Galloway Investigates Withdrawing From GEHRSD

GALLOWAY- Mayor Don Purdy told the public during a Township Council meeting Tuesday, July 12 that withdrawing from the Greater Egg Harbor Regional School District may be in the best interest of the taxpayers.

“I just believe that the direction the board is going in might not be in the best of Galloway,” Purdy said.

Purdy cited decisions of the Board of Education and Superintendent John Keenan including payment of bonuses and the unexplained dismissal of a popular principal
.

The mayor appointed council members to an exploratory committee to determine if it is worth it for the township to withdraw from the regional school district.

The district is made up of Absegami High School in Galloway, Cedar Creek High School in Egg Harbor City and Oakcrest High School in Hamilton Township. Galloway students attend Absegami, students from Mullica Township and Egg Harbor City attend Cedar Creek, and students from Hamilton Township attend Oakcrest. Port Republic and Washington Township, Burlington County send students to regional high schools on a tuition basis.

Purdy said a study to break up the district was completed in 2004, but at the time, the council determined it was in the township’s best interest to remain in the district.

Council members Tony DiPietro, Tim Meadows and Frank Gargione were appointed to the exploratory committee and will report their findings to the council. However, Purdy said it would take some time and would not be completed in a “week or two.”

“Let’s just see if it is still profitable to be part of Greater Egg. It just seems that ACIT is doing such a great job,” Purdy said, adding that the taxpayers deserve the benefit of an investigation.

Purdy’s remarks came on the heels of protests by students, parents and staff members after Oakcrest High School Principal Joseph Carruth was told in May that he was not being reappointed for the 2016-17 school year.
 At a special school board meeting July 5, a crowd of about 100 supporters unsuccessfully attempted to get the board to reappoint him.
On Monday, July 11, James Reina, who was the principal of Cedar Creek High School in Egg Harbor City, replaced Carruth as principal of Oakcrest.

Keenan announced the appointment in a letter to district staff and parents on the district’s website, and sent to The Current, Friday, July 8.

Purdy, Deputy Mayor Tony Coppola and DiPietro, who is on the township council’s Education Committee, said there were more questions than answers.

http://www.shorenewstoday.com/galloway_township/galloway-mayor-creates-committee-to-explore-withdrawing-from-gehr/article_dc792f5c-490b-11e6-8e07-1bc76a0e0a22.html