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Cyber, charter schooling may cost JSASD $3.2M this year

JERSEY SHORE — If the number of students from the Jersey Shore Area School District attending cyber/charter schools holds at about 200 for the rest of the school year, the district will spend $3.2 million for their education, according to figures compiled by Dr. Brian Ulmer, superintendent.

Ulmer’s data showed that figure compares to the $628,000 that will be spent to educate approximately the same amount of students in the district’s cyber program, JSOL.

Ulmer shared the information with the district’s school board at their meeting Monday night.

The cost of educating a student in either special or regular education in the district’s program is $3,000 per student per year, while the cost for educating a special education student in the cyber/charter school setting is $25,849 per year and in regular education the cost is $12,266 per student per year.

Ulmer pointed out that the formula used to determine funding for cyber/charter schools is designed for brick and mortar schools.

“If they’re doing it online…I can do it online a whole lot cheaper. They’re still getting money as if they were turning on lights and building a building and heating the building and putting carpet in the building and whatever else you need for the building,” he said.

“They’re getting paid to run a building and they’re not running a building,” he added.

Ulmer indicated that he had shared the information with local legislators and that they were “shocked.”

In other business, under personnel, the board approved the following:

— The 2020-21 performance objectives for Dr. Kenneth Dady Jr., assistant superintendent.

— The appointment of Ann-Marie Dincher as head boys’ tennis coach at a stipend of $3,800.

— The appointment of Nicholas Bodle, a senior at the high school, to a technology co-op student position at a rate of $8.49 per hour.

— The appointments of Angela Johnson, as game staff and Cody Ulmer as volunteer wrestling coach.

The board also accepted the resignations of Ginger Neece and Jessica Smith, both part-time food service employees.

Ten-year warranty renewals with Waterproofing Technologies Inc. were approved. They include the following schools and costs: Avis Elementary, $24,124; Jersey Shore Middle School, $54,143; and Jersey Shore Area High School, $43,630.

The purchase of a 2021 F-20 4×4 SD regular cab, eight foot box truck with a western plow and amber lighting from New Holland Auto Group through Costars at a cost of $44,282 was approved.

Member of the board present were: Craig Allen, David Becker, Harry Brungard, Patrice Doebler, Angela Grant, Wayne Kinley, Nancy Petrosky, Michelle Stemler and Mary Thomas.

The next board meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 8.

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