By Michael Benavides
Staff Writer
PLUMSTED – Board of Education members are thinking about how they want to provide security in the Plumsted Township School District’s buildings during the 2017-18 school year.
The district consists of the New Egypt Primary School, the Dr. Gerald H. Woehr Elementary School, the New Egypt Middle School and New Egypt High School.
Superintendent of Schools Gerald North said administrators are not certain how they want to proceed with a security agreement for the 2017-18 school year.
“The current agreement between the board and Plumsted Township regarding police in the buildings is that the school district pays for two police officers who work in the schools from September through June,” North said.
“At this time, we are not sure how we will be moving forward for the 2017-18 school year. Our decisions will be influenced by state aid, any changes to state policies and the needs of the district,” the superintendent said.
North said the potential benefits of changing the current security arrangement have not been discussed by district personnel. The matter was briefly touched upon during the board’s Dec. 14 meeting.
In other business, board members heard a presentation from Matthew Holman of the firm Holman Frenia Allison regarding the district’s 2015-16 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.
Holman said he had no comments or recommendations to report to the board regarding the school district’s annual financial audit.
“We are able to give an unmodified opinion, which is the best opinion that can be rendered for the school district, so that is good news,” he said.
And, the board passed a motion which recommended the approval of an agreement with the Educational Information and Resource Center (EIRC) to provide strategic planning services, at a cost not to exceed $9,600.
Board President Sandra Soles said, “This is the first step … of the board moving forward in developing our strategic plan for the district’s future.”
According to the EIRC website, “EIRC is a public agency specializing in education-related programs and services for parents, schools, communities, nonprofit organizations and privately held businesses throughout New Jersey. Our programs also reach into more than 36 states and eight foreign countries.”
The website states that EIRC offers “a great many resources under one roof. These range from gifted and special education services to creative problem solving … from nationally validated programs in science, mathematics and geography to child care and child assault prevention … from web development, graphics and printing to computer instruction … and from teacher in-service and curriculum design to international exchange programs.”
North said the EIRC will provide a consultant who will lead the district through the development of a strategic plan.
“By developing a strategic plan, the district will receive input from all stakeholders as to the direction and expectations of the district,” he said. “This will benefit the board, the administration, staff, students and the community in the development of priorities, budgets, district initiatives, materials, courses, curricula and professional development.”
Finally, board members said they will hold their 2017 reorganization meeting at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 4 in the media center at New Egypt High School. The meeting is open to the public.