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Auditor: State Doesn't Like Stone Harbor School District
Schools | 5 weeks 6 days ago | Comments 6
Stone Harbor Elementary School. Photo by Leslie Truluck.
STONE HARBOR — Auditor Robert Swartz, of Swartz and Co., presented the Board of Education Nov. 18 with its 2008 audit report, of which he said there are no major problems with the exemption of a few minor clerical errors. However, he said the borough should be mindful of its low enrollment.
“The district is well run and operating efficiently but enrollment is continuing to decrease,” Swartz said.
Swartz said he didn’t know how tiny enrollment at Stone Harbor Elementary actually is until he witnessed a fire drill in which he said it appeared to be only one class evacuating whereas it was the entire school.
The one-school district has an enrollment of 89 students at last count.
“It should come to no surprise to you that Trenton doesn’t like you,” he said.
“The state does not want you to exist, but the cost to your taxpayers would likely be significant if you were required to become regionalized with any mainland community.”
The district finished the year with excess surplus of about $125,000, which must be applied to the 2009-10 tax levy to offset increases.
Swartz said two minor problems in the audit include a mistake on part of the borough in which it did not make payment to the school board for all taxed money by the end of the year. By state statute, the borough must pay the school board when funds are needed.
Also, the state Department of Treasury requires all superintendents and administrators to file certifications, Swartz said the district did not file although certifications were complete.
Swartz recommended the board monitor their financial information more closely.
“In a district this size you should be able to use the smell test,” he said.
Contact Truluck at (609) 886-8600 ext. 24 or at: ltruluck @cmcherald.com
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Comments (6)
We welcome your thoughts, stories and information related to this article.
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 12:20pm
Remember a few stories back about how Stone Harbor had no acts of violence or vandalism all year? People in most parts of the country would pay very dearly to have their kids in such a secure environment. I'm aware that sheltering kids can be bad, but we're talking about elementary-age kids who then go on to Middle or Wildwood Catholic. That school is a fantastic asset to the community.
Fri, 11/28/2008 - 12:43pm
This quote says it all. "but the cost to your taxpayers would likely be significant if you were required to become regionalized with any mainland community.” Stone Harbor is able to run an efficient, cost effective school district at the best value to the residents. Even the professional bureaucrat recognized that regionalizing would cost Stone Harbor residents more. Then why do people continue to cry for regionalizing? Because they live on the mainland and don't enjoy the level of service (or the tax base) the Stone Harbor has.
My duaghter went to Stone Harbor Elementary for a couple of years in the late 70's. It was hands down the best education that she received, both before and after.
Fri, 11/28/2008 - 4:16am
Cape May County student population is so small, there should only be 3 regional school districts. I wouldn't want the County to run the school districts, just have the County Superintendent of Schools oversee them.
Thu, 11/27/2008 - 9:38am
Great comment...I wholeheartedly agree.
Wed, 11/26/2008 - 6:46pm
Like many other schools in South NJ, the current school system is not effective. The cost of the school system is burdened by the high cost of administration and operation.
Cape May County should take a leadership position and design a county wide school system,that would provide school buildings based on geographic locations that correspond to the required grade level for the student population. Not based on a specific group of houses in a community.
Wed, 11/26/2008 - 4:55pm
Like many other schools in South NJ, the current school system is not effective. The cost of the school system is burdened by the high cost of administration and operation.
Cape May County should take a leadership position and design a county wide school system,that would provide school buildings based on geographic locations that correspond to the required grade level for the student population. Not based on a specific group of houses in a community.