Schools
Five Things to Know From the School Board Meeting on Wednesday
The district gets a good audit, continues contract negotiations and more.
- The Board of Education heard a report from Glen Ortman of Ford Scott and Associates about an annual audit that found "no significant deficiencies" in the district's financial systems. The single corrective finding and recommendation said employee withholdings in the payroll agency account should be remitted or turned over in a timely manner. Business Administrator Tom Grossi said after the meeting that the delay in remitting had no effect on employees.
- Ortman reported that the district's finances are "stable" — with a slight increase in reserve fund balance from $1,212,000 to $1,554,000. Grossi said major savings on health benefits and retirements that were announced after the budget was prepared accounted for the savings.
- Cape May County is applying for a grant to pay for improvements to Bay Avenue in front of the . The county sought the school board's opinion on plans that could possibly include a median, a left-turn lane to 18th Street, bike lanes and sidewalks (in some scenarios with the loss of parking spots). The board suggested letting the county know that bike lanes would not be a priority because the Haven Avenue Bicycle Corridor already serves the Intermediate School, and the city is working to improve it and direct bicycle traffic to it.
- Board member Joe Clark reported that contract negotiations with the Ocean City Education Association are ongoing, and a mediation meeting with the New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission is coming up.
- Board member Gregory Donahue congratulated and complimented the work of Karen Gartland-Heist, who recently announced her retirement.
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