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Cape May City School District

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Coordinates: 38°56′19″N 74°55′06″W / 38.938706°N 74.918454°W / 38.938706; -74.918454
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Cape May City School District
Cape May City Elementary School
Address
921 Lafayette Street
Cape May
, Cape May County, New Jersey, 08204
United States
Coordinates38°56′19″N 74°55′06″W / 38.938706°N 74.918454°W / 38.938706; -74.918454
District information
GradesPreK to 6
SuperintendentZachary Palombo
Business administratorJohn Thomas
Schools1
Students and staff
Enrollment159 (as of 2022–23)[1]
Faculty24.3 FTEs[1]
Student–teacher ratio6.6:1[1]
Other information
District Factor GroupCD
Websitewww.cmcboe.org
Ind. Per pupil District
spending		 Rank
(*)		 K-6
average		 %± vs.
average
1ATotal Spending$28,76158$18,89152.2%
1Budgetary Cost21,3425713,64956.4%
2Classroom Instruction12,780568,36652.8%
6Support Services3,191542,16147.7%
8Administrative Cost1,837431,46725.2%
10Operations & Maintenance2,861571,55284.3%
13Extracurricular Activities3414339774.4%
16Median Teacher Salary54,9502057,437
Data from NJDoE 2014 Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending.[2]
*Of K-6 districts with any number of students. Lowest spending=1; Highest=59
Cape May City Elementary School

Cape May City School District is a community public school district serving students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade from Cape May, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, at Cape May City Elementary School.[3][4][5]

As of the 2022–23 school year, the district, comprised of one school, had an enrollment of 159 students and 24.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 6.6:1.[1]

Usually, a majority of the students are children of dependents of people at United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, which financially and personnel-wise supports Cape May City Elementary. The district also serves students from Cape May Point,[6] who attend as part of a sending/receiving relationship.[6] This is because its school district, Cape May Point School District, is a non-operating district, meaning it does not operate any schools.[7] In 2016, one student came from Cape May Point.[8]

The district is classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "CD", the sixth-highest of eight groupings. District Factor Groups organize districts statewide to allow comparison by common socioeconomic characteristics of the local districts. From lowest socioeconomic status to highest, the categories are A, B, CD, DE, FG, GH, I and J.[9]

For seventh through twelfth grades, public school students attend the schools of the Lower Cape May Regional School District, which serves students from Cape May City, Lower Township and West Cape May, with students from Cape May Point attending as part of a sending/receiving relationship.[10][11] Schools in the district (with 2022–23 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[12]) are Richard M. Teitelman Middle School[13] with 433 students in grades 7-8 and Lower Cape May Regional High School (LCMRHS)[14] with 757 students in grades 9-12.[15][16]

History

[edit]

Indian Queen School, located in a former hotel and integrated racially, was established in 1860. However it was replaced in 1867 by racially segregated schools on Franklin Street, because James S. Kennedy, the superintendent of Cape May schools, insisted on racial segregation. The black school was in a one room building while the white school had a multi-room wooden structure. A facility with three stories built around the start of the 20th century housed the white elementary school and an integrated high school. The high school later moved into its own building, and in 1928 a new brick facility for black students was opened. In 1948 educational segregation ended after the 1947 New Jersey Constitution banned racial segregation in education.[17]

In 1958, Paul W. Schmitdtchen became the superintendent of the Cape May school. Schmitdtchen decided to create a new high school, and therefore he is considered the father of LCMRHS, which opened in 1961. Schmitdtchen retired in 1972.[18]

In previous eras the student body was about 300 with some students coming from residents of the United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May. Because property values increased in Cape May, fewer local families could afford housing, and the number of Cape May students declined. Prior to the September 11 terrorist attacks there were discussions about reducing employee levels and possibly merging Cape May Elementary and West Cape May Elementary School. After September 11 the Coast Guard presence increased and enrollment increased. The influx of families from the Coast Guard base meant that the school remained open. The Coast Guard officially adopted Cape May Elementary in 2012. Richard Degener of The Press of Atlantic City wrote "What has always been a symbiotic relationship has grown downright cozy".[19]

In 2020 the district gave some land to the city government so the latter could establish a park.[20]

In 2020, the Cape May and West Cape May School District began sharing a single superintendent.[21] In Summer 2021, Zachary Palombo became the shared superintendent of both the Cape May City and West Cape May districts.[22]

Operations

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As of 2013, the taxpayers of Cape May spend under $1.5 million annually, while the Coast Guard spends about $700,000 annually to support the school.[19]

In 2021 there were plans to establish a dedicated path for bicycles between the Coast Guard base and the school so children living on-base have a safer way to travel to school. By June the plans were suspended.[23]

Student body

[edit]

As of 2021 the average student population was around 150.[21] Most students in the district come from the Coast Guard base, with 60% coming from there in 2016.[8] Palumbo stated, as paraphrased by Bill Barlow of The Press of Atlantic City, "it is unlikely the school could remain open" without the Coast Guard students.[21]

Circa 2013 the percentage of Coast Guard students hovered between 43% and 62%.[11]: 16  The percentage of students who come from Coast Guard families has been up to 65%. In 2013 there were 144 students, with 74 being from Coast Guard families. At one time only 25 of the students only came from non-Coast Guard families in Cape May.[19]

In 2016, 25% of students were non-public housing residents who resided elsewhere on Cape May while 15% came from Cape May public housing. Two children were homeless and one lived in Cape May Point.[8]

School and former schools

[edit]

Cape May City Elementary School serves students in grades PreK-6 and served 156 students as of the 2022–23 school year.[24] Its capacity is 227.[11]: 16 

  • Zachary Palombo, principal[25]

Cape May City Elementary School

[edit]

The school historically had a playground designed for older children. Circa 2013 it spent $40,000 to build a playground designed for younger children. Since 25 volunteers from the Coast Guard built the playground, the school administration saved on labor costs and had a larger playground built. The playground is used by community groups. The school also has a pool, a library, and the Dellas little league field, also used by the community.[19]

Cape May High School

[edit]
The former Cape May High School (second building), now Cape May City Hall

The first Cape May High School, built in 1901, was designed by Seymour Davis and built for $35,000.[26] This facility was shared with the white elementary school.[17] In 1917 a new Cape May High School facility was built,[27] with the 1901 building becoming an elementary school.[28] Cape May High School educated students of all races.[29] The former convention hall was used as a basketball arena, baccalaureate venue, an auditorium, and a graduation hall by Cape May High.[30] Paul S. Ensminger, originally from Palmyra, Pennsylvania, served as principal of CMHS for a 24 year period.[31]

Cape May High closed effective December 22, 1960, and LCMRHS opened in 1961.[18] Circa 1970 the first Cape May High School building was demolished, and an Acme Markets location was constructed on the site.[26] The second Cape May High School building in 1961 became the city hall,[32] and it also serves as the police station.[27]

Franklin Street School

[edit]
The former Franklin Street School

In the past Cape May elementary schools were segregated on the basis of race, with black elementary school students attending Franklin Street School.[29] It opened in September 1928,[33] and was the first public school earmarked for black children in Cape May.[34] The school was built with a gymnasium inaccessible from the rest of the building which was used by the high school, integrated but made up of mostly white students. The Franklin Street students used it on rain days when their playground was not usable.[35]

Educational segregation ended in 1948,[34] and therefore the school was decommissioned. The Center for Community Arts, as of 2021, aimed to renovate the building.[33] In 2024, the Cape May City Library of the Cape May County Library moved from a previous location to the renovated Franklin Street School.[36]

Administration

[edit]

Core members of the district's administration are:[25][37]

  • Zachary H. Palombo, superintendent
  • John Thomas, business administrator and board secretary

Board of education

[edit]

The district's board of education is comprised of nine members who set policy and oversee the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. As a Type II school district, the board's trustees are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year held (since 2012) as part of the November general election. The board appoints a superintendent to oversee the district's day-to-day operations and a business administrator to supervise the business functions of the district.[38][39][40]

The Coast Guard has staff who assist with Cape May Elementary graduation events.[19]

Programs

[edit]

The school holds reading events, a triathlon, a Thursday homework club, a boat building contest, and the end of the school year picnic, and the Starry the Bear Coast Guard journey program. The Coast Guard is involved in those programs. The Starry program features a cartoon bear who is shown going through Coast Guard training.[19]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d District information for Cape May City School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  2. ^ Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending April 2013, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 15, 2013.
  3. ^ Cape May City Board of Education District Bylaw 0110 - Identification, Cape May City School District. Accessed February 11, 2023. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through six in the Cape May City School District. Composition: The Cape May City School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Cape May City."
  4. ^ School Performance Reports for the Cape May City School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.
  5. ^ New Jersey County School Directory for the Cape May City School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  6. ^ a b Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Cape May Point School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2020. p. 2 (PDF p. 7). Accessed March 31, 2021. "The District is a sending district and operates no schools and/or facilities. Students are sent on a tuition basis to Cape May City Elementary School for grades PreK-6 and to Lower Cape May Regional School District for grades 7-12."
  7. ^ 13 Non-Operating School Districts Eliminated, New Jersey Department of Education press release dated July 1, 2009. Accessed December 26, 2009.
  8. ^ a b c Cape May City School District 2016 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed July 12, 2017. "The District is a one-school district. 60% of the students come from the United States Coast Guard Training Center based in Cape May; 25% from Cape May City residents; and 15% from the Low-income Housing Authority, one student from the sending district of Cape May Point and 2 homeless students."
  9. ^ NJ Department of Education District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 18, 2015.
  10. ^ Lower Cape May Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Lower Cape May Regional School District. Accessed August 29, 2024. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades seven through twelve. Composition: The Lower Cape May Regional School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Cape May, Lower Township, and West Cape May."
  11. ^ a b c Johnson, Virgil; and Kirtland, James L. "A Feasibility Study to Reconfigure the Lower Cape May Regional School District", Statistical Forecasting LLC, June 2013. Accessed August 29, 2024. "Cape May City is one of three constituent communities served by the Lower Cape May Regional School District ('Lower Cape May Regional'), a limited purpose school district providing education for the middle and high school students from Cape May City, Lower Township, and West Cape May.... Students from Cape May Point attend on a sending-receiving basis."
  12. ^ School Data for the Lower Cape May Regional High School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  13. ^ General Information, Richard M. Teitelman Middle School. Accessed August 29, 2024.
  14. ^ General Information, Lower Cape May Regional High School. Accessed August 29, 2024.
  15. ^ School Performance Reports for the Lower Cape May Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.
  16. ^ New Jersey School Directory for the Lower Cape May Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  17. ^ a b Dreyfuss, Barbara (Spring 2018). "Past, Present and Future of the Franklin Street School". Cape May Magazine. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  18. ^ a b Flud, Tom (June 6, 2011). "Schmidtchen Called 'Father' Of LCMR". Cape May County Herald. Retrieved October 11, 2020. For the four southernmost Cape May County municipalities, [...] [which would be Cape May, Cape May Point, West Cape May, and Lower Township]
  19. ^ a b c d e f Degener, Richard (January 8, 2013). "Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May's presence helps city school thrive". The Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved June 6, 2021. - In print as "Coast Guard a lifeline for Cape May Elementary A school's best friend"
  20. ^ Fichter, Jack (June 23, 2021). "School board miffed at lack of progress on park" (PDF). Cape May Star and Wave. Vol. 167, no. 25. p. 1.
  21. ^ a b c Barlow, Bill (August 21, 2021). "Cape May sees big population drop in census, while home prices soar". The Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  22. ^ Fichter, Jack. "Cape, West Cape schools will share superintendent", Cape May Star and Wave"], June 23, 2021. Accessed September 17, 2024. "Zack Palombo has been approved as new superintendent for Cape May City Elementary School and West Cape May Elementary School by both boards of education through a shared services agreement."
  23. ^ Fichter, Jack (June 23, 2021). "Bike path from USCG base to city's school on hold" (PDF). Cape May Star and Wave. p. A3.
  24. ^ School Data for the Cape May City Elementary School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  25. ^ a b Staff Directory, Cape May City Elementary Schools. Accessed September 17, 2024.
  26. ^ a b Pocher, Don; Pocher, Pat (1998). Cape May in Vintage Postcards. Arcadia Publishing. p. 83. ISBN 9780738537757.
  27. ^ a b Barlow, Bill (May 26, 2020). "Cape May group moves to get public safety building on the ballot". The Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  28. ^ Pocher, Don; Pocher, Pat (1998). Cape May in Vintage Postcards. Arcadia Publishing. p. 83. ISBN 9780738537757.
  29. ^ a b Salvatore, Joseph E.; Berkey, Joan (May 11, 2015). Cape May. Arcadia Publishing. p. 80. ISBN 9781439651285.
  30. ^ Elwell, Robert W. Sr. (August 2010). "Growing Up on the Pier". Cape May Magazine. Retrieved June 12, 2021.
  31. ^ "Lebanon Native, Husband Return To Live In City". Lebanon Daily News. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. July 8, 1969. p. 5. - Clipping from Newspapers.com
  32. ^ Pocher, Don; Pocher, Pat (1998). Cape May in Vintage Postcards. Arcadia Publishing. p. 82. ISBN 9780738537757.
  33. ^ a b "FRANKLIN STREET SCHOOL". Center for the Community Arts. Retrieved June 10, 2021.
  34. ^ a b Miller, Ben (December 15, 2018). The First Resort: Fun, Sun, Fire & War in Cape May, America's Original Seaside Town. West Cape May, New Jersey: Exit Zero. p. 45. ISBN 978-0-9972662-2-1.
  35. ^ Tischler, Susan (February 1, 2005). "Franklin Street School: The Past and the Future". Capemay.com. Cape May, New Jersey: Cape Publishing. Retrieved June 19, 2024.
  36. ^ Barlow, Bill (June 13, 2024). "GALLERY: Cape May launches new library". The Press of Atlantic City. Atlantic City, New Jersey. Retrieved June 14, 2024.
  37. ^ New Jersey County School Directory for Cape May County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  38. ^ New Jersey Boards of Education by District Election Types - 2018 School Election, New Jersey Department of Education, updated February 16, 2018. Accessed January 26, 2020.
  39. ^ Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Cape May City School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2021. Accessed February 11, 2023. "The Cape May City School District (District) is a Type II school district located in Cape May County, New Jersey and covers an area of approximately one square mile. As a Type II school district, it functions independently through a Board of Education. The Board is comprised of nine members elected to three-year terms. These terms are staggered so that three member's terms expire each year. The purpose of the District is to provide educational services for all of Cape May City's students in grades K through 6. Students in grades 7 through 8 attend Richard Teitleman Middle School. Students in grades 9 through 12 attend Lower Cape May Regional High School."
  40. ^ Board of Education, Cape May City School District. Accessed August 29, 2024.
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