Cherry Hill is beginning 2013 on a positive note, said Mayor Chuck Cahn’s administration.
Cahn has now reached a year in office.
His Mayor’s Wellness Campaign, begun last year, is packed with events, and the economy is robust, according to town officials.
“As has been the case since the mayor took office last January, a key focus will be on supporting Cherry Hill’s already robust economy,” said Township Spokeswoman Bridget Palmer. “We expect to see movement at several key, highly visible sites in the community, including, among others, the former Genuardi’s store at the Ellisburg Shopping Center, and we look forward to the opening of a number of new sites, including the Lourdes Wellness Center (at Brace Road, opening in the spring of 2013) and Zinburger (opening in the first quarter of 2013 at the Garden State Park).”
A focus for the township, she said, is to continue a focus on running local government “like a thriving business: efficiently and effectively, and with key personnel who are dedicated to doing their best for the people of Cherry Hill.”
Coming to light soon will be a new Sustainability Master Plan, she said, and a sustainability website will go live.
“And those are just a few of the things in store for the coming year. The Cahn administration has spent much of 2012 laying a solid foundation for the future, and the mayor and his staff are looking forward to getting into action for the New Year,” Palmer said.
As for Cahn’s wellness campaign, Palmer said, offerings will be expanded and enhanced to cater to all residents of the township.
“We continue looking for new ‘wellness partners’ within our business community and will leverage those partnerships to bring the message of health and wellness to our residents and businesses alike,” she said. “We hope to expand our outreach through social media and on the township website, and, most importantly, we will be encouraging those who have taken advantage of our programs to share their experiences with their own friends and families.”
Visibility will be higher in 2013, she said, with informational tables at events and logos on windows and doors of wellness partners.
Speaking of wellness partners, Palmer said, Lourdes Health System and Kennedy Hospital are new to the program.
“The Lourdes Wellness Center will continue to partner with our ‘Walk with the Mayor’ program to offer complimentary health screenings to those who come take the two-mile walk with Mayor Cahn each month, and Kennedy will offer free seminars and health classes here at town hall through the spring,” she said.
So, how will 2013 be different in the township compared to prior years?
“Every new year presents an opportunity to reassess your current situation; here in Cherry Hill, the goal is to stay on that course and continue to make decisions that move our township forward efficiently, effectively, and in the best interest of the taxpayers and our community at large,” said Palmer.
School district news
As schools come back from winter break, safety is on the mind of administrators.
“The horrific incident at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut has school districts across the country, including ours, reviewing policies, protocols, and procedures to ensure that emerging issues are adequately covered,” said Cherry Hill School District Superintendent Dr. Maureen Reusche.
An internal assessment of current security measures has begun, Reusche said, and the district will be working with the Cherry Hill Police Department and other local groups for a Comprehensive Risk Assessment.
“As a result of that assessment, I will be bringing forward to the Board of Education recommendations for short- and long-term security enhancements,” she said.
Many initiatives within the school are ongoing from the first part of the school year, she said, including the implementation of the Common Core Standards in all grades.
“We are also working toward the implementation of the new Teacher Evaluation System, which all New Jersey districts must implement in the 2013–2014 school year, and the Principal Evaluation System, which must be implemented for 2013–2014 as well,” said Reusche. “Of course, we are always working to improve student achievement and close achievement gaps where they exist.”
Facility improvements are on the horizon for this year, she said, with more details being released to the public soon.
“District administration and our Board of Education strategic planning committee have been assessing facility needs, analyzing student enrollment projections, and exploring opportunities for improvement of our facilities,” she said.
While the new high school schedule was unveiled last September, students will have another adjustment to make as the 2013–2014 school year begins with an extension of the middle school and high school days by 30 minutes in the morning.
“As we turn the page on the calendar, I know our teachers, principals, administrators, and staff will continue to work collaboratively with our parents for the benefit of all of our students,” said Reusche.
