Recovery School Seeks a Home; Planning Board Rejects Cape Assist Site

WILDWOOD ─ “If it looks like a school, smells like a school, it is a school.” Echoed by several members of the Wildwood Planning and Zoning Board, the question of a “recovery high school” found itself locked in controversy March 4.
Board members, after hearing testimony from witnesses and public comment, debated the definition of what constitutes a school. Can a “school” exist in Cape Assist’s present location according to the General Commercial Zoning District (GC)?
The question arose after Cape Assist undertook to provide a site for Coastal Preparatory High School where a limited number of students, recovering from addiction, could complete their studies.
“The GC was crafted to provide appropriate locations for a variety of neighborhood and regionally-oriented commercial facilities in order to supply goods and services to address the needs of the residents of the City of Wildwood and Greater Wildwood Area… while protecting the City’s residential neighborhoods,” reads the land-use ordinance.
Attorney Frank Corrado, representing Cape Assist, agreed on the educational aspect of the proposed program. However, Corrado argued that the board could view it as a “service.”
Cape Assist went before the board seeking relief for:
•    An interpretation of the GC defining the “recovery high school” as a service.
•    If not interpreted as a “service,” a waiver of the site plan and use variance, permitting the operation of the recovery program.
Executive Director Katie Faldetta addressed the board and residents. “We (Cape Assist) are in every school system,” she said.
Cape Assist hosts an Impact 6 program, an alternative to a student’s suspension or incarceration. According to Faldetta, when a student battles addiction, a traditional school setting can “trigger” a relapse. The chance of maintaining sobriety drops 30 percent, according to Faldetta, but increases 70 to 80 percent in the Coastal Preparatory program.
“People, places, and things are the greatest barriers to sobriety,” Faldetta said.
The program is voluntary and prospective students must pass a weekly drug test and have relationships with parents/guardians, counselor, and home school district.
In response to the question if Coastal Preparatory is a “school,” Faldetta said that the state Board of Education “does not recognize it as a school.” She compared the program to a “home-bound program.” The lessons are given virtually by computer. 
“This is the opportunity to build a peer group,” Faldetta said. Two eligible students have already been “vetted” for the program and Cape Assist knew of two more potential students.
When asked if the program was expected to grow, Faldetta answered yes.
“I don’t think it (Coastal Prep) can stay in our building,” she said. Cape Assist will look for a more centralized location.
Cape Assist is compliant with fire and zoning codes and also complies with the American Disabilities Act (ADA), according to Faldetta.
“We consider ourselves good corporate citizens,” she continued.
One of the board’s major concerns was the “lack of transparency” from Cape Assist. City commissioners said they had not heard of the program before a Feb. 4 Herald article.
Faldetta testified that multiple requests had been made to meet with Mayor Ernie Troiano in 2018. However, Cape Assist met instead with City Administrator Christopher Fox and Police Chief Robert Regalbuto.
The Herald contacted Troiano March 6 and the mayor said he “has no recollection” of being contacted by Cape Assist.
Troiano said he asked confidential secretary Sue Maxwell who, according to Troiano, did not recall the “multiple” requests for meeting with the mayor.
Troiano confirmed that Cape Assist met with Fox and Regalbuto. According to Troiano, Fox told Cape Assist of some “issues” with the plan.
“I am always accessible,” Troiano said, affirming his willingness to meet with anyone seeking information.
Regarding the request for fee waivers, Board member Timothy Blute said, “Why wouldn’t you (Cape Assist) take the grant money and pay the waiver?”
Blute was referring to the $500,000 grant awarded to the Middle Township School District, which oversees the program.  
According to Corrado, the grant can only be used for the program and pointed out how Cape Assist was not required to pay a fee in 2010.
After Faldetta’s testimony, Blute said, “It’s (recovery program) a school.” Blute pointed out how Cape Assist referred to the program as a “school.”
“We’re going to have a wide definition of a school,” Board member Jason Hesley said.
In reply, Michael McKnight, the county’s education specialist with the state Department of Education, testified that the program was “not a school because it has no school code” per state law.
According to McKnight, every state school has a code.
Further testimony was given by Elizabeth Terenik and Dr. Toni Lehman. Lehman serves as director of Curriculum and Instruction for Middle Township School District.
Terenik, a licensed professional planner, said the recovery program did not “match a typical school” and is a value to the community.
Lehman said, “We (Middle Township) are blessed to partner with Cape Assist.” The grant was awarded at the end of January.
“If it smells like a school, sounds like a school, it is a school,” Board Chairman Michael Porch said. With a vote of 6-to-1, the recovery program was not recognized as a permitted use in the GC.
Public comment ranged from support for the program to concern for the city.
“Tourists should be our number-one priority,” resident Al Brannan said. “We know there are problems, but we need to strive to make this (Wildwood) a number-one resort town.”
Brannan also suggested the use of present county-school facilities to host the program.
Sally Honesty said, “I want to be part of the solution. Think of the gift this really is.” Honesty said she will soon commemorate the seventh anniversary of her son’s death due to a drug overdue.
After hearing a rebuttal from Corrado, Hesley said that approval of the use variance would place a “max on the number of students” at the current location. Hesley voted yes to the use variance to the GC.
However, fellow board members voted no.
After the meeting, Porch explained his vote to the Herald.
“I know Cape Assist is disappointed,” he said. Due to changes within the city, Wildwood needs to remain a “first-class tourist destination.”
Porch added that Cape Assist provides needed services in the community.
In an email March 6, Faldetta stated, “We (Cape Assist) are considering an appeal of the decision, however, in light of the Zoning Board’s ruling we must look for alternatives.”
“Cape Assist is actively working on a contingency plan for the Coastal Prep program,” Faldetta wrote. “Supporting local youth is our biggest concern and we intend to continue our mission to do so.”
To contact Rachel Rogish, email rrogish@cmcherald.com.