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May 19 to 23
Chronic Absenteeism
New Jersey defines chronic absentees as students who miss 18 days of school in a 180-day school year. That places students who miss 10% of their classes in that category.
So how do the school districts in Cape May County do when measured against this state yardstick?
If we use 2023 data as an example, not well at all.
To be clear, chronic absenteeism is missing more than 10% of class days. Schools are required to report the percentage of their students who are chronically absent in a given school year. In Cape May County 13 of the 15 school districts had more than 10% of their students in the chronically absent category. In fact, of those 13 districts, 12 had absentee percentages above the state’s overall average of 14.4% of students chronically absent.
Seven county districts reported over 20% of students who met the criteria for chronic absenteeism. This means that seven school districts have more than one in every five students absent from class more than 10% of the time. The two county districts below the 10% threshold are Cape May City and West Cape May.
In short, absenteeism is an issue in the county and may contribute to below-standard performance testing in a number of the county’s schools.
Research shows that students who are chronically absent may develop difficulties with achievement and school readiness. In New Jersey schools with 10% of their students who are chronically absent, the school is required to develop an action plan to deal with the issue. These plans must contain input from parents and caregivers.
Death Spiral
A state Treasury report says the state health plan for local government employees is in a “death spiral.” The plan has been inflicting double-digit increases in premiums on municipalities and counties. This has forced many government entities to seek private insurance.
As those that can leave the state plan do so, the plan has diminished participation, causing further increases in premiums. Many of the municipalities with the worst health records are the ones left in the state plan because they cannot find reasonably priced private insurance.
The report is no kinder to the school employee health plan, which “now faces significant financial and actuarial risks.”
Treasury officials hold out little hope for a turnaround, saying that “even the most aggressive plan design changes likely will not be enough to reverse the systemic unraveling underway.”
This death spiral of the state plan could become a major burden on municipal budgets for the hundreds of New Jersey towns that are still part of it. With the selection of a new governor looming in November, this will be yet another mess for a new chief executive to deal with.
As we head into a period that was supposed to be about property tax relief and reasons to “stay New Jersey,” hold onto your wallets. A mounting problem with school funding in this county along with the impact of a “death spiral” in employee health coverage plans may mean the direct opposite.
In Cape May County, Avalon, Ocean City, Middle Township, Cape May and Sea Isle City have all exited the state plan in favor of private insurance.
FEMA Executives Exit
There is an ongoing effort underway to remake much of the federal government. One place that is becoming increasingly visible is with FEMA. Earlier in May, FEMA acting director Cameron Hamilton was fired one day after he testified that he thought it was not in the best interest of the American people to do away with FEMA.
On May 21, the agency announced the departure of 16 senior executives. This represents a significant shakeup in the leadership of the agency that oversees the federal response to natural disasters.
FEMA has been caught in the crosshairs of the Trump administration, which argues that much of what the agency does should be the responsibility of the states. The agency’s new leader, David Richardson, has vowed to “run right over” staff who resist reforms.
Earlier May 21, Richardson sent the staff an email rescinding the agency’s strategic plan for 2022 to 2026. He said the plan contained objectives that should have no connection to FEMA’s accomplishing its mission. Richardson spoke of a new strategy for 2026 to 2030 that will be developed over the summer.
Regardless of whether one favors the overhaul of FEMA or not, turmoil at the agency could impact Cape May County as the uncertainty over FEMA’s future functions is sorted out.
There has been no discussion of disruptions at the National Flood Insurance Program, which is run by FEMA. The program will be up for congressional reauthorization in September.
This all comes just a week before the start of the hurricane season. Forecasters have predicted a busier-than-average Atlantic hurricane season, which starts June 1. Richardson says the agency will be prepared.
Week in Review
*Upper Township Committeeman Zachary Palombo said at the May 12 committee meeting that dune erosion at Strathmere beaches has been one of the biggest concerns mentioned by residents.
*Emergency bridge work being done by the county on Avalon Boulevard in Avalon delayed the start of the back-passing project that takes sand from mid-borough beaches and uses it to relieve badly eroded beaches in the north end, but an alternative plan has been worked out.
*Cape May County is attempting to maintain normal in a changing tourism industry, its tourism director told members of the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce.
*A 25-year-old Woodbine man has been arrested and charged with possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM), the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office has announced.
*Two residents recently approached the Lower Township Council with requests regarding NJ Transit bus service.
*A Cape May County grand jury handed up 14 indictments May 20.
*Lower Township residents will be able stay at home and call for their cannabis products to be delivered after the township acts on legislation to match state licensing laws.
*The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s 2025 summer assessment warns of resource adequacy issues and electrical grid challenges if “anticipated warmer than average temperatures occur.”
*Dewatered material from a 2014 bay dredging has been stored in an Avalon confined disposal facility for more than a decade. Now, it may end up benefitting the Wetlands Institute as that organization seeks to protect its infrastructure from increased flooding.
*In mid-April the federal government issued a stop-work order for a $5 billion offshore wind project in New York. But the administration lifted the order on May 19.
*A New Jersey Treasury report issued this week states bluntly that the State Health Benefits Program for Local Governments is in “what actuaries commonly refer to as a death spiral.”
*A Bridgeton man has been arrested after he displayed an assault-style rifle from the driver’s side of a car window in Wildwood, officials said.
Spout Off of the Week
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