Following a request from Irene Hughes, president of the Beach Haven Board of Education, to table the December 2014 Principal’s Report for further discussion during the board’s first regular meeting of the new year, held Thursday, Feb. 5, Superintendent EvaMarie Raleigh was compelled to defend her granddaughter’s placement in the Beach Haven School’s preschool program, an issue concerning age requirements that was first debated by Raleigh and Jennifer Tomlinson, who was not yet a board member, during a Dec. 15 meeting.
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| Photo via New Jersey News 12 School policy states the principal has the right to assign students to grades, classes and groups based on the needs of the student and the school. |
After being advised not to discuss the matter publicly, Raleigh passed out a copy of the school’s policy on the assignment of pupils, which, she told the public, states that “the building principal may assign pupils in his or her school to grades, classes and groups on the basis of the needs of the pupil as well as the sound administration of the school.”
According to state law, the school is not required to offer preschool because it does not receive Title 1 funding, Raleigh added. There is no policy on the school’s preschool admission and enrollment because the program is considered a private institution, she explained.
When asked to confirm whether or not, according to the policy, the superintendent has the personal authority to decide if a student moves ahead or stays behind in a grade, Raleigh explained that she and the appropriate teacher would discuss the matter if there was an applicable reason.
It was also confirmed that children in the 3-year-old pre-K program who turn 4 while in attendance can be transferred to the 4-year-old pre-K program if they meet all the requirements and the program is not at capacity. However, parents must pay the additional tuition fee and meet with Raleigh for determination.
Tuition costs $3,000 for the half day, 3-year-old pre-K program, or $5,000 for the full day, 4-year-old pre-K program, Tomlinson confirmed.
It was also stated that students can be admitted to the pre-K program for a prorated tuition fee if they become of age later in the year. Local resident Jamie Baumiller claimed she was never told that was an option when she contacted the school in the fall. To be able to make a more informed decision on her child’s schooling, she asked if the school’s preschool orientation could be held before May, when most of the other area preschools hold theirs. Raleigh said it could be held whenever worked best.
Student parent Kristy Davis also asked the board to consider reducing the cost of the preschool program, to entice others living in different areas to sign up – a request Hughes said the board would look into. Davis noted the tuition price is significantly higher than most preschools in town.
“Nobody’s driving to Beach Haven to pay more,” she said.
“It is a deterrent,” agreed student parent Mary Claire Bunce.
Bunce added that it seems Raleigh is “very interested in loopholes now” that it concerns her granddaughter, “but when it comes to other parents’ children, she is not as concerned.” The accusation appeared to be in reference to an issue in the fall regarding the eligibility of Bunce’s children to continue to attend the school as School Choice students. Raleigh denied the claim.
Other meeting business included the board’s acceptance of the resignation of the school’s art teacher, Dona Hulson-Cappello, who was hired in March 2011. She was hurt in a car accident during a storm a couple of weeks ago and has been asked to return to the school to say goodbye to the children when she is feeling better, Raleigh said. Current Beach Haven School teachers Sharon Dugan and Mark Cummins were approved to cover the art classes as substitutes.
The board also approved the December 2014 Semi Annual Submission of Violence and Vandalism Report, which included two reported incidents between July 1 and Dec. 31.
In response to a question from Davis regarding whether or not the incidents are public knowledge, Raleigh said the details are not available through the Open Public Records Act. Davis said she would file an OPRA request for the information anyway.
It was also noted during the meeting that students from Eagleswood Township Elementary School are being invited to the Beach Haven School’s Creatively Green Family Arts Festival in April, an event the school won through a $9,000 grant from NRG and Young Audiences New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. The Beach Haven students attended the Eagleswood School after building damage from Superstorm Sandy required them to temporarily relocate.
The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24. The location has yet to be determined.
— Kelley Anne Essinger
This article was published in The SandPaper.
This article was published in The SandPaper.
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