Category Archives: Board Bits

Fifteen Months Of Accomplishments, Changes For The Pennsauken School District

By the Pennsauken Board of Education: Nick Perry, President; Dung Nguyen, Vice President; Armando Diaz; Michael Hurley; Diane Johnson; Allyson Meloni; Leona Moss; Meg Snyder; and Joann Young

As the school year is now well under way, the Board of Education would like to take the opportunity in this month’s Board Bits article to highlight School District accomplishments that have occurred over the last 15 months.

Searching For A New School Superintendent

By the Pennsauken Board of Education: Nick Perry, President; Dung Nguyen, Vice President; Armando Diaz; Michael Hurley; Diane Johnson; Allyson Meloni; Leona Moss; Meg Snyder; and Joann Young

The Pennsauken Board of Education is currently gearing up for an extremely important task: the search of a new superintendent to lead the Pennsauken School District.

When Silence Truly Is Golden

Board of Education members must follow strict rules when it comes to discussing certain issues in public. There are several topics that are subject to strict confidentiality. For this purpose, often the Board will convene an “executive session,” where the public is not invited to hear what is being discussed. Even if there is a vote needed on a particular subject as a result of discussions in executive session, anything and everything must be kept confidential. Board votes are always in public, however.

Wearing The Important Hat Of Policy Maker

BoardBitsSliderAs Board of Education members, we wear many different “hats.” We are accountants during budget times; educators when making important decisions regarding curriculum and instruction; and human resource experts when approving the hiring of new personnel. Thankfully, the Board of Education has the school administration, faculty and staff who inform, support, and guide us as we are taking on each of these different roles. This enables the Board to make knowledgeable decisions regarding the Pennsauken School District, which in turn, helps our schools to run smoothly and our students to be successful.

Board Of Education Congratulates PHS Class Of 2015

BoardBitsSliderFor the members of the Class of 2015, their years in the Pennsauken School District have come to an end. Like so many of the graduating classes before them, the achievements of this class are to be celebrated. Many of our graduates will be going on to further their education in college. Others will be advancing their skills in technical schools to prepare them for a career in a trade. Still others will be entering the military to begin a career in service to our country. Whatever path they have chosen, we, the Board of Education, hope that they look back on their years in Pennsauken schools with pride and fond memories that will last a lifetime.

Approaching Summer With Plans For The Upcoming School Year

BoardBitsSliderAs we approach the summer months, the signs of the new season are becoming more and more visible. We see flowers blooming, the trees finally becoming full with leaves, and the weather becoming warmer each day. After months of cold weather and very few symbols of nature’s beauty, summer’s first signs always provide us with a time to think about the past and approach our new season from a fresh perspective.

Changes To Registration Procedures For Pennsauken High School

Last month, the Board Bits article focused on a discussion of the laws and subsequent policy that addresses residency eligibility and registration procedures associated with student enrollment and attendance in our district. This information was provided to emphasize the importance of this issue for all members of Pennsauken Township. The Board of Education wants to ensure that only students who are eligible to receive an education in Pennsauken are benefitting from this service. In order for the Board to achieve this goal, it is crucial for all parents and guardians to keep the school district administration informed of their current address, phone numbers, or any living arrangements or guardianship changes that may have occurred since the initial enrollment of their child.

Residency For Pennsauken Students An Important Issue

As spring is finally here, the Pennsauken School District is already busy making plans for the upcoming school year. The flurry of activity relating to the preparation for the 2015-2016 school year begins with registration for students.

On April 15, 2015, the school district will hold its annual registration event for the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs. Registration for students in other grade levels will continue on a rolling basis throughout the summer.

Each student attending Pennsauken Public Schools must be registered in the district prior to attending school. The purpose of registration is to ensure that each student who is receiving an education in the Pennsauken School District is eligible under district policy and state law.

Discussion of registration often brings to the forefront issues regarding the residency requirements for enrolled students. Residency issues continue to be a topic of concern for members of the Board of Education, school district administration, and the citizens of Pennsauken Township. It is our duty as Board members, in conjunction with the administration, to make certain that we are using the resources of the district to educate the students who are eligible to attend our schools, as defined by state law.

Last year, the Board of Education, in an effort to monitor registration and residency, set aside funds in the annual school budget specifically to address this need. This money is being used to create a centralized registration office, which is currently in development. The funds allocated will also be used to hire additional staff, including a second district investigator who will examine claims regarding students who may be illegally attending our schools.

In addition, after consulting with neighboring school districts and reviewing state law, the Board of Education Policy Committee wrote a new district residency policy and regulation. This mandated policy, entitled Eligibility of Resident/Non-Resident Pupils, was adopted by the Board on July 24, 2014. The residency policy clearly defines, according to state law, who is eligible to attend school in our district.

The regulation outlines the procedure that must be followed in order to register children in the district. The Policy also states that any individual who has fraudulently enrolled a student in the district can be held liable for the tuition associated with educating a student in our district, along with removal of the student from school. Other consequences, including fines, are possible. The penalties associated with fraudulent enrollment can also extend to individuals who fraudulently signed an affidavit swearing that the family lives in Pennsauken. For example, a landlord or a family member who owns a home in  Pennsauken and fraudulently claims that the student lives with them, would be subject to this policy as well. All of the penalties, as well as those individuals who can be potentially affected, are clearly defined by NJ State law.

Information pertaining to the details of this policy and regulation can be requested by any Township resident or any individual with an interest in Pennsauken Schools by contacting the Pennsauken Board of Education offices. As with all of our policies currently undergoing review and revision, this policy will be available on the Pennsauken School District website in the near future.

The Pennsauken Board of Education takes residency and registration issues very seriously. While we understand that all children in NJ are entitled to a free, public education, the law is clear that the students must live in or legally be eligible to attend school in the district. We ask that anyone who has suspicion of a residency violation report it to the Office of the Superintendent of Schools. Working together, we can ensure that all children enrolled in our schools are eligible to attend.

Board Bit Of The Month

Did you know… the Pennsauken School District transports over 4,000 students per day?

Board Bits, March 2015

Late winter is often a quiet time. The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is over and the energy of springtime is still a few weeks away. However, the Pennsauken Board of Education has their biggest task of the year to complete during these late winter months: the 2015-2016 school budget.

Board Bits: A Breakdown Of The Board Of Education

Welcome to Board Bits. The Pennsauken Board of Education feels it is important to inform the public about our work on behalf of our school district and our community. Our school district has had many positive changes over the past six months. Our interim superintendent, Dr. James Chapman, our interim business administrator, Mr. John Deserable, and the entire district staff are working diligently with one central goal in mind: student success.

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