Freeholders OK Budgets for Special Services, Technical School

CREST HAVEN – Boards of school estimate of Cape May County Technical School and Special Services School made annual budget presentations to freeholders March 25 and both were approved.
Superintendents from both county-funded districts described their programs and needs not only to the freeholders, but to students who were sitting on the dais as part of Student Government Day.
Special Services School
Superintendent Barbara J Makoski won approval for the district’s budget of $11.9 million of which $3.97 million is county funded. That is the same amount provided by the county for the last five years, she said.
The district provides education for students with special needs whose ages range from 3 to 21. Those classified students have multiple disabilities, emotional and or behavioral disabilities, autism, preschool disabilities and severe cognitive disabilities, Makoski said.
Part of its mission statement; read by Makoski “…The district will enable each learner to realize his or her highest potential as a contributing member of society.”
“With the exception of a few students, most of our students will not be going on to college after school, so what will they do?” she asked. “When we talk about what is important for our children we talk about outcomes, practical, functional outcomes. Cane we teach them to walk, to communicate, to control emotions and behavior? To make friends? To enjoy nature? Can they find joy in building relationships? Do they have knowledge of what it takes to get and keep a job? Are they prepared for a world outside of school?”
Makoski noted that for developing children, much of that is learned from observing adults. Non-typically developing students, many of who have family problems, emotional trauma, with autism or developmental delays, do not.
“These are my students who need direct instruction in those important life, work and social skills to succeed in life, and we provide that instruction and guidance,” she continued.
The district offers direct social skills instruction, outdoor experiential education, pre-vocational and vocational programs, and community-based instruction, Makoski said. The latter include students who have completed academic requirements to graduate, but who need additional support to assure positive, post-graduation outcomes. Those students learn with the aid of a teacher and a workplace mentor. Among the worksites are Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Acme and ShopRite markets.
“Our goal as a district is to provide students with all of the skills they need to function,” she said.
“It is very difficult to estimate how many students will be attending our schools next September,” Makoski said. “We consistently receive applications throughout the year to admit students. This happens for a variety of reasons.”
She noted that a student with a moderate to severe disability may move into a district, another may be recently classified as needing special education or a student, previously school at home, may no longer find that successful.
Last year Makoski reported to the board a reduction of 12 full-time equivalents. The opposite was true this fall when two additional classrooms were opened after the start of school. The positions associated with that reopening were included in the budget, she said. The latest data available on the state Department of Education website for the district showed an average student population of 235 in the 2011-12 school year.
Class sizes are smaller than in other districts, with perhaps six to a class due to students and their needs.
While the district went to a one-principal system for Ocean Academy and Cape May County High School, “the constraints and burden of the state-mandated, new teacher evaluation system on the principal, necessitates the addition of an assistant principal position,” Makoski said.
Technical School
Superintendent Dr. Nancy Hudanich gave a PowerPoint presentation to bring the board current with district’s services to students and the community. The total base budget of $16.4 million sought, and was granted, $7.3 million from the county. It is the seventh consecutive year there has not been a levy increase, Hudanich told the board.
Total tuition from sending districts will be $5.4 million that will, when added to the county’s share, will add 34 percent of the district’s revenue package. State aid of $1.4 million and miscellaneous of $623,800 will also add to the budget.
The district plans to serve an anticipated 14 more full-time, special education students in the fall. They will boost total enrollment to 604 full-time students and 86 career technical students.
Regardless, the district is facing the reality of decreasing county population. Hudanich noted there were over 3,500 high school students in the county, with only 856 in eighth grades.
Because the district is a “choice county school,” Hudanich added, “We have to try to hold our own.”
“There is pressure on us to make sure we talk about the school in open houses. We go into every eighth grade. We take our show on the road. We show all the students, and we will go into any other venue that will invite us,” said Hudanich.
Quizzed about the district’s admission process, Hudanich replied the application is available on the district website. What is considered, she said, are grades from sixth, seventh and eighth grades, the student’s work ethic, and grade equivalency. Armed with that information, the district can make assessments of potential incoming students and make available, if needed, the summer “bridging” program that 52 took last year in preparation for the start of their high school years.
Hudanich outlined the numerous divisions in the district, including Evening and Continuing Education, which serves over 1,400 county residents with 80 classes in the fall and spring. Those classes include a variety of training from Black Seal license to dancing, wellness and irrigation technology.
Also included in the division are post-secondary courses that include licensed practical nurse, dental assisting and cosmetology.
Of the district’s $7.3 million tax levy request, $1.5 million will fund post-secondary education while $5.8 million will fund the high school portion.
“We wanted to show our district does not stop when high school stops,” said Hudanich. In July, summer school is available to all county students in need of remedial credits. For those 9-14, Summertime Adventure is held for two weeks to expose campers to the array of programs offered by the district.
In August, the bridging program is offered to at-risk students.
Also in summer, classes begin for licensed practical nurse.
“Our district is a 24-7 school district,” said Hudanich. The difference between the district and the other high schools in the county is the opportunity to be career ready on graduation.
In addition to academics, Hudanich noted technical students are required to be members of a student career technical organization. Those include health occupations, Skills USA and Future Farmers of America.