Schools
Greater Egg Begins Budget Discussion; Busing Still an Issue
More will be known about the budget in February.
The 2012-13 school year is still several months away; however, this is the time when school districts begin formulating their budgets for the next school year. Greater Egg Harbor Regional is no exception.
Board Administrator Charles Mueller, during Monday's school board meeting, said that they've received the initial documents to start the budgetary process.
State aid numbers, he further noted, will come during the second half of February.
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Until then, "right now, everything looks good" within the preliminary budget, he said.
Meanwhile, district officials are still trying to pin down where the problems lie with one of three school bus companies it deals with to transport students to and from school.
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During Monday night's school board meeting, Mueller and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steven Ciccarello noted meetings have taken place, including with the coordinator of transportation.
"What we're trying to do is signal in on which routes" are most problematic and discuss where the problems lie, Mueller said. "Is it the driver? Is it the bus? Are there too many stops on the route? There is a laundry list of things we have to look at."
Ciccarello added that they have met with the owner of Integrity Bus service.
"He is aware of the sanctions," Ciccarello said.
Board member Vicki Hood summed up what many are wondering. "Has there been any improvement?"
Mueller said there has been some, but not enough.
Also during Monday's meeting, the board opted to change February meeting dates. The regular Feb. 6 meeting has been canceled. In its place, meetings have been scheduled for Feb. 13 and Feb. 27. Both meetings will be at Oakcrest High School in Mays Landing, beginning at 7 p.m.
Board members were asked whether they also wanted to meet on Saturdays to talk about the budget, primarily special projects that each of the district's three high schools may have. The other option was to allow those to be discussed at the committee levels and brought back to the board at their regular meeting or during other budgetary meetings. The board opted to go with the latter.
