Teachers speak out against budget cuts - Warn of decrease in quality of education 3/24/05

Assessments

Here's what the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 would pay in taxes under the proposed 2005-06 Buena Regional school budget:
 

BUENA VISTA -- Buena Regional School District educators warn any further cuts to next year's $33.9 million budget proposal would seriously impair the quality of education here.

The Board of Education voted 6-2 on Tuesday night to send the plan for a public vote April 19. Members Tobin Nilsen and Barbara Caselli voted against it.

Voters have repeatedly rejected the district's spending plans in recent years.

Superintendent Diane DeGiacomo said government requirements, unanticipated expenses and a general rise in costs are why a tax increase is needed to support the budget.

"We can't cut this budget any more than we already have because education will suffer," she said. "There are many things that this budget must cover for which we have no choice, such as state and federally mandated programs which keep increasing every year. Last year, we had to pay $100,000 to educate homeless children whose last known address was in the borough. We're responsible for paying for their education if they wind up homeless and living in a motel in another municipality. This was an unanticipated expense which we could not have foreseen."

John Anderson, a board member for the past 29 years, pointed out that the city of Camden owes the district $30,000 for un-reimbursed tuition for students who once lived in either Buena or Buena Vista who are now homeless.

Susan Girardi, a retired teacher and a board member, gave another example of rising expenses: She said textbooks that cost $5 or $10 two decades ago now cost $100 apiece.

"We're also being required by the state to install a security system in the school, which will be costly," she said. "It's a sign of the times. Years ago, you didn't need security on school buildings. Fuel costs are going up, too."

Dan Benedetto, principal of Collings Lakes School, said first-grade classes now have 29 children and are getting bigger.

High school Principal Ken Soboloski said consistently high test scores in all grade levels would cease to be a reality if the budget is cut further.

"This is a bare-bones budget which keeps staff at status quo -- there is nowhere we can go to cut it further. We have no surplus from which to draw for property tax relief," Soboloski said.

Correction 3/23/05

A news brief on Tuesday's Local page gave an incorrect list of candidates seeking seats on the Buena Regional Board of Education next month. David Capizola, Tobin Nilsen and Louise Rainear are seeking seats in Buena Vista. Susan Girardi and Gregory McAvaddy are competing for a seat in Buena Borough. The name of a candidate who is dropping out of the election, Jane Krokos, was misspelled in the same news brief.

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Unfinished business for Wilcox ~ Wrestling for his brother, Chiefs sr. turned in memorable season 3/21/05

No matter what anyone says, what anyone writes or what anyone explains to Mike Wilcox, the Buena Regional High School wrestler knows nothing will influence his take on the 2004-05 season.

Through Wilcox's eyes, his senior year was a disappointment.

Never mind the 32-6 record.

Never mind the handful of wins over many of the state's best 189-pound wrestlers.

Never mind the District 32 individual title.

Never mind the team's Cape-Atlantic League National Conference and South Jersey Group II titles.

And, especially, never mind the fifth-place medal he earned at the New Jersey State Wrestling Championships.

"My entire focus was win states, win states, win states," Wilcox said. "I'll never be satisfied because I didn't win states."

Wilcox dedicated his season to older brother Ricky, who died last June in a one-car accident. A three-time state qualifier, Ricky Wilcox died the day before he was supposed to graduate from Buena.

At Ricky's funeral, Mike Wilcox vowed to win a state championship in his brother's name. His dedication to his sport showed he would accept nothing less.

"He was in the weight room the day after (the funeral). I know because I had to unlock the door for him," Buena coach Doug Castellari said. "This was an incredibly focused kid."

Mike Wilcox did almost everything right in 2004-05. Of his six losses, two came to eventual state champion Vince Jones; two came in the Beast of the East tournament in Delaware, and two came at the state tournament.

"A lot of people forget that he really didn't have a good (junior) year," Castellari said. "He wasn't even close to making it (to states). ... This year he was phenomenal. He was one of the state's best. He proved that, no matter what the final result."

Wilcox did win a district title in 2004, but he lost in the region semifinals and wrestlebacks. He missed significant time with a hand injury and finished the year with a 15-8 record.

Wilcox put on nearly 30 pounds of muscle in the offseason and came into 2004-05 as a ferocious, determined wrestler. He won many of his bouts by first-period pin and appeared poised to threaten Jones' reign as state champ. Even after Jones pinned him at regions, Wilcox was confident he could win a rematch.

"I knew all I had to do was get there, and it would go my way," said Wilcox, who lists North Carolina State and Johnson & Wales University on his short list of colleges. "I just froze up a little in the semifinals. I didn't open up. I get more nervous in the semis than I do the finals, and that cost me."

In that state semifinal, Wilcox and New Providence's Shane Mallory exchanged escapes before the bout went to double overtime. Wilcox chose bottom and needed to escape in 30 seconds to win. He appeared ready to get out with seconds left, but the referee whistled a stalemate, virtually ending the bout.

Wilcox said not winning the semifinal bout will sit with him for a long time.

"I did OK this year, but it's not what I wanted," he said. "At states, it was first or nothing. I put a lot of pressure on myself."

Those closest to Wilcox think that one day, maybe years from now, all his accomplishments will settle in, and the effort he made will become clear in his mind.

"I really hope he can enjoy it," Wilcox's dad, Bill, said the day after Mike lost in the state semifinals. "It's been a nice ride."

The rest of The Daily Journal's 2005 Wrestling All-Stars (in alphabetical order):

Mickey Aikens, Delsea -- Showed vast improvement from a year ago, winning the District 31 heavyweight title while going 24-9. A senior team leader, he finished fourth in Region 8, just a win short of a state berth.

Anthony Badaracco, Buena -- Season didn't finish the way he wanted, but the senior 140-pounder went 29-6 and won his second consecutive District 32 championship. Placed fourth in Region 8 and was tabbed first-team all-Cape National.

Matt Bailey, Schalick -- Junior 171-pounder used athleticism and strength to win the District 31 title. Went 20-8 on the season for the Tri-County Classic champion Cougars.

Shacoi Berry, Millville -- Junior 135-pounder won first District 31 crown and was second at Region 8, making the state tournament for the first time. Second-team all-Cape American grappler finished 28-7.

Jake Fedechko, Delsea -- The junior Woodstown transfer went 25-7 and won the District 31 crown at 145.

Frank Gayeski, Delsea -- Senior won the 140-pound title at the District 31 and Region 8 tournaments, advancing to his first state tournament. Went 30-5 -- including his 100th career victory -- leading the Crusaders to the Tri-County Royal crown.

Ryan Grusemeyer, Buena -- Freshman made a quick splash onto the wrestling scene, rolling to the District 32 championship at 119 pounds. Finished debut season at 19-12 and was first-team all-Cape National.

Kieran Higgins, Schalick -- Cougars junior surprised many when he came back from a nasty elbow injury to win the District 31 title at 130 pounds. Finished year 23-8 and has state qualifier written all over him.

Ricky Hyson, St. Augustine Prep -- Didn't wrestle as a sophomore, but went 29-9 in his junior year, taking third in District 32 and Region 8 and earned a spot at states.

Steven Jillard, Sacred Heart -- Became just the second Lions wrestler to reach the Region 8 quarterfinals. Junior finished third at District 31 at 103, finishing the year at 24-6.

Tim Magee, Delsea -- A nice end to the senior 103-pounder's career. Magee went 25-8, won the District 31 title and was fourth in Region 8.

Justin Rivera, St. Augustine Prep -- Just a sophomore, the 103-pounder won District 32 and Region 8 crowns without giving up an offensive point. Finished 28-8 while advancing to his first state tourney.

Deron Sharp, Millville -- Junior 215-pounder won his first District 31 championship while posting a 25-4 record. Should be a state qualifier in 2006. All-Cape American first team.

Bobby Shea, Buena -- A consumate technical wrestler, the senior 130-pounder was second in District 32. Went 24-7 on the year, helping Buena to Cape National and South Jersey Group II titles. Second-team all-Cape National.

Bill Smashey, Delsea -- Senior 160-pounder dismantled competition in winning District 31 and Region 8 championships. Reached his second state tournament, finishing the year at 27-5.

Aaron Wilcox, Schalick -- Just a sophomore, the 119-pounder was a state qualifier for the second year in a row, going 29-3. Won Region 8 title and was second in District 32.

Paul Zemanik, Buena -- Senior 215-pounder eclipsed the 100-win mark on the way to winning the District 32 title with a 28-6 record. Also finished third in Region 8, qualifying for states for the second year in a row. First-team all-Cape National.

Honorable mention

Bryan Danner, Tim DeLouise, J.D. Roslatov, Vineland; Josh Caban, Jeremiah Gant, Rick Moser, Millville; Jeff Etherton, John Muccirelli, Sacred Heart; Jason Vilimas, Mike Nelson, Ben Lloyd, Delsea; Drew Pizzo, Cumberland Regional; DeJuan Corbitt, Buena; Mike DiGalbo, Kevin Kim, Jose Matos, St. Augustine Prep; Eric Wilson, James Woodley, Schalick.

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Buena Vista taxes still on the rise 3/14/05

At a glance

Under the proposed budget, the tax rate would increase from 47 cents per $100 of assessed value to 49.8 cents. That means the owner of a $100,000 home would pay $498 in municipal taxes, up from $470 a year ago.
 

BUENA VISTA -- Municipal taxes are going up almost 6 percent under a budget being considered here, and some residents are dismayed by that thought.

"I think all you're going to get are property tax increases every year because that's what you get when you are stuck in the Pinelands and can't attract industry," said Dennis Reilly of Weymouth Road, who manages a small grocery store.

Buena Vista residents with homes assessed at $100,000 can expect a $28 increase in their municipal tax bills this year under the 2005 spending plan introduced last week by the Township Committee. A final hearing and budget adoption are set for April 4.

The $4.1 million budget is up $60,000 from last year, and officials don't expect to cut any essential services, according to Township Administrator Ronald Trebing.

He attributed the proposed tax hike to:

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Taxes on rise for local homeowners 3/9/05

At a glance

Here's what the owner of a home assessed at $100,000 would pay in taxes under the proposed 2005-06 Buena Regional school budget:
 

BUENA VISTA -- It's going to cost homeowners here and in Buena Borough hundreds of extra dollars to maintain an educational status quo in the school district under a budget unveiled this week.

Buena Regional School District Superintendent Diane DeGiacomo outlined the proposed tax hikes for next year as they would affect owners of homes assessed at $100,000:

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Buena falls on federal watch list 3/8/05

BUENA VISTA -- Buena Regional is one of 30 school districts statewide that are "in need of improvement" and face such action as a possible state takeover if they don't get better, the N.J. Department of Education announced Monday.

The designation, based on students' standardized test scores, is for districts that fail to meet criteria of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

While the number of districts given notice was low, those school systems are responsible for the education of more than one-sixth of New Jersey's public school students.

For now, the price for districts landing on the list is low. They must notify parents of the designation, develop an improvement plan and put some of their federal funds toward professional development for teachers.

But for districts that make the list three years in a row, the penalty will be much stiffer. The state could take over districts or break them up. Administrators and teachers could be replaced and federal aid could be taken away.

Buena Regional Superintendent Diane DeGiacomo said the label "in need of improvement" is, in part, a byproduct of her district's well-documented budget difficulties.

"We've lost 12 teachers and two guidance counselors over the last three years to get (under budget). We've had three budgets defeated," DeGiacomo said. "If we have to keep cutting teachers like this, it's going to be a disaster."

She noted the district was close to the threshold for the designation, with Cleary Middle School as the biggest problem area, the data suggested.

Education Commissioner William L. Librera said his staff set the complex criteria for the undesired list as fairly as it could. But he said it's the federal government's education law -- not the state's -- that requires all students in each state be held to the same standards.

"These are not our rules and we are not necessarily endorsing the implementation of NCLB in terms of fairness," Librera said.

Districts were evaluated on whether they demonstrated success in 40 categories. All schools in a district must achieve 90 percent of those educational indicators to stay off the "in need of improvement" list. Cleary was the only school in Buena Regional not to do so, with 87.5 percent achievement.

"The teachers are doing a great job with minimal resources. It's a shame they're going to be labeled like this. It's a vicious cycle," DeGiacomo said.

Of the 12 teaching positions lost in the district, DeGiacomo, said six were eliminated from Cleary, leading to bigger class sizes and, in turn, lower test scores.

"Cleary has been hit the hardest by staffing issues," she said. "We'll probably lose two more teachers with this (upcoming) budget."

Other South Jersey districts listed as "in need of improvement" include Hammonton, Atlantic City, Camden and Winslow. The Vineland and Millville school districts did not make the list.

"I would say the programs and professional development we put into place are making a difference," said Marie Adair, Vineland's assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

This includes "the before- and after-school programs and the support we give to all the students," she said.

Vineland Superintendent Clarence Hoover said, "It validates our efforts."

DeGiacomo said there was one positive to come out of the designation: In its long-running battle for Abbott aid --the special aid given by the state to its poorest districts -- Buena Regional now appears to have more ammunition to secure the funds.

"The education commissioner said we weren't eligible because our test scores were too high," she said. "If all of that has changed, why isn't the state board ruling on our request?"

Staff Writer Deborah M. Marko and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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State says four school districts in area 'need improvement' 3/8/05

TRENTON - Buena Regional School Superintendent Diane DeGiacomo is frustrated and angry.

Last year the state Education Commission-er ruled that Buena is not eligible for Abbott special-needs status, largely because students there perform too well on state tests. The Milanesi School was even named a Gov-ernor's School of Excellence.

On Monday, the state Department of Educa-tion announced that Buena is among 30 school districts identified as "In Need of Improvement" under the federal No Child Left Behind law because their test scores aren't quite good enough.

"I've lost 12 teachers and two guidance counselors over the last three years because the budget has been defeated," DeGiacomo said. "Class sizes are up, and some programs are out. Yes, there are areas where we need to improve. But last year the state said our test scores were too high to be an Abbott. Does this mean now we're going to get the money?"

Atlantic City, Hammonton, and Middle Township were also among the districts identified by the state. The targeted districts represent about 17 percent of the students in the state and include some of the state's largest urban districts, including Newark, Jersey City, Trenton and Camden.

Four districts are still appealing. Three charter schools were also identified, though none locally.

If those districts make the list two years in a row, parents could request to move their children to another public-school district, if they can find one willing to take them. That option has been already available for individual schools in need of improvement, but state officials were not aware of any other districts currently accepting students.

In many cases, the affected districts are fighting the battle of the subgroups. While overall, students may be performing well, poor performance by any subgroup of minority, special education or disadvantaged students can push a district into "needs improvement" status. The state monitors 40 subgroup criteria, including gender, race and socioeconomic status.

In Buena, the Milanesi and Collings Lakes Schools met state progress criteria. But the Edgarton School, Cleary Middle School and the high school did not. Every school except Cleary achieved at least 90 percent of the 40 state monitored indicators. Cleary got 87.5 percent, but that was enough to put the district on the list.

"It's very sad for our children who work so hard," DeGiacomo said. "Suburban districts without all of the subgroups don't get into this bind."

The district did appeal the designation because it was so close, but the appeal was denied.

Atlantic City school superintendent Fredrick Nickles said the No Child Left Behind system works against large, urban school districts that are more likely to have a diverse population.

"I'm actually very pleased with the progress our students have been making," he said. "The schools overall are doing better."

There are 34 languages spoken in the schools, and with so many cultures and subgroups, Nickles said, it is hard for the district to meet the law's requirements in all of them.

"It really is a formula for failure for diverse, urban school districts," he said. "We are defined by the subgroups."

In Atlantic City, only Chelsea Heights Elementary School met all of the state criteria. The school was honored last month by the state as a Title I Distinguished School for its improvement and last year was named a Governor's School of Excellence.

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Complex, New Jersey Avenue School and Atlantic City High School fell below the 90 percent monitoring threshold.

DeGiacomo said it was noteworthy that none of the area Abbott districts, Vineland, Millville, Bridgeton and Pleasantville, made the list.

"They are getting the resources to make the improvements and the test gains," she said. "We are not."

School districts that were able to improve state-test passing rates in 2004 by at least 10 percent, such as Pleasantville and Woodbine, made enough progress to stay off the list, even if they are did not reach the state's benchmark passing rates.

"We do want to recognize improvement," Education Commissioner William Librera said, while acknowledging that some districts that made the list were actually closer to meeting the state standards.

"That is an inherent problem in the system," he said.

In Middle Township, none of the three schools met the subgroup criteria, and Elementary School No. 4, at 82.5 percent, fell below the 90 percent threshold.

Superintendent Michael Kopakowski said the district has already begun programs to improve performance, including a new math curriculum, and expanded after-school programs for struggling students.

"We didn't wait for the state," he said. "But it's hard to do more when there is no additional state funding and the state caps how much you can spend."

All of the affected districts are required file an improvement plan with the state, and send a letter home to parents telling them of the designation. Librera said while the districts have the responsibility to improve, parents have an obligation to learn about what their child's school is doing and support its efforts.

School officials in Hammonton were not available Monday.

Hammonton's data showed none of the three schools met all the criteria for subgroups, and the middle school, at 87.5 percent, fell slightly below the 90 percent monitoring threshold.

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Wilcox, Berry lead local wrestlers at regional - Dozen alive for today's semifinals 3/5/05

GALLOWAY -- No matter how comfortable he looks, Shacoi Berry insists he can't stand close matches. The Millville High School junior 130-pound wrestler, however, certainly has learned how to succeed in the tight ones.

Just six days after winning his first District 31 title by a single point, Berry nursed a similarly slim lead for much of his 7-4 quarterfinal decision Friday night over Woodstown's Justin Bober in the Region 8 Championships at Absegami.

"I want to win convincingly ... not just 4-3 or 7-4," Berry said. "I was tiring out. I just had to keep working. ... My goal is to be region champ, but if I get to states, I'll be happy."

Berry is among 12 area wrestlers to advance to today's semifinals, which begin at noon. Fifteen other local grapplers dropped into the wrestlebacks, which get under way at 10 a.m. After semifinals and two rounds of wrestlebacks are complete, consolation finals will begin at 4:30 p.m., with region finals to follow.

The top three wrestlers in each weight class advance to next weekend's state championships in Atlantic City.

Buena Regional and Delsea Regional led the area, sending four wrestlers apiece into the semifinals on a wild quarterfinal night. Paulsboro sent a region-best nine wrestlers to the semis, but there was plenty of other happenings along the way.

In one of the craziest bouts of the evening, Schalick junior Kieran Higgins used a cement-mixer to reverse Buena's Bobby Shea, taking the Chiefs' senior to his back with 18 seconds left. The four-point move sealed a stunning, 13-12 decision for Higgins.

"I knew I was down, so I was just grabbing onto anything and trying to throw it," said Higgins, who twice had to fight off his own back. "He went to states last year, so obviously I wasn't expected to win. I just wasn't going to give up."

It was one of four bouts Friday that pitted area wrestlers against one another. In the others, Buena's Phil Asencio decisioned St. Augustine Prep's Ricky Hyson, 8-5, at 135; Buena's Anthony Badaracco majored the Prep's Kevin Kim, 13-3, at 140; and Delsea's Mickey Aikens beat Schalick's James Woodley, 3-0, in a rematch of the District 31 heavyweight final.

For Asencio, he's just glad to be healthy after spending most of the season on the bench with a broken hand.

"It's 100 percent now, and I'm finally in shape," said Asencio, who placed fourth in regions last year. "Now, everything is coming together."

Badaracco and Asencio will be joined in the semifinals by teammates Mike Wilcox (189) and Paul Zemanik (215). Wilcox needed just 45 seconds to pin Gateway's Ed Seely. It was the fastest fall of the night.

Wilcox's path to the final got a little easier when Overbrook's B.J. Riley beat Kingsway's Mike Toomey, 5-4. Wilcox and Riley meet in the semis.

Sacred Heart's Steven Jillard, making his first regional quarterfinal appearance, fell into the wrestlebacks after an 8-2 loss to Oakcrest's Earl Winterbottom. Jillard was visibly upset about the outcome, even though he had little use of his left knee after the midway point of the second period.

"I could feel it pop. ... I couldn't really push off of it after that," Jillard said.

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Local pupils pioneer way to put stamp on program 3/5/05