Page 4 • Wednesday , December 8 , 2021 • The Hammonton Gazette
Hammonton Public Schools receive additional $ 84,000
SCHOOL , from Page 1 ( SDA ).
“ Of the $ 75 million , $ 50 million will be distributed to New Jersey ’ s 31 SDA districts and $ 25 million will be distributed to regular operating districts ,” the release said .
Of those funds , Hammonton — a regular operating district — will receive $ 84,303 .
According to the release , districts will be able to use the funds for emergent and capital maintenance needs and measures related to COVID-19 , as well as to offset appropriate project costs incurred this fiscal year .
Robin Chieco , the Superintendent of Schools for the Hammonton School District , said that the district is “ greatly appreciative of any additional funding we receive .”
“ As you know , for many years we have been severely underfunded and needed to make difficult decisions regarding staffing , programs and facility upgrades . These additional funds will be used in areas that we have deemed in need of repair or improvements . Based on the requirements and specifications related to the grant award , the Board of Education will determine how best to utilize the funding to improve our district ,” Chieco said .
Barbara Prettyman , the district ’ s business administrator , explained further .
“ We have to take a look around to see how we could best use it . There weren ’ t really any projects in the queue , so to speak , so I ’ ll meet with the Buildings and Grounds Committee and we ’ ll have a conversation and decide how we could best use those funds ,” Prettyman said . Prettyman said that the money represents a “ funding opportunity
that we are always in need of .”
“ Due to the amount , can it fully cover a project that we may have , or do we have to supplement those funds with some of our own ? That ’ s where everybody has to weigh in — administration and board — and say , ‘ Hey , how can we best use this funding ?’” Prettyman said .
Hammonton Board of Education President Sam Mento III said that the decision about how best to utilize the funds most likely will not be made until the New Year , but he is “ always very grateful when we receive additional funding .”
“ I have no doubt that our business administrator , Barbara Prettyman , will absolutely maximize this additional facilities maintenance revenue to provide the safest , best environment for our students , faculty and staff ,” Mento said .
Prettyman said that , however they are applied , the funds will be used efficiently and will “ offset projects that the taxpayers would have had to pay .”
“ We ’ ll be really careful , and we ’ ll plan and come up with something good for the district ,” Prettyman said .
Rolling Thunder holds Toy Drive downtown
THG / Joseph F . Berenato . To purchase photos in The Gazette , call ( 609 ) 704-
1940 .
Members of Rolling Thunder
N . J . Chapter 4 held a toy drive at Casciano Coffee Bar & Sweetery on Bellevue Avenue from 10 a . m . to 2 p . m . on December 4 . Toys and other donations were collected for children of veterans — alive and deceased — and active-duty personnel . The Grinch tried to steal a toy from Rolling Thunder N . J . Chapter 4 President Chris Morris as 4-year-old Edan Dingfeld looked on . Santa Claus and Mrs . Claus participated in Rolling Thunder N . J . Chapter 4 ’ s toy drive . Rolling Thunder N . J . Chapter 4 ’ s Chairman of the Board Vincent Ferraro ( left ) and member Mike Pfancook ( right ) collected for Rolling Thunder ’ s toy drive .