Consolidation Of Gloucester County K-8 Schools Still Possible

Gov. Phil Murphy now seems to be on board with a plan that could lead to the elimination of nearly 300 New Jersey school districts, including 13 in Gloucester County.

Murphy gave $10 million to New Jersey communities this past week to help promote shared services and study school consolidation. Of that, the governor agreed to set aside $2 million specifically for K-12 regionalization and countywide school district pilots. Read more here: Big Move On Plan To Eliminate Nearly 300 NJ School Districts

The money would back up an effort started by Senate President Steve Sweeney who has been pitching a 32-recommendation "Path to Progress" plan that he, 26 analysts and so-called experts helped draw up last year.

“The goal is to eliminate the administration, put a principal in the school, get rid of the school district, leave a principal, let the regional high school become a K-12 district,” Sweeney said. “You go from 600 districts to 320.”

Sweeney acknowledged that his school consolidation plan would be unpopular, but he also believes that it could provide the state an additional $1 billion.

• East Greenwich Twp, Gloucester
• Elk Twp, Gloucester
• Franklin Twp, Gloucester
• Greenwich Twp, Gloucester
• Harrison Twp, Gloucester
• Logan Twp, Gloucester
• Mantua Twp, Gloucester
• National Park Boro, Gloucester
• South Harrison Twp, Gloucester
• Swedesboro-Woolwich, Gloucester
• Wenonah Boro, Gloucester
• Westville Boro, Gloucester
• Woodbury Heights Boro, Gloucester

The plan proposes merging all K-4, K-5, K-6, K-8, and K-9 school districts into K-12 regional districts to improve the quality of education and promote efficiency. It also calls for the establishment of two countywide school district pilot programs.

See related:
Murphy Deals Blow To Plan That Could Nix Some County Schools

Proposed Laws Could Eliminate 13 Gloucester County School Districts
Consolidation Still Possible For Gloucester County School Districts
Gloucester County School Districts Could Disappear Under State Plan