Budgets Approved for Special Services, Technical School Districts

CREST HAVEN – Budgets for Cape May County school districts, Technical and Special Services, were approved March 26 by both Boards of School Estimate at the freeholder caucus meeting.
Superintendents of both districts made presentations to the boat prior to approvals.
The Technical School District, with a student population about 690 (according to latest state statistics) will receive $7.3 million of its $15.6-million budget from the county.
Special Services District, with a student population of estimated 212 as of October 2013, will receive $3.97 million of its $11.6-million budget from the county. That is a decrease from October 2012 population of 270.
Technical School District
Superintendent Dr. Nancy Hudanich noted at the outset that the district’s budget “equates to no increase to the levy for the sixth consecutive year.”
A projected freshmen class of 135 is expected, and no enrollment increase is anticipated, she said. The district will receive no increase in state aid for the current year. That sum makes up 9 percent of the general fund’s revenue.
Tuition, which makes up slightly over a third of the budget, is expected to be $4.7 million, Hudanich said.
She cited the high school, which takes students from all 16 municipalities, represents 77 percent of the total levy, and 23 percent, or about $1.66 million, supports post-secondary, adult high school. Vocational and avocational programs offered to all county residents.
Due to flat funding, Hudanich said the budget does not include funds for instructional program equipment.
“Substantial savings in projected utility-electric costs continue and have been budgeted as a result of our participation in the ACES cooperative purchasing program. The increase in the capital outlay includes the withdrawal of reserve funds for necessary infrastructure maintenance including HVAC equipment and exterior doors,” Hudanich said.
Joining Hudanich was District Board President Robert Boyd and Vice President Alan Gould and Business Administrator Paula Smith.
Special Services District
“We are the experts for special education in Cape May County. We assist local districts as well as those in Atlantic and Cumberland counties in providing services they may need in their local schools,” Superintendent Barbara Makoski said.
“It would be difficult and cost prohibitive for many local districts to provide specialized services for their students,” she added.
The district also has an itinerant program for students in other districts in their home districts.
Makoski said the district also provides autism support to four county districts, as well as psychiatric and clinics for students.
“We believe Cape May County Special Services School District will continue to be recognizes as a ‘go-to’ leader in the field of special education,” she added.
The district serves students from age 3 to 21 that are classified with multiple disabilities, behavioral problems, who have pre-school cognitive issues and autism. The district operates Ocean Academy and the Cape May County High School. As a cost-saving measure, the district has eliminated one principal’s position. As a result, one person will oversee both schools pre-K to 12.
Makoski noted the district’s contract with the Cape May County Sheriff’s Department to provide a school resource officer. That partnership, she said, “has been very helpful and has provided students with role models with law enforcement officers.”
For the second year, the high school is offering community-based instruction to students who have completed their graduation requirements, but who have disabilities, until their 21st birthday. Some of them get on-the-job training at Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Acme Markets and ShopRite, Makoski said.
Such work, she noted, helps them to “transition to the real world.” That work will help them “earn a living and become young adults who contribute to our system,” Makoski said.
The budget represents a reduction of 12 full-time equivalent positions, 11 of those through attrition.
Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton asked about a $617,401 decrease in the budget.
Makoski said fewer students are expected, and that it is difficult to project in March how many students will “come through the door” in the fall.
“Sometimes we get more, but we have to be as conservative as possible,” she said.
Thornton noted there was a decrease of 2.300 school pupils, countywide
“This year we expected more, and we received less,” she said.
“I was over there a couple of weeks ago,” said Thornton. “I was very impressed when they do. Great work. You guys do terrific work over there.”
Freeholder Will Morey asked Makoski what happens to students who reach age 21.
“There is not a lot in Cape May County available in the way of sheltered workshops,” she said. There are Jersey Cape Diagnostic, Training and Opportunity Center, The Arc of Cape May County, and Easter Seals,” she added. Additionally, the district has, for years, she noted, run a program for “medically fragile adults over 21.”
Is that typical of all counties? Morey wondered.
Makoski said in more populated counties, Bergen, for instance, more services are offered. There are fewer services in more rural counties, she added, and cited Warren as another county that has few services for such individuals.
Lenora Kodytek, president of the Special Services School District Board of Education, noted a transitional program for persons aged 18-26 in Gloucester County housed at its county college.
Freeholder Kristine Gabor asked, “Should we take that model and bring all the players to the table, and put something like this together here?”
Morey said to Kodytek, “Why don’t you reactivate your proposal, get the board to look it through. You have the benefit of a new administration.”
Thornton said, while such a proposal may have been made in the past, “This is the first time I heard it brought before the board. I never heard that before today.”