Technical, Special Services Schools Have 2016-17 Budgets Approved

COURT HOUSE – An annual rite of spring, passage of county-funded schools’ 2016-17 budgets, took place March 22 during the freeholder caucus.
Stamps of approval were given by Boards of School Estimate for proposed budget of the Cape May County Technical School District and Schools for Special Services. Figures listed have been rounded for simplicity.
 The Technical School’s request was level with 2015’s request, and sought $7.6 million from the county of its $15.97-million budget.
The Schools for Special Services budget increased 0.62 percent, and asked $3.9 million from the county of its $11.9-million budget.
Technical School
Superintendent Dr. Nancy Hudanich presented the budget, joined by School Board President Robert Boyd, board member Anthony Anzelone and Business Administrator Paula Smith.
She noted that the one-time $250,000 increase last year, used to update instructional space for Property Maintenance and Management was absent from the present request. Of the request, just over $6 million, or 79 percent, was needed for the high school budget, while $1.6 million was used to support the post-secondary adult high school, vocation and avocational programs offered to all county residents.
The high school has 705 students, 594 full-time and 111 shared time. There are 64 in post-secondary career technical programs and 1,763 in additional day and evening programs for a total 2,532 residents of all ages served by the district, she said.
In the next year the district anticipates 20 additional full-time students, for a total enrollment of 620 full-time students and 101 career technical students, Hudanich said.
The majority of high school students are from Middle Township, 265, Dennis Township, 155 and Lower Township, 132. The four Five Mile Beach communities send a total of 89 students. Ocean City sends seven.
Other revenue sources include $5.9 million in tuition, $542,000 in miscellaneous and $1.4 million in state aid.
Special Services
Superintendent Barbara Makoski presented the budget, joined by board members Thomas Whittington and Jane Elwell and Business Administrator Kathleen Allen.
She said the county resolved, in March 1974 to establish the district to care for special needs children. In its early stages, it was housed in the former Shelton College, West Cape May Fire Hall and other sites. In 1980, ground was broken for a permanent home, through joint efforts of the freeholders, school board, and first superintendent George Bailey.
Makoski said the federal government did not enact the Education of Handicapped Children Act, later IDEA, until 1975, adding that the county had been ahead of the curve in providing services to that population.
The district serves pre-K to grade 8 in Ocean Academy, and Cape May County High School for older students.
“We have more students with autism and increased numbers of students with behaviors that inhibit their ability to be educated with non-disabled peers,” Makoski told the board. Because of that, the district has contracted with an autism consultant to work with staff and students with autism.
“In more recent years with the focus on including students with disabilities in the regular education environment, our population has changed and the students who are coming to us are fewer in number, but with more severe disabilities,” Makoski added.
There are five classes in a behavior program between the elementary and high school, she said.
“…With the exception of a few students, most of our students will not be going on to college after school, so what is our responsibility to them? When we talk about what is important for the students we serve, we talk about outcomes, practical, functional outcomes,” she continued. Through use of the therapy pool, many students have learned to walk; through intervention speech and occupational therapists have taught others to eat independently, learn activities of daily living and speak and communicate.
At age 18 many district students have not completed their education, and need continued direct instruction to transition from school to adulthood and community life, she added.
Many who stay in the community-based instruction get jobs in local stores. “They are among your best employees,” said Makoski.