18

Herald ft lantern 10 March '82

Will Lower Regional Have a Counterpart in Wildwood?

(From Page 14)

^ THE KQl AUZKD VALUATIONS in the three major Wildwoods last year were quite close, the value of property (with an equalization factor added) being $311 million in the Crest. $283 million in North Wildwood! and almost $273 million in Wildwood • But if their ratables are so similar, wouldn't it behoove the Crest and Nprth Wildwood to remain sending district, paying less in tuition to Wildwood than to become involved in a regional setup and he

taxed on the ability to pay?

"Yes it- would But that's not their

point. ' Wager ins

the mohey - because it’s not that much djff**rent The point is they have no say in I the education of their children from 7 thru 12th And that's more important to them right now Because in the long run they i will save money because of efficient use of j ancillary services, and efficient use of ‘ teachers the hole bit 1 ] • They see that." Wager continues. In fact they're very positive about it. In fact. North Wildwood would probably pay more increase more than the others — but that's not a point with them .. They’re

thinking about thfvchildren "

BUT WHAT ABOUT Wildwood;

what 's in it for them?

As with any. receiving districts in a sending receiving relationship, because of the stale fuition formula which precludes the receiving district from recovering debt service and maintenance £osts from the sending district, Wildwood naturally .would-from a purely financial standpoint - want to spread its educational costs

over a wider tax base

(According to Don Wendorf, the chief school administrator of the Stone Harbor School District, the Middle Township School District which provides Stone Har bor children with their secondary cdiiCa Uon. would relish Stone Harbor ratables.j Acknowledges Wendorf: "Ted Johnson (the Middle Township Schools superinten dentl would love to have my ratables. Hr reminds me of them quite often.*’) Notes Wager with regard 1 to* thi Wildwood.District: "Don't forget, they’i cairying, to a certain extent, the othei districts because they're only getting fuf tion . I But Wildwood educatidnal authoritic; alfto appear to be viewing regionalizatio i from an educational standpoint as well. i WOULD HOPE that if we go to a K tb 12 regionalization, that we would see blending of the student® of the foif Wildwood cbmmunities in grades K to 12.' explains Arthur Motz. the Wildwool Schools superintendent. “I think that s something that'wtpuld be good because j t the present tirfic you have three sendir g

On the other hand, seeing the results of the study are going to show that there are an awful lot of educational and economic advantages to a complete regionalization. Now. if they become aware of this, maybe their initial reaction would change/ 1 Wildwood superintendent Motz main-

All Lower Cape May Regional school superintendent Ephriam Keller knew was that the Wildwoods were talking about regionalization a little bit last-winter. The chief administrator of the only regional

meetings went. Asked if they had gone

smoothly. Mr. Bongart replied:

"I don’t think smooth would be the proper word. I think they’ve been free and open exchanges of points of view and con-

chief administrator of tne only regional open exenanges oi poims ui view anu cunschoolNhstrtct in the county doesn’t see the cems and problems, both real and perceiy-

likihood of their being another one soon.

tains that among the Advisory Committee ./Regionalization in the Wildwoods 1 * Accormembers, "there seems to be some coh/ ding to Keller, it’s a "place it just wouldn’t

sensus bn going with a K to 12.’’ / happen. ”

While the county school superinteodent Perhaps Mr. Keller feels this way has yet to provide an overalHsiymriary to because he is aware of the discontent some the Advisory Committee report. Wager cape May residents still N harbor^be“‘ was able to note that "it’s not going to be regionalization. When Cape May antPV(

was able _ _..

» wouia mu in». — too much different than they ve already Waaer insists "Their point Is not ; discussed " And he pointed out what one of waacr msiBu, . | ^ lh( , Advisory Commilleo will

strongly recommend is the maintenance of a "neighborhood concept” in any

regionalized district.

He explained how this would work "You put as part of the summary: Recommendation of the Advisory Committee to the new regional board-if this comes about — that they look at maintaining the neighborhood concept in their

elementary schools.

•IN OTHER WORDS." he continued, "you’re not going to bus these kids all over the island, except for the secondary level - which you’re already doing anyway." Because theV have enrollments in the hundreds, each of the existing elementary schools in the Wildwoods would probably maintained. "The kids can still go [to their neighborhood schools)." Wager reiterates. "There’s no need for us to move

kids around.’’

The only movement of elementary students .Will, be those in grade 3 and up who jire currently going to school in the Wildwood High building. But this will come about regardless, because — following eight years of preparation and planning - Wildwood school authorities broke ground on Monday for an addition to the Glenwood Ave. school which hopefully will enable the district to remove primary grades* from the high school building

within a year.

THE . EXISTING WILDWOOD High School building, built prior to 1920. would most likely remain as the high school if the Wildwoods agree to regionalize. The Wildwood School District is currently only Conditionally Approved vby the state because of the existence within the high , school of 10 elementary grades. Wildwood superintendent Motz insists this Conditional Approval is a "facilities problem" only, that the district’s educational program is classifira as Approved by the state. ’, While acknowledging that the threestory brick high school needs work, county schools superintendent Bongart sees skyrocketing building costs and develop-

iboul

Cape May joined Lower Township more than 20 years ago in a regional district. Cape May lost its high school. Today. Cape May junior and senior high students are bused to schools in Lower Township, wpile

ed. I’m sure some people feel they stijl need to know some more things, and hopefully we can clear that up before it’s over," he said; adding: "I’m not somehow suggesting that it was in any way contentious. I’nfjust saying that people spoke up in terms of what they thought or felt." THE COUNTY SCHOOL superintendent says he remains optimistic. He indicated a reason for his optimism in noting that, "so ' often in these regionalization situations, there are some well to do districts and some very poor, and that almost im-

“l would hope that...we would see a blending of the students... in grades K to 12”

/•;

the elementary school children in Cape May walk to theiF own hometown public school. Even more annoying-for some, are the taxpayer responsibilities resulting from a regionalization of disparate districts. The equalized fatables in the constituent districts of Lower Cape May Regional tell the story: $373 million in . Lower Township, $161 million in Cape May, $25 million in West Cape May. THE WILDWOODS PRESENT a different situation. "IFs the kind you wish you ran into all the time," says Wager. "And if I did, I would have had a lot more [regional! studies and a lot more going to vote. It is unique, and a very positive factor in the whole thing." the state educational consultant saysof the majorWldwoods..."Down there, you have three districtsjQiat are all $300 million [in ratables); everyone’s going to be about equal.’’ Everyone contacted who has participated in the Advisory Committed meetings agrees with county superintendent Bogart's assessment of how the

mediately causes the thing not to be able to pass. Here, at least, we have communities which are relatively close on the amount of ratables behind each student." Comments Wager about hqw the Advisory Comntiltee • meetings' have transpired: "You get people into situations > like this and once they can aij* their concerns apd^their doubts and their fears - and when you get a forum where they can do it without repercussions-and so. forth — it gets laid out on the line and then you get the positive things. • “And this. I think, is exactly what happened in this case. Because I-felt very gowj coming away frotn the meetings. And that’s not always the case... " When a fellow across the table from me says, You know. It's going to cost me some money, it’s'going to cost us money, but we'll save in the longrun. But I want you to know I'm making this decision and tills recommendation because‘1 think it's Roing to be best for kids ' "'Vihen you get that sort of thing, you feel good." Wager said. ^ t

“There’s no need for us to move kids around”

Govt. Is Growth Industry

ment pressures in the resorts precluding a •new high school being erected anywhere

on the island.

"I think the present site could be used, though I agree completely that some money should be spent on a number of things in there And I don’t think anybody disagrees with that," Mr. Bongrat contends "Because to go Out and pick a new site and build a building for ($5-12 million) at today’s economy •— that doesn’t make

much sense.”

WHILE MEMBERS OF THE Advisory Committee have in their sessions since last fall been laying their cards on the table, they have, collectively, been playing them close to the chest as well. As a result, even other professional school administrators throughout the county are unaware such a regionalization study was underway.

Enrollments

districts joining us when we get to the hi| [h school, and there is an adjustment procc « that must^ made 1 would see a K to 12 district bypassing this. It would} just sin ply be blending the entire group togetrter from the beginning of their school days " According to Mr Motz, the Wildwobd School District would oppose a ly regionalization that doesn't include all t tie grades He is emphatic that it would have to be «i complete K to 12 regionalization, ndicating that while- there has been some success during the past few years wi)h cu riculum coordination among the thri elementary systems, "it's just not i tight" as.it would be “having a unified, fblly articulated feeding program intd the • high school" • / ' Participants in the Advisory Confmitiee meetings seem resigned to the K to 12 aspect of a possible regionalization Whether they can self this to their in

dividual school boards and the boards lin ]gBo iwi turn pass a full regionalization prpposal bn w „ m • m the voters will likely be debated by mahy Wild crwi Mints un/m sn/m riii7nns in the weeks ahead «> « N Wlld - 3,4/,7 * 3,a/,,, :ao,m citizens in me weens aneao_^ wiidwpod mz/jm eoi/J2« km/mi

[ 'figarr* hrln»/pupll< ami M dlrtrirt. r«rVp«

ACCORDING TO WAGER, the Advisoi-v Wildwood wlwr* If. p«pO« *»■! udkUkit,

Committee will forward a K 12 study to the

SOMERS POINT - The following recent arm births have been announced by Shore Memorial Hospital DAUGHTER to William and Bridget VetrlSaraccoofZSW. Allan tic Ave . Court House. Feb. 22 DAUGHTER to Harry and Mary Cowan Dougherty of 170A, RD I. Court House, Feb 24. SON to Robert and Cheryl Krryli Mruoak of Oceanview, Feb. 24. DAUGHTER to Gene and Katherine Smith Cardad of 412 Breakwater Rd . Lower Twp Feb. '' ‘24. DAUGHTER *to Joseph and Katherine Albert Daly of 412 Breakwater Rd . l-ower 3>p-. Feb

24

DAUGHTER to Timothy and Marion Kitchen Patterson of 1739 Mowery Ave . Villas. Ffb 25 RON to Clifford and Laurie Hortds llsldemm of 1412 Haven Ave.. Ocean City. Feb 2R RON to Scott and Debbie Magee Heck of 2 Robin Rd.. Court Hous«. March 1 SON to Raymond and Donna Girder Anil of 120-B Sea Spray Court. N Wildwood. March 2 RON to William and Judy Coffey Middleton of B F Ave . West Wildwood. March 2

TRENTON - The struc- statistics totaled 66.733 in lure and size of the New December, 1981, and in Jersey State government ^ crease of 11.591, or 21 per

boards of education for their consideration. Since Jfie study isn't completed, ill is impossible to predict how the various school boards wi|l react. Perhaps the vi^w of Crest board president MaLgaret Letris is an indication Asked if her board kir district would oppose a complete regionalization recommendation, she replied: - ^*7^, I "I really don’t know because on the face of it maybe you could say that they would

Tuition

W Wildwood Wild Crwt N Wildwood

13.400 10,117 M.M9

tin.400 557,187 4JO.538

W Wildwood

Wild Cmi

N Wildwood

Wildwood

Ratable^

iNet equaliml Value INI)

III 3 million 3U 4 million 2S3 3 million 272 7 million

COURT HOUSE - The following recenl area births have been announced by Burdette Tomlin Memorial Hospital RON to Michael and Catherine Arenberg Tomlin of Rl 47, Goshen, Feb 22 DAUGHTER lo Michael and Patricia Tower McMillan of 57 Ridge Rd . Green Creek. Feb 22 RON io Willigm and Veronica Longtlrrrt Throo of IS S. Main St , Court House. Feb 24.

DAUGHTER to Albert and Coleen McKemaa RberreUa of 1135 Indiana Ave . Cape May. Feb 24 DAUGHTER to Allen and Robin Clark Pritchett of 1720C Pennsylvania Ave., Cape May. Feb 2B . SON to Barry and Loma TMley Hi roman af-|7S0A Delaware Ave. Cape May. Feb 28 RON to Charles and Denlae Green Farraw of 316 Chestnut St.. Burleigh. Feb 3i^

changed significantly dur ing the past eight years and an overall review of its organizational structure, staffing services and procedures may how be in order, suggests the New Jersey Taxpayers Association, a non-profit research organization concerned about state management and fiscal practices. Five new departments were added to the Executive structure over the past eight years. These included the Public Advocate Department, effective in Juq§rii974: the division of thej Department of Institutions and Agencies inttva separate Department of Cbrrections and-a separate Department of Human Services, effective in Noverhber. 1976; The Department of Energy, effective July. 1977, which was created by abolishing the Department of Public Utilities; and the newest department - Commerce and Economic Development. created mainly out of the Department of Labor and Industry, effective Jan. 1. 1982. There are now 20 executive departmehts — the maximum number allowed in the State Con-

stitution.

THE SIZE OF New Jersey State government including the judicial and legislative branched measured by employment

cent over November, 1973, the first year for which comparable figures are available The executive branch increased by 20 percent in the number of employees; the legislative branch had a 47 percent increase, and the judicial

branch doubled.

These employee figures are based on the number of State payroll checks issued at the end of the month as reported by the State Department of Civil Service! They do not include figures for three higher • educational institutions — the State University, the State Medical-and Dental College, and the New Jersey Institute of

Technology.

THE LARGEST departmental growth fneasured by increase in number of employees between 1973 and 1981 was the combined total of 5.527 in the Departments of Human Services and Corrections, which were one department in

1973

Separate department totals for those two State agencies are not available for individual department comparisons over that period. Second largest increase in tlt| Department of Law and Public Safety.1,532 employees; Treasury grew by 1,306. and the Department . of Higher Education