Dennis Deputy Mayor Calls Public to School Board Meeting April 27

DENNISVILLE – Dennis Township Deputy Mayor Scott Turner put out a call to the public, April 25, asking them to show up at the April 27 Dennis Township School District Board of Education meeting.
“The number one problem at the school is there is no money,” Turner said.
He said the school is using nearly all of a $1.5 million surplus to help fund the 2023-2024 budget and there is a “Separate Question” for voters to consider when voting on the budget that amounts to over $1 million.
“There is a shortfall of $2.5 million,” Turner said.
Separate Question No. 1 is $1,084,986 and includes funding for instructional programs, support services, and after-school programs, including clubs and sports. It would also determine the class sizes in grades K-5. There is also a Separate Question No. 2 asking voters to approve $266,782 for courtesy bussing services for both the district’s schools.
According to Turner, the public needs to be informed about the questions because it won’t be allowed to be funded after the question is passed.
“Whatever is in the referendum can only be funded by the referendum,” he said.
School District Chief Administrator (Superintendent) Susan Speirs, when called to respond, said she did not think it would be appropriate to comment the day before a meeting when a lot of the questions would be answered more definitively.
Turner said if the voters reject the special questions, those programs cannot be funded.
“If you vote yes on (Special Question No. 1) fall sports are cut,” Turner said.
Dennis Township Administrator and Chief Financial Officer Jessica Bishop said the fall sports affected would be basketball, soccer, and field hockey. She broke down the cost of the three sports, individually, saying they added up to about $19,920 for sports and $10,080 for clubs and after-school activities for a total of $30,000.
Committee members thought there might be individuals who would consider funding individual sports. The cost for soccer and field hockey, Bishop said, was $5,055 each.  
The Board of Education is expected to discuss the 2023-2024 budget at its next meeting, April 27, in the all-purpose room of the Dennis Township Primary School, 601 Hagan Rd., Clermont. Meetings begin with an executive session at 5:30 p.m., followed by a public session at approximately 6:15 p.m., according to the school website.