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The Herald and The Lantern

Wedneiday, May 14,1MW

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OOVERI

BRENDAN T.

State

Trenton. N.J. 2K-MM

SENATOR JAMES S.CAFIERO 33«3 New Jersey Ave. Wildwood. N.J. M2M S22-051I ASSEMBLYMAN JAMES R. HURLEY P.O. Box 87«. 821 ColumMa Ave. Millville, N.J. 08332 327-000 ASSEMBLYMAN JOSEPH W. CHINNICI Bridgeton Ave. Bridgeton, N.J. 08302 451-2270

1,2,3... What are the Seven Wonders of South Jersey?

MILLVILLE — Is Lucy the Elephant the most wonderful of South Jersey’s Seven Wonders? The majestic pachyderm may seem to smile as she gazes out over the Atlantic Ocean at Margate, counts the ballots, admires her new clothes (recently overhauled), and contemplates her 99th birthday. Lucy was rated first of the Seven Wonders — ahead of the beaches and boardwalks, the Pine Barrens — and even the gaming casinos in a newspaper poll. NOW VISITORS are being asked their opinions on the Seven Wonders by the South Jersey Tourism Council to test visitors' views against those of the natives. "We’ll keep our visitors’ poll open until the Fourth of July,” says council president Mildred Fox. “After that, visitors might give overwhelming favor to the beaches on sweltering summer days. We’re trying to tell the travel world that visiting Sputh Jersey is wonderful all year, not just when the surf’s warm. For Schools

Asked whether driving about to seek the Seven Wonders is energywise these days, Mrs. Fox answers positively: "You bet!” "SOUTH JERSEY is smaller than Yellowstone National Park and a darn sight closer to most people’s homes,” she pointed out. "You can go all over South Jersey, from Camden to Cape May, using very little energy, relatively. "I’m a strong advocate of recreation in the form (/regional travel,” she continued. "We Americans work hard and need new sights, new experiences, and new adventures to charge our batterfes, broaden our outlook and enrich our lives.” Hie newspaper readers listed some 200 "wonders" in the survey won by Lucy the Elephant. Naturally, the boardwalks and the beaches rated high. Beachcombing, jogging, ocean-contemplation and peoplewatching were listed as activities. SURPRISING, however, was the rating next of the Pine Barrens. One respondent wrote of "spring flowers cascading down (Page 27 Please)

Q. What does the Osaaty Environmental Health Office do? A. This office is under the < County Health Dept, and is - responsible in the areas of: Rabies control, restaurant food inspection, * water sampling, public miis^h ces, sewage disposal and water pollution. For ftrther information or appointment, call 465-3181 ext. 222. Q.I would like to know what help there is for Viet Nam Veterans having trouble coping, years after they returned from the

war?

A.The problem is called Delayed Stress Syndrome. Locally “ * ~ *

Services 729-3900 may help by counselling; however they do not have a specific program for the problem. The * Veteran's Administration in Philadelphia has a group of Viet Nam Veterans contact: Martin Frick, ‘ 1107 Arch St., PWla., Mon. k Fit, (215) 627-0238. The VA in Newark, N.J. has a similar group contact: Joe Llwdlyfi (210) 645-3797 or 748-3717. Oatreack (Disabled VFW) also has a Viet Nam Self Help group, contact : James Uckeh, 4937 Old York Road, Phila., (215)

455-4631.

If you have a question for the First Call For Help Column write to David G. Quinlan, First Call for Help, Social Services Building. P.O. Box 222, Rio Grande, N.J. #8242. or call 72S-2255.

Is Too Small Too Costly?

Spring Signs

(fix ter ia

John H. Andrua II editor WIIHaaJ.Atfm Ady^ll.lng Director Oorrall Kopp Pubffthor

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by N.J.T.A. In 1969. the "Mancuso Report” on regionalization and consolidation of New Jersey schools and school districts concluded there was evidence of correlation between enrollment, wealth, quality education and efficiency. The report further found that many school districts in the state were too small to provide efficient levels of service and many lacked an adequate tax base. It recommended that district consolidation with a minimum of*3800 pupils in a comprehensive kindergarten to 12th grade system of education. IN THE FALL OF 19M, New Jersey had 599 school districts and a pupil enrollment of 1,454,378. By the Fall of 1979 the districts numbered 600 while the number of pupils dropped to 1,299,989. Nationwide the number of districts declined. Although the Mancuso Report provided some convincing and well-documented arguments for combining small school units, there had been little action in the years following the report to implement the findings. In February 1978, the Governor’s Budget Message called consolidation of schools and school districts a needed step in the drive to control the cost of education. The governor further noted great local resistance to consolidation and the preference of New Jersey citizens for the expensive convenience of many small school districts. A YEAR LATER. THE GOVERNOR, in a letter to the president of the State Board of Education, pointed out that despite declining public school enrollments, state aid to education had been increasing. The chief executive suggested that aside from inflation-related increases, many of the higher costs might be due to inefficiencies of so many school districts. He asked the state board to consider advantages and disadvantages of consolidation and to recommend ways to encourage consolidation of districts and/or services. In response to that request, the state Department of Education recently presented its report to the State

Board.

"TOE ORGANIZATION OF EDUCATIONAL Services and Local School Districts in New Jersey” cites a recent study of rural school districts to refute the basic conclusions of the Mancuso Report. The new report suggests that although benefits could result from district reorganization in certain cases, any major cost reduction on a statewide basis is probably not one of them. The man who says to mt, ’Believe as I do, or God will damn you.’ will presently aoy, ’Believe as 1 do, or I shall assassinate you. ’

The approach advocated by the Department of Education in its report is for each county superintendent of schools to initiate and conduct within a three-year period a review of districts to determine whether K-12 regionalization should be required. Review would focus on sending/receiving districts, all elementary school districts with enrollments below 500, and K-12 districts with enrollments below 1,500. APPROPRIATE CRITERIA AND procedures would be established to guide the review. Districts would then either voluntarily take action.or be required to form K-12 regional districts after an administrative process in which local district boards would have the opportunity to show cause why they should not enter into regional districts. The review process should proceed as soon as possible. Although major organizational and political obstacles may interfere with consolidation, the process must be explored carefully in this time of limited government resources. 4

The New Jersey Taxpayers Assn. Is a non partisan citizen-research and educatlondlorganization.

"Horn That I've Got the CrisH In A Monogaobl* Petition...I Think I II Go Athor* For A»hilo...~

-Voltaire