Freeholders Back COMPACT School Reopening

CREST HAVEN – Hope for a rebirth of the Cape Educational COMPACT surfaced at the April 25 freeholder meeting. Freeholder Will Morey’s response to a graduate’s plea to reopen the facility was that he had met with three district school superintendents and Superintendent Barbara Makoski of the Special Services School District. 
“We have the same concerns,” said Morey regarding the closure of the school.
On March 28, Makoski reported to freeholders that enrollment was down, state grant funding ceased, and school superintendents had declined to pay increased tuition to keep it open.
Makoski gave numbers to support her statement. In 2007-08, the school’s average enrollment was 82. At present, there are 25.5 “full-time equivalent” students in COMPACT.
At present, there are 25.5 “full-time equivalent” students in COMPACT. That population is expected to be 17 in September, Makoski said.
While enrollment dropped, costs to operate the school continued as they had when there were more students.
Low teacher-to-student ratio allows for instructors to focus on individual students who cannot function well in a regular classroom environment.
In March 2016, students told the board how important the school was and urged freeholders to keep it open for others.
“You are not forgotten,” Morey said to a graduate, now enrolled at Atlantic Cape Community College. “We like that program. The success there is very good.”
In his meeting with superintendents, Morey said there was a “reimagining of the future of COMPACT.” He also said it was possible that the school could be restarted “as early as September 2018.” It is unfortunate it has closed, but the decision was made to close. We do recognize the importance of it. You are evidence, being articulate.
“We have conveyed that to the superintendents,” Morey added.
“We will do everything reasonable, to get the school to reopen,” he continued.
“We understand what you are saying. We support the COMPACT School,” said Freeholder Director Gerald Thornton.
“We intend to be active in this; active in trying to restart COMPACT for the future,” said Morey.
Since 2015 Makoski contacted all district superintendents, and the County Executive Superintendent Richard Stepura about the situation.
The deficit for this year is projected to be $220,000, said Makoski at the March meeting.
“After a year and a half of discussions, at our last meeting, I offered to keep the program open but with a tuition rate that was a true reflection of the cost. I also offered the option of having one of the four comprehensive high schools take over the program as they already have content area teachers on staff and could run the program at less cost.
“None of the comprehensive high schools was prepared to take over the program which, in September is anticipated to number 17 students after our 12th graders have graduated,” Makoski stated.
The option for superintendents is to retain the students in their district school, which could be less than sending the students to the COMPACT School.