(ELDON GRAHAM/The Sun)
The Deptford Township Board of Education convened last Wednesday night at the Deptford High School cafeteria to approve the tentative 2019-2020 budget.
The total budget is $75,594,783, and it was passed unanimously by the board. This is an increase in the base budget of $890,593.The use of these funds is required to be disclosed in the budget motion. These funds will be used specifically to buy things like school buses and to replace the boilers at Deptford High School. The BOE will hold a public budget hearing on April 30 for community questions or concerns.
In other news, Twelve policies that included language in Educational Program Evaluation, Student Discipline/Code of Conduct and removal of students for firearm offenses were approved.
The BOE approved the District Extended School Year program at Central Early Childhood Center, Shady Lane and Monongahela Middle School from July 8 to Aug. 8 from 8:45 to 11:45 a.m. for teachers, and 9 to 11:30 a.m. for students, four days a week, Monday through Thursday.
It also approved the Autistic Extended School Year program at Pine Acres Early Childhood Center, Good Intent and Monongahela Middle School from July 8 to Aug. 8 from 7:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for teachers, and 8 a.m. to noon for students, four days a week, Monday through Thursday.
The New Sharon Extended School Year program was approved from July 8 to Aug. 8 from 7:45-12:15 for teachers, and 8 a.m. to noon for students, four days a week, Monday through Thursday.
It was also a night of celebration as the board of education honored 16 individuals at the meeting.
During the meeting, the following were honored as 2018-2019 Teachers of the Year: Kristen Clay at CECC, Carl Cox at Deptford High School, Janeen DeRusso at Good Intent Elementary School, Melinda Howell at Lake Tract Elementary School, Danielle Hennessy at Monongahela Middle School, Daniele Jacob at Oak Valley Elementary School, Valerie Canataro at PAECC and Tracy Shepherd at Shady Lane Elementary.
The following were honored as 2018-2019 Educational Service Providers of the Year: Lois Vincent at CECC, Carletta Sherry at Deptford High School, Andrea Coghill at Good Intent Elementary School, Vanessa LaTorre at Lake Tract Elementary School, Stephen Hart at Monongahela Middle School, Alexandria Clark at Oak Valley Elementary School, Stephanie Swanson at PAECC and Matthew Hajna at Shady Lane Elementary School.
Superintendent Arthur Dietz spoke with high praise for the educators in his district.
“I think positive listening has helped us. I think it shows us how talented our teachers are,” he said.
Not just the ones that were honored that night but all of them.
“We have a great school district. Great people, great teachers, we should be proud” he added.
Dietz was equally ecstatic about how well the students of the district are doing, specifically the success several students have achieved in the past three weeks.
“I think that Deptford is a beautiful place it is an immaculate place, it’s a live place,” he said. “We are proud of our teachers and our students. I challenge you to go to any other school district and I don’t think they will be doing half of what Deptford is doing. I think we’ve done a remarkable job of putting it out there for everyone to see and everyone to read.”
From sophomore Paige Clegg being named The Sun Newspaper Girls Bowler of the Year to Ms. Hearn and Mrs. Mullarkey’s fifth-grade class at Oak Valley celebrating National Epilepsy Day and raising awareness with purple pretzels, Deptford’s school board has a lot to be proud of and they are not shy about putting it on display.
The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 16 at 7 p.m. at Lake Tract Elementary School at 690 Iszard Road.
