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School board votes on clubs, nixes some

JERSEY SHORE — Around 14 students from the Jersey Shore Area School District advocated for extracurricular clubs at the district’s board meeting Monday night.

Citing the need for clubs to enhance their academic experience, the students articulated their opinions and in the end the board passed a roster of clubs for the middle and high schools that was not far from the number the board argued against at its meeting earlier this month.

At its earlier meeting, the board said the district could not afford to have the number of clubs that had been scheduled at the beginning of the school year — 36 for the high school and 13 for the middle school. At issue, was the $400 stipend per club for advisors.

During budgetary talks earlier this year the board discussed cutting the number of clubs to 17 for the high school and nine for the middle school, but with Monday’s vote, the number was reduced to 12 for the middle school and 27 for the high school.

The students told the board that clubs were essential for students applying to colleges, which tend to look at the entire scholastic experience, including extracurricular activities. Also, they noted that membership in clubs also is needed in order to be nominated to the National Honor Society,

During the meeting, Jill Wenrich, district superintendent, detailed some cost saving measures the district could make over the next few years in order to deal with an ongoing deficit. School closings, sales of buildings, encouraging cyberschool students to return to the district as well as the possibility of tax increases, were all mentioned by Wenrich. She urged the board to begin discussions and hearings early on the budget issues.

Wenrich also told the board she has cautioned the building principals to consider purchases, saying they were urged to consider “Is this necessary?”

In other business, the board approved the purchase of a hot water heater for the high school from CCSI, Inc. in the amount of $20,763 and associated piping from Winsupply of Elmira in the amount $2,593.90. Funds for the purchase come from the capital reserve account. Wenrich indicated the water heater was in dire need of being replaced when a resident questioned the expenditure.

On two agenda items, the purchase of six Clorox T 360 machines and the approval of Artsonia, a digital art gallery, the board could not get a motion to consider.

Members present were: Craig Allen, Merrill Sweitzer, Karen Stover, Michelle Stemmler, Mary Thomas and Harry Brungard and John Peccia and Kelly Wasson. Christopher Fravel and Mary Thomas were absent.

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