Monday, December 16, 2002

Committee to Explore Consolidation of County Special Services School and Vocational Technical School Districts

Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson announced today the appointment of a special advisory committee to evaluate consolidation of the county Special Services School District and Atlantic County Vocational Technical School District. According to Levinson, this action is in response to S-2030, currently pending in the New Jersey State Senate, that would permit consolidation of a county Vocational School District and a county Special Services School District into a single school district.

As currently drafted, the legislation is permissive and has not yet been enacted into law. "As this proposal winds its way through the legislative process, one can assume it will generate considerable discussion at both the state and local level. I would like to prepare Atlantic County to participate in that discussion in a meaningful way," Levinson said. "Therefore, I am appointing an Ad Hoc Special Advisory Committee to review the advantages and disadvantages of consolidating the two Atlantic County School Districts should the legislation become law. I will ask this advisory committee to review the issues associated with such a proposal and to recommend how Atlantic County Government should respond."

The advisory committee will be charged with evaluating how consolidation may impact the following areas: students, educational programming, Vo-Tech Career Academies, professional and paraprofessional staff, administrative and financial staff, facility utilization and maintenance, future facility needs, and budgets and funding.

Acting County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Dan Loggi, will serve as chairperson of the committee. Members will include: Phil Munafo, member, SSSD Board; Marilyn Gallagher, member, SSSD Board; Bob Linzner; member, Vo-Tech School Board; Cliff Nusbaum, member, Vo-Tech School Board; Freeholder Jim Curcio; Freeholder James Carney and member Board of School Estimates; Debbie Davies, President, Atlantic County ARC; Jerome Johnson, President, Family Service Association, Max Slusher, Assistant Dean of Research, Atlantic Cape Community College.

The committee is expected to begin its work in early January 2003 and complete its report no later than the end of April.

For more information, please contact Howard J. Kyle, Chief of Staff, at (609) 343-2223.

County News