Photos
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Board Member David Gorbunoff receives a gift bag and a certificate of appreciation from the Brunner Elementary School PTA. Credits: Thomas Fortunato
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Board Member Amy Winkler receives a gift bag and a certificate of appreciation from the J. A. Coles Elementary School PTA, handed to her by three proud students. Credits: Thomas Fortunato
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Board Member Warren McFall receives a gift bag and a certificate of appreciation from the Evergreen Elementary School PTA. Credits: Thomas Fortunato
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Board member Jeanne Cleary receives a gift bag and a certificate of appreciation from the McGinn Elementary School PTA. Credits: Thomas Fortunato
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Board member Betty Anne Woerner receives a gift bag and a certificate of appreciation from the Park Middle School PTA. Credits: Thomas Fortunato
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Board member Karen Kulikowski receives a gift bag and a certificate of appreciation from the School One PTA. Credits: Thomas Fortunato
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Board member Douglas Layne receives a gift bag and a certificate of appreciation from the Park Middle School PTA. Credits: Thomas Fortunato
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Joseph Richardson of Whitehall Associates Inc. giving a report on demographics in the school district. Credits: Thomas Fortunato
SPF Board of Ed Discusses Declining Birthrate and Enrollment Impact
Friday, January 20, 2012 • 12:17pm
SCOTCH PLAINS— The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Board of Education met on Thursday for a regular meeting. At the beginning of the meeting, Board members were presented with gifts on behalf of the Parent Teacher Associations of each of the eight schools in the district.
Later, the Board heard a presentation from Joseph Richardson of Whitehall Associates, Inc. on a demographic study done of the district, the Township of Scotch Plains and the Borough of Fanwood. The study depicted and elaborated on trends in class size and enrollment from 2006 to present.
The report predicted that in five years, there will be a projected spike in 9th grade enrollment due to "a bump coming through." Enrollment numbers for the Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School are expected to be 1624 students, compared to 1512 students now.
"Some people call it a 'bubble,'" Mr. Richardson explained.
"You're also seeing a decrease [in enrollment] in your lower grades," Mr. Richardson added, "and that is due to a precipitous drop in birthrate all throughout northern New Jersey. I'm talking anywhere from 24 to 30 percent drop [in birthrate] in the past 9 years, which is horrendous."
"We're seeing [reduced birthrate] all over New Jersey, especially in the affluent areas," Mr. Richardson elaborated.
The board also discussed the recent A-4394/S-3148 bill, signed into law by Gov. Christie on Tuesday, which "establishes procedures for districts, municipalities, or voters to opt to move the annual school election to November and eliminates vote on school budgets for such districts, except for separate proposals to spend above cap."
The board decided that the board members' thoughts on moving the election wil be discussed at the PTA roundtable discussion scheduled to be held at Park Middle School at 7:30 PM this coming Monday.
"The way the format is [for the roundtable] is that [the PTA] provide us with a couple questions, as well as we provide them a couple questions," explained board president Tripp Whitehouse, "it's a nice way to begin a dialogue... it's informal in so far as different board members and PTA members can certainly weigh in."
