The program has 69 children enrolled and a staff of four, according to Superintendent Barbara Makoski.
She recommended the discontinuation to the board Jan. 17, but it tabled the matter “for more information,” according to Makoski. Basically, she said, that meant for her to contact the state to tell it “our difficulties” and see if there could be “any other relief.”
But the issue “may come up” at a board work session at 1 p.m. today,” Makoski said.
Parents have expressed concern, but Makoski said she is “hopeful” the state Department of Health and Senior Services will contract with an agency to pick up the program.
“I have no guarantees,” she added, “but if the board decides this six months in advance, I hope for a seamless transition and no gap in service. But we won’t know until another agency picks it up.”
Freeholder Ralph E. Bakley Sr., education liaison, expressed the same hope.
“I don’t have a crystal ball,” he told this newspaper Jan. 21, “but I am in hopes, too, that no child will be shortchanged, that they will be provided with the same services.
“I will see to that,” he added.
“I’m extremely devastated,” said Meggan Conover of Green Creek whose daughter, Kylee, 2, is in the program. “It’s a part of my life. It’s a stress as it is without having no support system to help you through it.”
Her daughter has hydroencephalitis, cerebral palsy and visual impairment and three therapists visit her in her home weekly offering physical therapy, fine motor skills, and special needs.
“It would be just horrible if they did away with this,” said Pat Lutz, Kylee’s grandmother. “I care for Meggan’s daughter five days a week. I don’t think they realize how much it helps the children. Somebody has to do something about this.”
“It is a valued, excellent program the parents and staff are pleased with,” said Makoski. “We just can’t pay for it. I’m sorry it has come to this.”
A program analysis released by the district said it was costing an average of $28,672 a month and getting average monthly state reimbursement of $19,719 for a monthly deficit of $8,953, or $107,436 a year.
“I can’t make up that shortfall every year,” said Makoski.
The school district has a $12-million budget paid by tuition and the county, she said. It also has a $5 million “enterprises fund,” separate from general funds, which includes early interven-tion.
“It’s losing for us,” said Makoski, “because of our contract with employes in terms of salary and benefits. It’s higher than the state reimburses.
“If, for example, someone like ARC took it over,” she said, “it could hire a therapist and teacher at an hourly rate, maybe not pay benefits.”
That’s how it works in 19 of the 20 other counties. Only in Gloucester County do school dis-tricts provide the early intervention program, she said.
The current Early Intervention staff consists or three persons — a speech therapist has re signed — and all three would keep their jobs because of seniority.
Business Administrator Diane Bitting said there would “hopefully be no layoffs, due to attri-tion.”
The program’s expenses include: $253,050 in salaries, $66,755 in benefits, some $16,800 in mileage, $5,244 for workers comp and $2,220 for the phone.
That doesn’t include part of a supervisor’s time and half of a secretary’s time, Makoski said.
“We originally contracted for this program 25 or 30 years ago,” said Makoski, because origi-nally it was under the Department of Education. Now it is Health and Senior Services.
Some parents were upset because the school district has not told them about the proposed dis-continuation, which the district has had under consideration for four or five months.
“That’s only because we have nothing to tell at this point other than my recommendation to the board,” said Makoski. “When the board makes a decision, the parents will be contacted.”
Bakley said he, too, did not know about the proposed discontinuation until after the Jan. 17 board meeting.
Contact Zelnik at jzelnik@cmcherald.com
Fishing Creek – How dare this moderator block with a pay wall the information concerning services for the fallen HERO OFFICER DAVID DOUGLASS .Disheartening. Rethink who ever you are!