Green Bank Feasibility Study

Table of Content

SECTION I: Background Information Section I-A: Purpose of the Study ………………………………………………………………………… 3 Section I-B: Project Team Composition ……………………………………………………………….. 3 Section I-C: Descriptions of Affected Communities and School Districts ……………. 4

SECTION II: Demographic Information Section II-A: Introduction – Purpose of the Current Study ………………………………….. 7 Section II-B: Data Used in Current Study …………………………………………………………….. 8 Section II-C: Enrollment Trends ……………………………………………………………………………. 9 Section II-D: Economic and Demographic Trends …………………………………………………. 10 Section II-E: Enrollment Projections …………………………………………………………………….. 12 Section II-F: Racial Composition …………………………………………………………………………… 15

SECTION III: Educational Programs Section III-A: Student Information ………………………………………………………………………… 17 Section III-B: Academic Achievement ……………………………………………………………………. 18 Section III-C: School Climate …………………………………………………………………………………. 21 Section III-D: Student Services, Curriculum and Program Offerings …………………….. 22

SECTION IV: Finance Section IV-A: Introduction and Methodology ……………………………………………………….. 24 Section IV-B: Financial Impact on Each District FY 2015/2016 ……………………………. 25

SECTION V: Governance, Legal, Policy Section V-A: Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………………… 27 Section V-B: Legal Analysis – DOE Approval of Non-Operating School Districts ….. 28 Section V-C: Legal Analysis – Green Bank Elementary School Building ……………….. 32 Section V-D: Other Legal Considerations ……………………………………………………………… 33 Section V-E: Governance ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 33

SECTION VI: Summary and Recommendations Section VI-A: Summary ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 34 Section VI-B: Advantages ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 34 Section VI-C: Disadvantages ……………………………………………………………………………………. 35 Section VI-D: Recommendations ……………………………………………………………………………… 35

Appendix 1 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 36 Appendix 2 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 37

Tables

TABLE 1: Enrollment by Group, 2010-2014 …………………………………………………….. 9 TABLE 2: Population Estimates 2010-2014 ………………………………………………………. 11 TABLE 3: Births by Municipality, 2005-2011 ……………………………………………………. 11 TABLE 4: Building Permits by Municipality, 2010-2015 …………………………………… 12 TABLE 5: Enrollment Base Case – Continued Current Relationship, 2010 to 2019 ……………………………………………………………………………………. 13 TABLE 6: Enrollments, Consolidates Case-No Choice Students – 2010 to 2019. 14 TABLE 7: Racial Composition, 2010-2014 ……………………………………………………….. 16 TABLE 8: Enrollment ………………………………………………………………………………………… 18 TABLE 9: Academic Achievement Indicators-Mullica Township PK-4 ………………. 19 TABLE 10: Academic Achievement Indicators-Washington Township PK-4 ……….. 19 TABLE 11: School Climate 2013-2014 …………………………………………………………………. 22 TABLE 12: Status Quo Revenues of Green Bank & Mullica Township FY 2015/2016 …………………………………………………………………………………….. 24 TABLE 13: Revised Revenues of Green Bank & Mullica Twp. If Green Banks Tuitions out all of the Pre-K to Grade 8 Students ……………………………… 26 TABLE 14: NJ Non-Operating Districts ………………………………………………………………… 29

SECTION I BACKGROUND INFORMATION

SECTION I-A Purpose of the Study The Southern Regional Institute and Educational Technology Training Center (SRI & ETTC) has been commissioned by the Washington Township School District of Burlington County for the purpose of reporting on the feasibility of sending all of its PK-8 students to the Mullica Township School District and becoming a non-operating school district. Washington Township School District currently sends grades 5 to 8 students, who would be attending the Green Bank Elementary School, to the Mullica Township Middle School.

The study is being presented through the major topics of 1) background information, 2) demographic information, 3) educational program information, 4) financial feasibility and 5) governance, legal, policy. A summary and recommendations are provided.

Please note, in much of this report, the Washington Township School District of Burlington County will be referred to as Green Bank.

SECTION I-B Project Team Composition Once commissioned by the Washington Township (Burlington County) Board of Education, the Southern Regional Institute and Educational Technology Training Center of the Stockton University assembled a project team consisting of experienced educators, legal counsel and a well-known demographer. The members of the project team included:

• James Giaquinto – Retired Absecon Superintendent and SRI & ETTC Associate Director for Special Projects • Philip W. Heery, Ed.D. – Retired Egg Harbor Township Superintendent and Educational Consultant • John W. Knorr – Retired NJDOE County Business Administrator and School Business Con- sultant. • Richard C. Perniciaro, Ph. D. – Director, Center for Regional & Business Research–At- lantic Cape Community College. • Susan S. Hodges, Esq. – Schwartz, Simon, Edelstein & Celso, LLC

SECTION I-C Descriptions of Affected Communities and School Districts

Mullica Township (Atlantic County) – Demographics & Education At the 2010 United States Census, there were 6,147 people, 2,154 households, and 1,631 families residing in the township. The population density was 108.9 per square mile (42.0/km2). There were 2,360 housing units at an average density of 41.8 per square mile (16.1/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 83.26% (5,118) White, 5.68% (349) Black or African American, 0.23% (14) Native American, 0.68% (42)Asian, 0.03% (2) Pacific Islander, 7.19% (442) from other races, and 2.93% (180) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 17.02% (1,046) of the population.[7] There were 2,154 households, of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.4% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female house- holder with no husband present, and 24.3% were non-families. 18.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.19. In the township, 23.1% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 31.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.7 years. For every 100 females there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.1 males.[7] The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 in- flation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $54,730 (with a margin of er- ror of +/- $11,733) and the median family income was $62,000 (+/- $10,758). Males had a median income of $42,931 (+/- $9,882) versus $41,716 (+/- $5,514) for females. The per capita income for the township was $26,217 (+/- $3,264). About 3.6% of families and 6.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over. The Mullica Township Schools serve students in pre-Kindergarten through eighth grade. As of the 2011-12 school year, the district's two schools had an enrollment of 724 students and 57.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.57:1. Schools in the district (with 2011-12 enrollment data from the Na- tional Center for Education Statistics) are Mullica Township Elementary School with 407 students in grades pre-K - 4 and Mullica Township Middle School with 317 students in grades 5 - 8.

Students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Cedar Creek High School, which is located in the northern section of Egg Harbor City and opened to students in September 2010.[90] The school is one of three high schools operated as part of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional High School District, which also includes the constituent municipalities of Egg Harbor City, Galloway Township and Hamilton Township, and participates in sending/receiving relationships with Port Republic and Washington Township (Bur- lington County). Cedar Creek High School is zoned to serve students from Egg Harbor City, Mullica Township, Port Republic and Washington Township, while students in portions of Galloway and Hamilton townships have the opportunity to attend Cedar Creek through the school of choice program or through attendance in magnet programs offered at Cedar Creek. Students from Mullica Township, and all of Atlantic County, have the option to attend the career technical programs and full-time career academies offered by the Atlantic County Institute of Technology located in the Mays Landing section of Hamilton Town- ship or the Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts, located in Somers Point. Source - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (last modified July 9, 2015)

Washington Township (Burlington County) – Demographics & Education At the 2010 United States Census, there were 687 people, 256 households, and 177.9 families residing in the township. The population density was 6.9 per square mile (2.7/km2). There were 284 housing units at an average density of 2.9 per square mile (1.1/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 93.89% (645) White, 1.89% (13) Black or African American, 0.00% (0) Native American, 0.15% (1) Asian, 0.00% (0) Pacific Islander, 3.64% (25) from other races, and 0.44% (3) from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 9.02% (62) of the population. There were 256 households, of which 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female house- holder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 25.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.16. In the township, 18.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 33.5% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.9 years. For every 100 females there were 106.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.5 males.

The Census Bureau's 2006-2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 in- flation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $96,250 (with a margin of er- ror of +/- $21,869) and the median family income was $108,239 (+/- $9,762). Males had a median income of $19,946 (+/- $15,879) versus $41,250 (+/- $4,961) for females. The per capita income for the borough was $24,808 (+/- $10,822). About 0.0% of families and 21.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.0% of those under age 18 and 0.0% of those age 65 or over. The Washington Township School District serves students in public school for pre-Kin- dergarten through eighth grade at Green Bank Elementary School. As of the 2012-13 school year, the district's one school had an enrollment of 37 students and 4.7 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 7.81:1. The school's $5.4 million building opened in September 2006. Since the 2007-08 school year, as part of an agreement with the Mullica Township Schools, Washington Township receives teaching support from the Mullica district and shares its superintendent, business administrator and other support staff. Washington Township students in grades five through eight attend Mullica Township Middle School as part of a program that has expanded since it was initiated in the 2007-08 school year. Students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Cedar Creek High School, which is located in the northern section of Egg Harbor City and opened to students in September 2010. The school is one of three high schools operated as part of the Greater Egg Har- bor Regional High School District, which also includes the constituent municipalities of Egg Harbor City, Galloway Township, Hamilton Township, and Mullica Township, and participates in sending/receiving relationships with Port Republic and Washington Township. Cedar Creek High School is zoned to serve students from Egg Harbor City, Mullica Township, Port Republic and Washington Township, while students in portions of Galloway and Hamilton townships have the can attend Cedar Creek as an option or to participate in magnet programs at the school. Prior to the opening of Cedar Creek, students from Washington Township had attended Oakcrest High School, together with students from Hamilton Township, Mullica Township and Port Republic.[82] Students from Washington Township, and from all of Burlington County, are eligible to attend the Burlington County Institute of Technology, a countywide public school district that serves the vocational and technical education needs of students at the high school and post-secondary level at its campuses in Medford and Westampton Town- ship.

Source - Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (last modified June 7, 2015)

SECTION II DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

SECTION II-A Introduction - Purpose of the Current Study

In June of 2015, SRI&ETTC contracted with the Center for Regional and Business Research (CRBR) at Atlantic Cape Community College to participate in a study to examine the impacts of closing the Green Bank School (GBS) of Washington Township (Burlington County) and sending all current and future Township students in grades K- 8 to the Mullica Township Middle School (MTMS). This process had already begun in the 2010-11 school year when students in grades 5 – 8 began attending classes in Mullica. The CRBR part of the study was to provide two pieces of vital information:

1. What would be the enrollments if the current relationship was continued over the next five years? This would allow both districts to understand the approxi- mate number of students that would be sent to Mullica Township Middle School over the next five years if no change occurs. It would also provide some longer-term indication of the trend to be expected. Finally, it provides the basis for financial considerations as costs are based on a per student basis.

2. If all Green Bank students attend the Mullica Township School District– currently grades 5 – 8 are sent, what would the enrollments in the Mullica Town- ship School district projected to be in this case over the 2015 – 2019 period. This case assumes that the Choice Program students from Green Bank will not attend school in Mullica Township.

3. How would the racial composition of the student population in the Mullica Township School District change as a result of the proposed move of Green Bank students? This question has been introduced in past considerations by the NJ Department of Education in deliberating requests for changes in district relationships.

In addition to providing the information to directly answer these questions, the results of this part of the study have been incorporated into the analysis provided by other members of the overall study team.

SECTION II-B Data Used in Current Study

Much of the data used in the study is readily available from the website of the New Jersey Department of Education and can be found at: (http://www.state.nj.us/njded/data/enr/). The enrollment data is from the October 15th counts submitted each year for school aid. While the website has data through the 2014-15 school year, information about the Green Bank students attending the Mullica Township Middle School as well as the number and grade level of students attending the Green Bank School under its school choice program were provided for a five year period.

Economic and demographic data can be found at the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s website: http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/lpa/LMI_index.html.

SECTION II-C Enrollment Trends

The historical enrollments for 2010 - 2014 are shown in detail in TABLE 1 below. As the table reports, the increase in combined enrollments has increased from 685 students in 2010 to 746 in the 2014 school year. This is an overall increase of 8.9%. Over this 5-year period, the students in grades 5 – 8 at the Green Bank School were being sent to the Mullica Township Middle School. This included several Choice Program students attending both schools as participants in the Washington Township School District program although the Mullica School District is not a member of this program.

TABLE 1

GREEN BANK FEASIBILITY STUDY CENTER FOR REGIONAL AND BUSINESS RESEARCH, ACCC ENROLLMENT BY GROUP, 2010-2014 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Green Bank School Total 56 39 29 29 34 Mullica Township School District Total 629 664 672 699 712

0 27 32 32 28 Green Bank Students Choice Students 9 12 7 6 3

685 703 701 728 746 Total Enrollment % Change 2.6% -0.3% 3.9% 2.5% Total Enrollment Residents Only 676 691 694 722 743 % Change 2.2% 0.4% 4.0% 2.9%

In any case, the enrollment pattern reflects an increase in the total number of students from Washington Township – due in part to the Choice Program – from 50 to 60 in years 2010 to 2011, then a leveling off of enrollments over the next four years in the 58 – 61 range. By the end of the period, 34 of the 62 students from this district

attended classes in the GBS.

While enrollments from the Washington Township District were leveling off, those in the Mullica District were growing slowly. This was due in part to some growth earlier in the historical period as housing growth in the pre-recession 2000 – 2007 period attracted young families. This caused kindergarten enrollments to grow from 58 in 2010 to 85 in 2013. An examination of the economic and demographic trends will show that future levels are more likely to level off. If the current relationship is continued, a growth of only 26 students is anticipated through 2019. This will be shown in detail in the section on enrollment projections.

SECTION II-D Economic and Demographic Trends: The primary industry of the region remains hospitality, a large part of which is the casino gaming industry in neighboring Atlantic City. In the 1980s and early 1990s, this industry peaked in employment at nearly 50,000 and has since declined to approximately 24,000. The decline of this industry has left the Mullica Township area in transition. With Atlantic County having the highest percentage of its housing stock in foreclosure in the country, there is little to indicate that growth will occur over the five-year forecast period.

Overall growth in the marketplace is illustrated by the population estimates in TABLE 2. The aging of the regional population, the lack of demand for both land and housing, and the restraints imposed by the Pinelands Commission have all led to actual declines in both Mullica and Washington Townships in the most recent year where estimates are available. The same is true for Atlantic County.

TABLE 2

GREEN BANK FEASIBILITY STUDY CENTER FOR REGIONAL AND BUSINESS RESEARCH, ACCC POPULATION ESTIMATES, 2010-2014 Enrollment as of July 1 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Atlantic County 274,762 274,923 275,566 276,167 275,209 % Change from 2010 0.1% 0.3% 0.5% 0.2% Washington Township 684 687 685 684 673 % Change from 2010 0.4% 0.1% 0.0% -1.6% Mullica Township 6,149 6,154 6,177 6,181 6,155 % Change from 2010 0.1% 0.5% 0.5% 0.1%

This leads inevitably to an aging of the population as the lack of employment growth discourages the in-migration of younger households. As TABLE 3 reports, this slowdown and aging of the population results in fewer births and eventually a decline in the rate of school enrollment growth. The peak of 98 births in the combined townships in 2006 fed the kindergarten enrollments in 2001, their peak year. Their steady decline to 69 in 2011, the last year of available data, indicates that declines in in-coming students will decline in the near future.

TABLE 3

GREEN BANK FEASIBILITY STUDY CENTER FOR REGIONAL AND BUSINESS RESEARCH, ACCC BIRTHS BY MUNICIPALITY, 2005-2011 Mother’s Municipality Mullica Washington YEAR TOTAL Township Township 2005 73 3 76 2006 93 5 98 2007 77 6 83 2008 80 6 86 2009 68 3 71 2010 62 7 69 2011 67 2 69 TOTAL 520 32 552

Housing Trends: The current global economic recession began with problems in the housing market, and these are reflected locally. In addition, the decline of the region’s primary hospitality industry has added to the overall national decline in values and demand. However, the small number of permits issued in both townships have failed to keep pace with the County’s pace which is itself sub-par for the state and region. The building permit data reported in TABLE 4 below illustrates this fact in very pronounced terms. Without a replenishment of child-rearing households even current enrollment levels will be difficult to maintain in the long-term.

TABLE 4

GREEN BANK FEASIBILITY STUDY CENTER FOR REGIONAL AND BUSINESS RESEARCH, ACCC BUILDING PERMITS BY MUNICIPALITY, 2010-2015 YTD JULY 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Atlantic County 512 390 441 484 722 459 Mullica Township 12 12 16 18 18 11 % of County 2.3% 3.1% 3.6% 3.7% 2.5% 2.4% Washington Township 3 2 4 2 3 0

SECTION II-E Enrollment Projections

Methodology:

The following methodology was used to develop the projections that follow:

• The cohort-survival worksheet for the Mullica Township School District was completed using NJDOE enrollment data and NJ Department of Health birth data as required for 2005 - 2011. • The enrollments for the Mullica Township School District were independently projected for a five-year period as the base case assuming that the current relationship between the two districts continues. As an alternative, a projection of enrollments based on the closing of the Green Bank School and all Green Bank students attending the Mullica Township School District was developed.

This projection excluded students in the Choice Program run by the Washington Township District with the assumption that the Mullica Township District would continue to operate without this program. This assumption makes very little difference for the final results as the number is very small in relationship to the overall combined enrollments. • Pre-K is not projected as the enrollments in historical and projected years can- not be tied to demographic data unless attendance is mandated. The trends in attendance in Pre-k classes are currently determined more by parental attitude and need than by state policies.

Projections: The projected, aggregated data is summarized in TABLE 5 below. This base case for the Mullica Township School District estimates that enrollments will grow from 712 in 2014 to 747 in the 2019 – 2020 school year.

TABLE 5

As TABLE 6 illustrates, the consolidation of the two schools leads to an overall increase of only 17 students, a result which reflects both no growth in the Washington Township District and the exclusion of Choice Program enrollees.

TABLE 6

Conclusions: The current projections are based on assumptions of a continuation of recent historical trends:

• Housing and demographic trends do not shift unexpectedly, particularly the number of births. With the uncertainty in the regional economy and the continued retirement of the baby-boomer generation, it seems improbable that the mix of residents living in Mullica Township will reverse itself and bring younger families back to the community. Housing pressure will continue to be weak. • The slow growth in school enrollments will continue and if current economic conditions continue, probably decline even more. There is no indication or trend that would cause concern about the acceleration of enrollments in either district.

SECTION II-F Racial Composition

One of the considerations of allowing the dissolution of sending/receiving districts in the State of New Jersey has been racial balance. The analysis here shows what the composition would have been in the past five years if all Green Bank students attended the Mullica Township School District since 2010. Since the racial composition for small townships is very hard to project and there is little reason to believe that drastic changes in overall racial composition will occur in the next five years, this gives a picture based on actual data.

With the potential move of all Green Bank students to the Mullica Township School District, there would be some very small shifts in racial composition in that school. This is due to two factors:

• The relative size of the Green Bank student population is very small. Despite the fact that it has a small percentage of non-White students, it will cause a less than 1% change in overall racial composition.

• Green Bank has very little racial diversity. While the Choice Program did at- tract one non-White student in some years, the overall impact of consolidation will be imperceptible on the much larger combined student body.

TABLE 7 below shows the historical racial composition of the districts involved as well as the results had consolidation been completed in 2010.

TABLE 7

As the table illustrates, the sending population from Green Bank lacks the level of diversity of the Mullica Township School District. However, at approximately only 5% combined populations, racial composition should play a minimal role in the decision to consolidate the two schools.

SECTION III EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

Section III-A Student Information A review of the most recent New Jersey Department School Performance Report (2013-2014) reveals the following data for the Mullica Township and Washington Township Schools (grade span PK to 4).

The New Jersey Department of Education offers the following definitions to individuals interested in securing information on the functions and operations of public school districts within the state:

Enrollment by Grade

Enrollment is the October 15 count as reported on the department’s annual Fall Survey col- lected from each school. The enrollment is reported by grade level for regular and charter schools. For Special Services School Districts and special education schools, the enrollment is reported by class description. For vocational schools, the enrollment is reported by grade level with the addition of shared-time and full-time.

Students with Disabilities

This shows the percentage of students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), including speech, regardless of placement and programs. This is calculated by dividing the total number of students with IEPs by the total enrollment.

Language Diversity

This is the percentage of students in the school by first language spoken at home. The list includes up to seven languages in descending order of frequency plus all others. This is calculated by dividing the number of students who speak a given language by the total enrollment. There is a calculation for each language listed, including English and all others.

Limited English Proficient (LEP) Students

This is the percentage of LEP students in the school. It is calculated by dividing the total number of students who are in limited English proficient programs by the total enrollment.

TABLE 8

Washington Mullica Township To wn s hi p Primary School Green Bank School PK Enrollment 58 9 Kindergarten Enrollment 84 10 1st Grade Enrollment 76 4 2nd Grade Enrollment 77 4 3rd Grade Enrollment 65 5 4th Grade Enrollment 74 n/a Total PK to 4 Enrollment 437 32 Students with Disabilities 69 (16.0%) 2 (6.0%) Economically Disadvantaged 204 (46.7%) 10 (31.3%) Limited English Proficient 0 (0.00%) 0 (0.00%) Language Diversity (English) 96.0% 97.0% Language Diversity (Spanish) 3.8% 3.0% Language Diversity (Turkish) 0.2% n/a Total School Enrollment 2011-2012 (PK-4) 317 45 Total School Enrollment 2012-2013 (PK-4) 330 (+13) 37 (-8) Total School Enrollment 2013-2014 (PK-4) 320 (-10) 32 (-5)

Source - NJDOE 2013-2014 (NJ School Performance Report)

Section III–B Academic Achievement

Academic Achievement measures the content knowledge students have in language

arts literacy and math. In elementary and middle school, this includes the outcomes of the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJASK). The first column - School wide Performance - in Tables 9 and 10 includes measures of the total school wide proficiency rate in both language arts literacy and math. The second column - Peer School Percentile - indicates where the school’s proficiency rate compares to its group of peer schools. For example, a school that has a peer school percentile of 65 has a proficiency rate that is higher than 65% of its peer schools. The third column - Statewide Percentile - indicates where the school’s proficiency rate compares to schools across the state. For example, a school that has a statewide percentile of 30 has a proficiency rate that is higher than 30% of all schools with NJASK scores statewide. The last column - Percent of Targets Met - presents the percentage of progress targets met as defined by the NJDOE’s NCLB waiver.

The Summary row presents the averages of the peer school percentiles, the average of statewide percentiles and the percentage of statewide targets met.

TABLE 9 Academic Achievement Indicators - Mullica Township PK-4

School wide *Peer State % of Targets Academic Achievement Indicators Performance Percentile Percentile Met NJASK Language Arts Proficiency and 54% 33% 23% 25% above NJASK Math Proficiency and above 78% 81% 38% 0%

Summary - Academic Achievement N/A 57% 31% 13%

Source - NJDOE 2013-2014 (NJ School Performance Report)

TABLE 10 Academic Achievement Indicators - Washington Township PK-4

Academic Achievement School wide *Peer State % of Indicators Performance Percentile Percentile Targets Met NJASK Language Arts Proficiency 56% 42% 25% N/A and above NJASK Math Proficiency and above 67% 26% 18% N/A Summary - Academic Achievement n/a 34% 22% N/A

Source - NJDOE 2013-2014 (NJ School Performance Report)

*Peer Schools are schools that have similar grade levels and students with similar demographic characteristics, such as the percentage of students qualifying for

Free/Reduced Lunch, Limited Proficiency programs or Special Education Programs. Listed below are the peer schools for Mullica Township Primary School and the Washington Township (Green Bank) peer schools. A complete listing of peer schools in alphabetical order by county name can be reviewed on the New Jersey Department of Education website.

Mullica Township Primary Peer Schools:

• Atlantic County • Collings Lake Elementary School (Buena Regional) • Dr. J. P. Cleary Elementary School (Buena Regional) • Dr. Joyanne Miller Elementary (Egg Harbor Twp.) • Reeds Road Elementary School (Galloway Twp.) • Roland Rodgers Elementary School (Galloway Twp.) • Smithville Elementary School (Galloway Twp.)

• Burlington County • Gertrude C. Folwell Elementary School (Mount Holly Twp.)

Washington Township Peer Schools

• Atlantic County • Arthur Rann Elementary School (Galloway Twp.) • George Hess Educational Complex (Hamilton Twp.)

• Burlington County • Magowan Elementary School (Edgewater Park Twp.) • Charles Street School (Palmyra Boro.) • Alexander Denbo School (Pemberton Twp.) • Samuel T. Busansky School (Pemberton Twp.)

Federal Suppression of Student Achievement Data:

The additional comparison of academic achievement between Pre-K and fourth grades proved to be difficult if not impossible. Data on the NCLB targets in Language Arts Literacy and Mathematics is available for Mullica Township students as is the NJASK results in Language Arts Literacy and Mathematics for grades three and four. However, due to the low enrollment rates of ten students or less, NCLB and NJASK

data which is generally provided in the NJ School Performance Report is not available for the Green Bank School due to the information being suppressed to protect the confidentiality of students.

Guidelines provided by the Federal government state that in the reporting of assessment results, suppression of numbers should occur in categories where the counts are low, making it otherwise possible to infer the results of individuals. Additionally, data should be suppressed in any category where it is possible to infer individual results through subtraction or other simple mathematical deductions. In practice, it is common to suppress numbers where a group size is equal to ten or less and to suppress totals when it is possible to calculate back to the results of two students. Precautions are also taken when it is possible to infer individual information because all the students in a district, school, or a population group fall into a category or level that has negative connotations associated with it. Suppressed numbers in reports are often replaced by asterisks (or comparable symbols) or by statements such as “greater than” (or “less than”) some percentage. Where any of these devices are used, there should also be some statement that the numbers are suppressed to protect student privacy. District policies regarding data suppression should be written and made available to the public.

Source – NJ Assessment of Skills and Knowledge, 2014 Score Interpretation Manual (Grades 3 – 8, page 29)

Section III–C School Climate

The most current data from the New Jersey Department of Education NJ School Per- formance Report (2013-2014) reveals the following data for Mullica Township and Washington Township (Green Bank School), grades PK to 4.

The New Jersey Department of Education offers the following definitions to individuals interested in securing information on the functions and operations of public school districts within the state:

Length of School Day

This is the amount of time a school is in session for a typical student on a normal school day.

Instructional Time

This is the amount of time per day that a typical student is engaged in instructional activities under the supervision of a certified teacher.

Student to Staff/Administrator Ratio

This section presents the count of students per faculty member or administrator in the school. All staff are counted in full-time equivalents.

Student Suspension Rate

This data presents the percentage of students who were suspended one or more times during the school year.

Student Expulsion

This data represents the number of students who were expelled from the school and district during the school year.

TABLE 11 School Climate – 2013-2014

School Climate During the 2013-2014 Mullica Twp. Green Bank Academic Year (PK-04) (PK-04) Length of School Day 7 hrs.: 20 min. 6 hrs.: 40 min. Instructional Time 6 hrs.: 0 min. 5 hrs.: 40 min. Student to Staff Ratio* 15 to 1 7 to 1 Student to Administrator Ratio* 437 to 1 0 School Suspension Rate 0.2% 3.1% School Expulsion Rate 0% 0%

Source - NJDOE 2013-2014 (NJ School Performance Report)

Section III–D Student Services, Curriculum and Program Offerings

Washington Township (Green Bank) students enrolled in grades 5 through 8 are currently attending the Mullica Township School. Under a current shared services agreement the two school district share the same Superintendent, School Business Administrator, Principal, Curriculum Director and Child Study. Documents provided by the Curriculum Director shared by both districts indicate that the curriculum and resources are identical for both Mullica Township and the Green Bank School. Pre-K to grade 4 students attending the Mullica Township enjoy opportunities to participate in the following after-school activities: 22

• Primary Student Council grades 3 & 4 • Primary Gymnastics grade 4 • Student Dances grades 1 to 5 • Art Club grades 4 to 8 • Wise Guy Challenge Club grade 4 • Chorus grades 4 to 8

In addition, academic enrichments opportunities also exist for Mullica Township students in grades 3 and 4 through Project Excel Tutoring and for students in grades K- 4 as the result of participation in the iRead program. The listed academic and extra- curricular offerings in Mullica Township are not duplicated for Pre K–4 students attending Green Bank Primary School.

SECTION IV FINANCE

SECTION IV-A Introduction and Methodology

The Finance Section in Table 12 will compare the status quo costs of both Green Bank and Mullica Township. Currently, Green Bank is paying tuition for their Grades 5-8 students to attend Mullica Township. The status quo Revenue sources of both districts for FY 2015/2016 will be listed. The report projects the revenue and appropriation changes of both districts if Green Bank would become a non-operating (tuition paying) school district by paying tuition to Mullica Township for all of their PK through Grade 8 students. Green Bank would continue to pay tuition for their high school students attending Burlington County Institute of Technology, Greater Egg Harbor Regional and Atlantic County Special Services School District. Finally, the study will include a description of the impact on taxpayers of both districts if Green Bank would become a non-operating (tuition paying) school district.

The data for the Finance section included the FY 2015/2016 budget documents, cost per pupil records and Application for State School Aid (ASSA) of October 15, 2014 from Green Bank and Mullica Township. Personal and phone interviews with Thomas Baruffi, Superintendent of both districts, and Karen Gfroehrer, School Business Administrator of both districts, were also made.

It must be emphasized that all costs in the Finance section are FY 2015/2016 budgeted costs that are verifiable. It is virtually impossible in today's volatile economic and school finance environment to project future costs in a reasonable manner.

TABLE 12 STATUS QUO REVENUES OF GREEN BANK & MULLICA TWP. FY 2015/2016

GREEN BANK MULLICA TWP. LOCAL TAX LEVY 1,420,963 3,592,852 TUITION REV. 516,347 MISC. REV. 80,856 SCHOOL CHOICE AID 71,868 STATE AID 600,206 5,366,179 FUND BALANCE 249,842 584,931 WITH. MAINT. RES. 27,000 100,000 TRANS. FROM OTHER FUNDS 101,800 MEDICAID REIMB. 16,103 GRAND TOTAL REVENUES 2,369,879 10,359,068

NOTES:

1. If Green Bank becomes a non-operating (tuition paying) school district, it would no longer be a School Choice school district and would lose the $71,868 in School Choice Aid. The overall savings in appropriations would, however, significantly reduce the overall tax levy to Green Bank taxpayers.

2. Mullica Township would have an increase in Tuition Revenues that would be reduced to some extent by absorbing several Green Bank staff members and increased costs for supplies and textbook to educate the new tuition students.

3. The financial impact of these overall changes to both districts will be explained in the next section.

SECTION IV-B FINANCIAL IMPACT ON EACH DISTRICT FY 2015/2016

I. GREEN BANK

A. As indicated in the Appendix, Green Bank would have a net overall reduction of $343,044 in Appropriations if it becomes a non-operating (tuition paying) school district. The gross reduction of $901,733 less the increases in regular education tuition, unemployment compensation, and other employee benefits totaling $558,689 lowers the net overall reduction in Appropriations to $343,044. Green Bank also would lose the School Choice Aid of $71,868, resulting in a net tax reduction of $271,176.

B. The net tax reduction of $271,176 would save approximately $661 per year for the average assessed home of $234,859. It should be noted that Green Bank does not have any Debt Service taxes.

II. MULLICA TOWNSHIP

A. As indicated in the Appendix, Mullica Township would have a net overall increase in Revenue of $318,807, resulting in a tax reduction of the same amount, $318,807.

B. The tax reduction of $318,807 would save approximately $126 per year for the average assessed home of $116,177. It should also be noted that Debt Service taxes were not affected in any of the financial figures

TABLE 13 REVISED REVENUES OF GREEN BANK & MULLICA TWP. IF GREEN BANK TUITIONS OUT ALL OF THEIR PRE-K TO GRADE 8 STUDENTS

GREEN BANK MULLICA TWP. LOCAL TAX LEVY 1,149,787 3,274,045 TUITION REV. 985,317 MISC. REV. 80,856 SCHOOL CHOICE AID STATE AID 600,206 5,366,179 FUND BALANCE 249,842 584,931 WITH. MAINT. RES. 27,000 100,000 TRANS. FROM OTHER FUNDS 44,500 MEDICAID REIMB. 16,103 GRAND TOTAL REVENUES 2,026,835 10,435,828

SECTION V Governance, Legal, Policy

SECTION V-A Introduction

The legal implications associated with closing the Green Bank Elementary School (“Green Bank Elementary” or the “School”), have been reviewed, specifically, whether the state would approve Green Bank as a non-operating school district, and if so, whether the school district would have to repay Pinelands Commission funds used to build the School.

As discussed below, the New Jersey Legislature has mandated that all non-operating school districts be eliminated. Thus, upon the closure of Green Bank Elementary, it is unlikely that the Department of Education (“DOE”) would approve Green Bank as a non-operating school district, unless there was a compelling reason to do so.

Currently, over a dozen non-operating school districts exist in New Jersey. Almost all of these non-operating school districts have sending-receiving relationships with at least two (2) or more school districts, or remain open for financial reasons or other “complexities.” Most recently, an “emergent situation regarding the Sea Isle School District,” which was caused by declining enrollment, budgetary issues, and the end of a shared services agreement, resulted in the creation of a non-operating district in Sea Isle. It is important to note that the Department of Education (“DOE”) initiated closure proceedings in the Sea Isle matter.

In order to be approved as a non-operating school district, Green Bank would have to argue that special circumstances warrant approval of the District as a new non-operating school district. The declining enrollment and resulting budgetary issues, along with the fact that the sending district is in another county, would be factors considered by the DOE in making this determination.

With respect to the Green Bank Elementary school building, nothing in the Pinelands Commissions statute or any other educational funding statutes require the district to pay back PILOT funds used to construct a school. In addition, there is no loan docu- ment or other such agreement that requires the district (or the Township for that matter) to repay the funds used to build the school. If Green Bank is approved as non- operating, the property of the school district remains with the school district. How- ever, if Green Bank were approved as non-operating and was thereafter eliminated, Green Bank Elementary School would become the property of Washington Township.

Specifically, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:8-49, “upon the elimination of a non-operating district [] the municipal governing body of the municipality in which the former non- operating district is located shall take title to and control of all school grounds and buildings, unless the deed on the school grounds and building directs otherwise, and the furnishings and equipment therein, situated in the municipality.”

Mullica Township and Green Bank are currently in a Shared Services Agreement which covers the positions of Superintendent of Schools, Business Administrator, CST, Princi- pal and Curriculum Director. The Agreement also includes the following services: business, cafeteria, child study team, instructional, and speech. If Green Bank becomes a non-operating district, the Agreement becomes null and void.

The Green Bank Education Association (“GBEA”) and the Washington Township Board of Education are currently part of a Collective Bargaining Agreement which covers the period of 2012-13 to 2014-15. It is not clear if a new agreement has been reached for the 2015-16 school year. Presumably there are teachers in the GBEA who have achieved tenure.

Students in Grades 5-8 from Green Bank currently attend the Mullica Township Middle School. Approximately 40 students in grades PK-4 currently attend the Green Bank El- ementary School. Green Bank and Mullica Township currently operate the same PK-4 curriculum. Green Bank is also a choice school district with approximately 5 choice students from other districts attending Green Bank Elementary School.

According to Washington Township Mayor Dudley Lewis, the funds for the Green Bank school were received as part of Pinelands Commission PILOT funds, and the Township was permitted to spend the funds as they would any other applicable funding. In response to an Open Public Records Act request from our office, the Pinelands Commis- sion stated that it had no records reflecting any limitations on the District’s use of the funds.

SECTION V-B Legal Analysis-DOE Approval of Non-Operating School Districts

The New Jersey Legislature has mandated the elimination of non-operating school districts. See N.J.S.A. 18A:8-44. While county superintendents once “ha[d] the author- ity” to eliminate a non-operating school district, they are now required by law to do so. See Bill No. A4141.

County superintendent must merge non-operating districts “with the district with which it participates in a sending-receiving relationship.” See N.J.S.A. 18A:8-44. If a

non-operating district is in a sending receiving relationship with more that one district, or is in a sending receiving relationship with a district in need of improvement under No Child Left Behind, the superintendent must decide which district is able to “absorb the merger with the least disruption to its finances and educational operations. N.J.S.A. 18A:8-44.

Each county superintendent is required to submit a plan to the Commissioner of Edu- cation outlining a plan for eliminating non-operating school districts. See N.J.A.C. 6A:23A-2.4. According to the DOE, by July 6, 2009, 14 non-operating districts had been eliminated by county superintendents. The non-operating districts were merged with the districts in which they participated in a sending-receiving relationship. See Various Reports from Executive County Superintendents to the Commis- sioner of Education at http://www.state.nj.us/education/counties/

Notably, over a dozen non-operating school districts remain unmerged in New Jersey. In a press release dated July 1, 2009, the DOE stated that these districts “will be ad- dressed at a later date.” There has been no further action from the DOE on these re- maining non-operating districts.

The following table describes some of the non-operating school districts that currently exist in New Jersey:

TABLE 14 NJ NON-OPERATING DISTRICTS

Name of Information County Non-Operating Regarding District District For kindergarten through eighth grades, public school students attend Margate City Schools. For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Longport School Ocean City High School. Public school students are Atlantic also eligible to attend the Atlantic County Institute of District Technology in Mays Landing or Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts in Somers Point. Pri- vate school options in the area include Holy Spirit High School in Absecon. For kindergarten through eighth grades, public school students attend the Upper Township School District. For ninth through twelfth grades, public school Corbin City School students attend Ocean City High School. Public school Atlantic District students are also eligible to attend the Atlantic County Institute of Technology in Mays Landing or Charter-Tech High School for the Performing Arts in Somers Point.

For kindergarten through eighth grades, public school students attend Northvale Public Schools. For ninth through twelfth grades, public school students attend Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan. Rockleigh School Public school students are also eligible to attend the Bergen secondary education programs offered by Bergen District County Academies in Hackensack and Bergen Tech in Teterboro or Paramus. The District offers programs on a shared-time or full-time basis, with admission based upon a selective application process and tuition covered by the student’s home school district. For kindergarten through twelfth grades, public school students attend school in Hasbrouck Heights. Public school students are also eligible to attend the Teterboro School secondary education programs offered by Bergen Bergen County Academies in Hackensack and Bergen Tech in District Teterboro or Paramus. The District offers programs on a shared-time or full-time basis, with admission based upon a selective application process and tuition covered by the student’s home school district. Pine Valley School For kindergarten through twelfth grades, public school Camden students attend Haddonfield Public Schools. District Chesilhurst School For kindergarten through twelfth grades, public school Camden students attend the Winslow Township School District. District For kindergarten through eighth grades, public school Hi-Nella School students attend Oaklyn Public School. For ninth Camden District through twelfth grades, public school students attend Sterling High School. For pre-kindergarten through sixth grades, public school students attend Cape May City Elementary Cape May Point School. For seventh through twelfth grades, public Cape May School District school students attend the Lower Cape May Regional School District.

West Wildwood For pre-kindergarten through twelfth grades, public Cape May school students attend the Wildwood Public School School District District. For kindergarten through sixth grades, public school Newfield School students attend Franklin Township Public Schools. For Gloucester District seventh through twelfth grades, public school students attend Delsea Regional High School. For kindergarten through twelfth grades, public school Allenhurst School students attend Asbury Park Public Schools. Public Monmouth District school students also have the option to attend Academy Charter High School in Lake Como. For kindergarten through eighth grades, public school students attend West Long Branch Public Schools. For Interlaken School ninth through twelfth grades, public school students Monmouth District attend Shore Regional High School. Public school students also have the option to attend Academy Charter High School in Lake Como. For pre-kindergarten through eighth grades, public Lake Como School Monmouth school students attend Belmar Elementary School. For

District ninth through twelfth grades, public school students can either attend Manasquan High School or Asbury Park High School. Students may also attend Red Bank Regional High School, Marine Academy of Science & Technology, Academy of Allied Health & Science, Academy Charter School, High Technology High School, Communications High School or Biotechnology High School. Sea Isle City Ocean City Public Schools Cape May School District

The above indicates that most of the districts that remain open have sending-receiving relationships with multiple school districts. With respect to current existing non- operating districts, the DOE has stated the following:

The Department’s plan to reengage Executive County remains the desired course. The non-operating district merger law (N.J.S.A. 18A:7-8) was crafted to ensure that neither the sending nor receiving district would be financially harmed by the newly merged status – both in the short term or over time. The Executive County Superintendents determined that about a dozen non-operating districts should be left unmerged until the complexities of merging the districts could be resolved. For some of the re- maining districts, any merger would result in significant financial disruption. For others, there is a question of how to facilitate the merger because of other complexities. The Department does not anticipate requir- ing any districts to merge if there is no real benefit to one or both districts.

See Department of Education, Discussion Points, FY 2013-20141

Despite the above declaration of the DOE, in 2012 the DOE approved Sea Isle City as a new non-operating district. In addressing the situation in Sea Isle City, the DOE noted the following:

At the end of April 2012, an emergent situation regarding the Sea Isle School District resulted in the creation of a new non-operating school district. Due to declining enrollment and the end of a shared services agreement for administrative services with the Ocean City School Dis- trict, Sea Isle was unable to develop a sustainable, educationally sound

1 Found at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/legislativepub/budget_2014/DOE_response.pdf

budget for the 2012-2013 school year. The result was the close of the Sea Isle School District, an expansion of the sending-receiving relationship between Sea Isle and Ocean City and the creation of a non-operating district in Sea Isle.

Id.

In seeking to close Green Bank Elementary, the District will have to demonstrate sub- stantial financial issues or other complications that warrant keeping the district open as a non-operating school district. It is not likely that the DOE would approve a new non-operating district in the current climate with the DOE’s preference to eliminate non-operating districts. However, despite the DOE’s stated preference for eliminating non-operating districts, Green Bank could argue that it’s declining enrollment and the resulting budgetary issues, along with the “complicating factor” that the current sending district is in another county, warrant the creation of Green Bank as a non-operating district. The financial implications are such that we believe a good-faith argu- ment could be made on behalf of Green Bank. The District would have to work through the Executive County Superintendent pursuant to Title 18A to seek approval from the DOE.

SECTION V-C Legal Analysis – Green Bank Elementary School Building

There is nothing in the Pinelands Commissions statute or in any of the other educational funding statutes that require a district to pay back funds used to construct a school. Further, Washington Township Mayor Dudley Lewis stated that the funds for the School were received as part of Pinelands Commission PILOT funding, and the Dis- trict was permitted to spend the funds as they would any other applicable funding. Notably, the Pinelands Commission does not have any record of any documents limit- ing the District’s use of the funds.

If Green Bank is approved as non-operating, the property of the school district remains with the school district. However, if Green Bank were approved as non-operating, and was thereafter eliminated, Green Bank Elementary School would then become the property of Washington Township. Specifically, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 18A:8- 49, “upon the elimination of a non-operating district [] the municipal governing body of the municipality in which the former non-operating district is located shall take title to and control of all school grounds and buildings, unless the deed on the school grounds and building directs otherwise, and the furnishings and equipment therein, situated in the municipality.”

SECTION V-D Other Legal Considerations

As noted above, GBEA and the Washington Township Board of Education are currently part of a Collective Bargaining Agreement which covers the period of 2012-13 to 2014- 15. It is not clear if a new agreement has been reached for the 2015-16 school year. However, there may be some teachers in the GBEA who have achieved tenure. Pur- suant to N.J.S.A. 18A:28-6.1 “any board of education in any school district in this state shall discontinue . . . any elementary school . . . and shall, by agreement with another board of education, send the pupils in such schools or grades to such other district, [and] all teaching staff members who are assigned for a majority of their time in such school, grade or grades and who have tenure of office at the time such schools or grades are discontinued shall be employed by the board of education of such other district in in the same or nearest equivalent position . . .” Accordingly, any merger agreement with Mullica must take into account the tenure rights of GBEA members.

In addition, it is our understanding that there are currently five Choice students attending Green Bank. Mullica is not a Choice school district. The school Choice statute does not contemplate a Choice district becoming a non-operating district. How- ever, the statute does indicate that if a student completes that last grade in a choice district that the student must return to their resident district or may apply to another Choice school. If the student needs to change schools because they have completed all of the grades in the Choice district, they must reapply to another choice district with the desired grades. If Green Bank were to become a non-operating district, it is likely that any choice students would have to return to their resident district and, if desired, reapply to another choice school.

SECTION V-E Governance

Green Bank would maintain its Board of Education if it changes to a non-operating district. The Board of Education will still provide fiscal oversight and adopt a yearly budget. Meeting dates will be set by the Board of Education. Costs will be incurred for Business Administrator and legal services. Most non-operating districts consider these part time positions and the costs are minimal. Since Mullica Township currently provides shared administrative services to Green Bank it is not anticipated that any administrative costs associated with Green Bank changing to a non-operating status will exceed its current budgeted amount.

SECTION VI Summary and Recommendations

Section VI–A Summary

Based on the data and information presented and analyzed in this study, there are several advantages and few disadvantages to Green Bank sending all PK-8 students to the Mullica Township School District and changing to a non-operating school district. It must be stated that the reluctance of the DOE to approve districts to a non-operating status can be a potential barrier. Also, the tenure rights of GBEA members must be considered. The consultants have identified the following advantages and disadvantages for consideration.

Section VI–B Advantages

Demographics • Based on demographic trends and enrollment projections the Mullica Township School District has the capacity to accommodate PK-8 students from Green Bank. • Changes in racial composition would be minimal for the Mullica Township School District. • There would be little, if any, impact on enrollment in the Mullica Township School District in the areas of special education, economically disadvantaged, or ELL.

Educational Program • PK-4 students from Green Bank would have the advantage of a longer school day and instructional day at the Mullica Township Primary School. • K-4 students from Green Bank would have the opportunity to participate in several after-school activities at the Mullica Township Primary School. These activities are not currently offered in Green Bank. • K-4 students from Green Bank would have academic enrichment opportunities at the Mullica Township Primary School that are not currently offered in Green Bank. • The approved curriculum in both districts is identical assuring a consistent educational transition for Green Bank students.

Finance • Green Bank taxpayers would have a significant overall local tax levy savings of $271,176 if it changes to a non-operating school district. A savings of approximately $661 in school taxes would be realized for the average assessed home of $234,859. • Mullica Township would have a significant overall local tax savings of $318,807 if all PK-8 Green Bank students attend the Mullica Township School District. A savings of approximately $126 in school taxes would be realized for the average assessed home of $116,177. • There will be no increase in transportation costs if all PK-8 Green Bank students attend the Mullica Township School District.

Governance, Legal, Policy • The Washington Township School District has zero debt and is not required to pay back funds used to construct the Green Bank School.

Section VI-C Disadvantages

Finances • Green Bank would lose its designation and related state aid as a School Choice district if it changes to a non-operating district. • Mullica Township would have a reduction in General Fund Shared Services income of $57,300.

Governance, Legal. Policy • Choice students from Green Bank would return to their resident district if it changes to a non-operating district.

Section VI-D Recommendations

• Seek input from all stakeholders regarding the study and its implications. • Promptly initiate discussions with the Burlington County Executive Superinten- dent of Schools regarding the possibility of Green Bank changing to a non-operating school district.

APPENDIX 1

CHANGES IN GREEN BANK FY 2015-2016 GENERAL FUND IF IT BECOMES A NON-OPERATING DISTRICT

REDUCTION IN APPROPRIATIONS AMOUNT

REGULAR ED. PROGRAMS 378,126.00 SPECIAL ED., BASIC SKILLS, BILINGUAL 53,603.00 INSTRUCTION; SPEECH, OT/PT & EXTRAORDINARY SERVICES TENDANCE & SOCIAL WORK, HEALTH. 83,940.00 GUIDANCE, CHILD STUDY TEAM, ED. MEDIA SERVICES IMPROVEMENT OF INSTR. SERVICES & INSTR. STAFF TRAINING SERVICES 29,177.00 GENERAL ADMINISTRATION 15,550.00 SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION 12,200.00 BUSINESS OFFICE & ADMINISTRATIVE TECHNOLOGY 1,351.00 OPERATION & MAINTENANCE OF PLANT SERVICES 139,453.00 STUDENT TRANSPORTATION SERVICES 4,200.00 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS 181,133.00 EQUIPMENT 3,000.00

SUBTOTAL – REDUCTION IN APPROPRIATIONS 901,733.00

LESS: 1. INCREASE IN REGULAR ED. TUITION -468,970.00 2. INCREASE IN UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION -76,029.00 3. INCREASE IN OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFITS -13,690.00

FINAL NET OVERALL REDUCTION IN APPROP. 343,044.00

APPENDIX 2

CHANGES IN MULLICA TOWNSHIP FY 2015-2016 GENERAL FUND IF GREEN BANK TUITIONS OUT ALL OF THEIR PRE-K TO GRADE 8 STUDENTS

REVENUE:

INCREASE IN TUITION REVENUE:

1. PRE-K STUDENTS – 14 @ $13,073 $183,022.00

2. GRADES 1 TO 4 STUDENTS – 26 @ $10,998 $285,948.00

SUBTOTAL – INCREASE IN TUITION REVENUE $468,970.00

LESS: REDUCTION IN SHARED SERVICES REVENUE -$57,300.00

SUBTOTAL- GROSS INCREASE IN REVENUE $411,670.00

LESS – INCREASE IN APPROPRIATIONS: 1. INCREASE IN SALARY & BENEFIT COSTS FOR ABSORBING GREEN BANK STAFF MEMBERS -$89,103.00

2. INCREASE IN SUPPLY & TEXTBOOK COSTS FOR THE ABOVE 40 NEW TUITION STUDENTS -$3,760.00

FINAL NET OVERALL INCREASE IN REVENUE $318,807.00