Page 4 • Wednesday , August 29 , 2018 • The Hammonton Gazette
Optimism high as schools open year with additional state , local funds
SCHOOL , from Page 1 beginning on Tuesday , September 4 .
“ This is a busy time of year for our entire faculty as we strive to engage students in meaningful learning as soon as they enter our doors ,” Dr . Kristina Erman , principal of Warren E . Sooy Jr . ( WES ) Elementary School , said Hammonton Superintendent of Schools Robin Chieco will soon begin her second full year as superintendent , and said she is excited about the accomplishments the administration has made and the programs that have been put in place heading into the new school year .
“ I think it was a very productive year . We got a lot of things accomplished . We ’ ve added some programs , which I ’ m very excited about . We ’ ve been able to replace staff that we haven ’ t been able to replace in years ’ past because of funding ,” Chieco said . The entire district is poised to benefit from an additional $ 1.7 million in state aid that was received after several years of being underfunded , according to Chieco . Chieco said having the additional funding will allow the district to prioritize several areas of the school ’ s budget — such as technology — that may have been neglected due to past funding deficits .
“ We ’ ve always started our school years with , ‘ We have to do more with less .’ I think , now , we ’ re in a good place where we can say , ‘ OK , what do we really want to do now that we have the funding for it ?’” Chieco said .
Safety is an area that was prioritized ahead of the 2018-2019 school year , as all four of the district ’ s schools have had expanded , secured vestibules installed at its main entrance . If a school visitor enters the building ’ s first set of doors , they will be asked to show identification to a security monitor who is behind a window located adjacent to a second set of locked doors before they are allowed to enter the school . Chieco said that protective bollards have also been installed in front of the main entrances .
To further fortify the school district ’ s safety protocol , the New Jersey Department of Education recently visited the district to observe an active shooter drill and gave the administration best practice recommendations for improving security .
Chieco also said she participated in a four-day school security specialist training program over the summer that will help her manage future safety policies .
“ I was trying to incorporate any information that they provided us into our new policies for this year ,” Chieco said . The Hammonton Early Childhood Education Center ( ECEC ) will welcome many of the district ’ s first-time students next week . The ECEC will commence the year with a shared reading experience through the school ’ s One School , One Book program , during which all classes will read How to Read a Story by Kate Messner .
“ We have found that starting the year with a shared reading experience helps us to build our school community and demonstrate the importance of reading … This book generates excitement about reading and helps students develop reading routines ,” Hammonton ECEC Principal Darla Salay said .
Student work inspired by How to Read a Story will be showcased during the ECEC ’ s Back to
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