to improve college and career readiness. Test scores in many of the county’s districts are below state averages.
Most concerning to the subcommittee is the high numbers of students who find themselves in remedial programs at the college level, unprepared, according to the results of college testing, for the rigors of a post-secondary education.
Equally concerning to Cape Issues are the large numbers of students who appear to leave high school without the practical skills needed for success in the workplace. The lack of career readiness for many students damages both the student’s and the county’s welfare.
DeStefano raised concerns about whether the college placement exams that direct many students to remedial programs are adequate measures of college readiness. She supported more interaction between the school districts and Atlantic Cape Community College’s Cape May County campus to refine the tests.
DeStefano also said that the issue needs to be redirected, away from idealized score achievement and to a year-to-year improvement in score results, even when those results remain below some ultimately desired level.
Tax Burden
While DeStefano is not in a position to impact decisions that result in the county property tax burden, Cape Issues continues to raise the issue as an important aspect of education reform.
The school tax is among the largest components of most residential property tax bills. In most districts, it continues to rise, as the school enrollments decline.
In a county with widely disparate municipal property tax valuations, issues involved in most forms of consolidation could impact the existing distribution of the school tax burden.
Cape Issues plans a detailed presentation of its views regarding education in the county. As that presentation takes form, the public is invited to submit thoughts and suggestions to capeissues@cmcherald.com.
ED. NOTE: Cape Issues is a voluntary organization of concerned Cape May County citizens that meets regularly to discuss topics of importance to the future of the county.
Cape Issues members are committed to engaging the public to consider and support efforts that will benefit the future life of the county and provide enhanced opportunities for its citizens.
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