Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 6 November '85

49

Pi Don. Ward Photo KINDERGARTEN KROWD — This classroom conducted by kindergarten teacher Mrs. Marjorie Flara (seated at table, right), at St. Simeon's by the Sea Episcopal. 26th and Central Avenue. North Wildwood. is the result of overflow from North Wildwood Elementary. At rear is aide Ellen Kreer.

School Enrollment

(From Page 1) ditional elementary teachers may be needed next year. He also said the district will begin accepting bids this month to expand its elementary school. Six classrooms, a library and one multi-purpose room will be added Currently, the school uses two 12- by -60foot portable classrooms as hunedial resource rooms for two kinde^pken classes. Upper's five-year projection shows there could be 1.500 students by 1990. "If the projection is correct we are going to need another addition during the next five years, McGovern said Lower Township needs an addition right now. according to elementary district Superintendent Edward J Campbell. CAMPBELL IS HOPING for Memorial School expansion (grades one through three) in Villas to handle more kindergarten students coming into the Maud Abrams School. Cold Spring Memorial was built in 1970 with eventual expansion in mind. District kindergarten enrollment has steadily risen from 176 in 1981 to 237 this fall. Lower added one section < for a total of nine) three part-time teachers and one aide for each of the five kindergarten sec tions with more than 25 pupils. Campbell foresees steady growth through the Eighties, and another kindergarten class of more than 200 next fall "We're not getting any smaller." Campbell said. "And in four years this growth | will hit the middle schools. "The Memorial School is really only half | a school." he added. "It was built with federal funds, there were no local funds available (to complete it) In order to balance the building we would add 12 1 rooms " I tie said the finished building would in- 1 elude a library and lunch room, and would ' house kindergarten classes for Villas children. But. he added, expansion plans 1 are 'nowhere at this time." I Campbell said the project is in the "formative" stages, and that more com 1 munity support is needed. He rules out us- - ing portable classrooms: which have to 1 meet the requirements of the state Depart ment of Education I THERE WILL BE space available to j rent to relieve pressure in the next few i years. Campbell said, and Lower will pro- \ oaoly begin renting facilities next year t Sea Isle City Elementary has increased i steadily over the last few years, going from 190 to 206 this past year Ad- [ mimstrative Principal Frank C' Dougher r ty said classes usually average 20 t students; this year, there are 32 students g in third grade, 25 in kindergarten and 29 in the first grade. t "We are showing a steady increase, pro- r bably a dozen (students) a year," t Dougherty said. "We are working right \ now on expansion plans for at least one additional large classroom and maybe four v or five small classes." f Dougherty credits higher birth rates for s the increase and said Sea Isle's projection s for 1990 is 300 students, which may cause f major problems. a

"We're talking about a 33 percent increase," he said. "This city is not ready for this, although we have told some people (about it) "THEY HAVE OTHER things to worry about, like fixing the streets." he added "We have four or five years to do something about this or we will have a real problem We'll go to split-sessions if it comes down to that." In North Wildwood, elementary enrollment swelled to 382 from 307 a year ago "It was unanticipated However anything can happen in a resort communi ty There is no consistency, no logic. Superintendent Richard A Veil said "We could lose 50 kids by next year through transfers "I attribute this increase — and this is just an opinion, not a fact — to the availability of low-cost winter rentals this year." he added One fourth grade teacher was hired for an additional class, and a special education instructor was added The fourth grade .class pushed North Wildwood's kindergarten out and over to St. Simeon's church on 26th street & Central Ave Enrollment at Wildwood's Glenwood Avenue Elementary School rose from 315 students »o 385. necessitating the hiring of a pre-first grade teacher for an additional class "There was a very definite rise in the low-elementary level." Superintendent Arfiiur Motz said. Apparently there is housing available for low-income families which usually isn't available on any of the islands " Motz also said the higher birth rates contributed to the increase "WE HAD A PERIOD where the birth rate declined for eight to 10 years — now people are more into having children again. " he said. "For the last two years we seen a significant increase." Motz said a high degree of transience makes any long-term projection "relativeworthless." Primary school enrollment in Ocean City grew from 429 to 450. an increase Superintendent Michael M Subotich said was expected. "There has been an increase in elemenenrollment, and I think what we are seeing is a national trend. " he said "More people are having children, the concept of multiple family seems to be back We have seen an increased number of live births in the county and I have a strong feel ing it will continue The district has rented two 12- by 60-foot portable classrooms, which are being readied for use Subotich said they prowill be used for first and second grade classes. He said the Ocean City Board of Education is interviewing contractors to renovate the high school, and he will ask the board to consider additions to the primary school. "Educationally and philosophically. I will recommend to the board that we start kindergarten sessions." Subotich , said. "Right now we have three half-day , sessions, that < the change) would make six full-day sessions which would double the amount of rooms and teachers needed " «

Slf^NEWS iNt/ DIGEST /^/ // # / The Week's llllll Top Stories (From Page 30) Police Probe Death VILLAS — The highway death last Wednesday of George J. Small. 34. of the 1600 block of Star Avenue, is being investigated by State Police, according to Del. Sgt. Sterling Jones of Egg Harbor Township. Small, a dealer at Del Webb's Claridge Casino Hotel, was hit by two vehicles while walking along the Garden State Parkway after work. Villas Man Arrested VILLAS — James T. Smith. 33. of this community, is being held in $25,000 bail in Atlantic County Jail on charges of robbery, aggravated assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, eluding police and possession of stolen property. Police from Egg Harbor Township arrested Smith last Saturday after he allegedly robbed the Horizon Marine National Bank and led police on a high-speed chase before crashing into a utility pole at Tilton Road and Uibel Avenue Fire Damages House OCEAN CITY — An unoccupied twostory house at 201 Clipper Drivt*. belonging to Albert and Concetta Longo. of Philadelphia, was heavily damaged by fire Saturday. Fire Capt Joseph Foglio was treated for neck burns sustained from falling embers, and fireman John Lindsay was given oxygen at the scene The cause of the blaze is unknown DEP Funds Sought SEA ISLE CITY — The city is applying for a $10,000 state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP« grant for a survey of the vulnerable Whale Beach. Mayor Michael McHale said last week. The north end, especially between 1st and 22nd streets, has washed out and caused property damage in past storms The survey would study the erosion problem and seek ways to avoid future damage which could lead to a building moratorium It will take one to two months for the DEP reply. McHale said Bond Ordinances SEA ISLE CITY — Commissioners introduced two bond ordinances totaling $490,250 last week for new water lines and fire hydrants between 42nd and 50th streets on Central Avenue and a newbulkhead on Roberts Avenue from 79th to 80th street. The first allocates $65,000 to replace old one-inch water pipes with sixinch ones, which will correct inadequate water pressure in the area's hydrants. The other provides $425,250 to replace a 15-foot portion of the bulkhead washed out by an August storm and Hurricane Gloria. No date has been set for a second reading and public hearing on both Fire Ordinance TUCKAHOE — A new Upper Township ordinance here makes it necessary for those seeking subdivision approval for 10 or more lots to install 5.000-gallon water storage cisterns for every 1.500 feet of road frontage or pay $500 per lot into its Fire Safety Capital Improvement Fund No approval for nine or less lots will be given until $500 per lot is paid into the fund. Strathmere is the only section of the township with a fire hydrant system and officials hope the cisterns, which cost about $5,000 to install, will help cut down fire loss by providing a ready supply of water. Sewer Spending WILDWOOD — City councils of this resort and North Wildwood are weighing ordinances that would appropriate funds to improve sewage treatment plants. Wildwood will vote on a scaled-down $800,000 project, while North Wildwood

will vote on a $764,000 bond issue Both projects are designed to increase plant capacities in order to avoid the type of overflows that forced closings of area beaches for six days in August. Wildwood is expected to spend even more money on public relations to try to erase the negative image created by the beach closings. No ( other f Freebies NORTH WILDWOOD - Mayor Lewis G! Vinci's request for free passage over the Ocean Drive Bridge for North Wildwood residents when the Grassy » Sounds Bridge is closed was denied by the county Bridge Commission. The commission's current bond resolution . strictly prohibits free passage over jts bridges — except by government and commission officials, employes performing official duties and municipal police or fire departments engaging in their proper work. Dredging Agreement OCEAN CITY — The Fifth Street beach will receive sand dredged from the bay under a tentative agreement between the city and a group of bayside condominium owners. Under the agreement. Gwin Dredging and Dock Inc. of Tuckahoe will pump bay sand into a pipe that runs under Fifth Street from Bay Avenue to Atlantic Avenue. The project, which will cost more than $100,000. will result in improved boating and recreational activities on the bay. Meeting Tomorrow WILDWOOD CREST - Raymond Bouchard of Seaview Avenue, who holds a doctorate in aquatic biology, was appointed to chair a seven-member committee here that will address general environmental questions and concerns raised by August beach closings. Appointed to two-year terms were Otto F. Stocker of Park Boulevard, a marine captain, and local resident Gilda Maslowe of Seaview Avenue Motel owner Robert A Belansen. who will represent the tourism industry, and John B Gourley of Lake Road, marine captain, were appointed to one-year terms Mayor Frank McCall and Planning Board member Trish Cettie hold the other two seats. The first monthly meeting is 7:30 p.m tomorrow at the Neshitt Center. Rambler Road and the beach A Bow to FEMA SEA ISLE CITY — Having learned from past experience, city Commission is studying a new ordinance designed to meet the requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Administration's flood insurance program The measure prohibits construction of enclosed foundations that will not allow flood water to exist. FEMA placed the city on probation last year on the basis of 14 or 15 shorefront properties which lacked breakaway walls The new ordinance requires that space below flood level, either be kept open, or covered with lattice work or insect screening To Ease Backlog COURT HOUSE — County Surrogate W. Robert Hentges has been selected b\ the Supreme Court's Judiciary -Surrogate Committee to help develop a pilot program in which surrogates would hear some cases that are assignedd to a Superior Court judge Suggested by business executives, the program is intrended to reduce the Superior Court's backlog of cases Hentges will be helped by Atlantic County Surrogate Janice Mathis Bar Raps Mayor SEA ISLE CITY — Mayor Michael McHale has been chastised by the county Bar Association for complaining that Municipal Cdurt Judge Samuel Serata has been too lenient on violations of noise regulations during the sumnmer Administration President Joseph J. Rodgers said such complaints "can be devastating to the public'^ perception of > independent courts " "I still think I'm right" said McHale