NEES basketball court subject of Plumsted BOE meeting

Resident Harry Miller denied rumors that he was forming a grass roots effort to "kill the school budget" during Monday night's Board of Education Meeting. Miller questioned the details of the striping of the district's new elementary school gymnasium basketball court.

Board members stated at a prior meeting that the striping was performed to specific specifications within the construction con tract. "The gym is a wonderful facility. It is state of the art," Miller said. Board officials agreed. The full sized gym which is of an equal size to the dis trict's middle and high school. Business Administrator James Edwards said that for an elementary school, "it is one of the largest in the state."

Miller asked "who will be the primary user" of the gym elementary school children or the community?" Superintendent Dr. Gerald Woehr that upon developing specifications for the facility, the district asked for input from its physical education staff.

When one resident asked about why there was no girls ninth grade softball, New Egypt High School Principal Jerry North responded that the high school sports program varied to the number of people who signed up for a specific sport. Not enough girls signed up for that sport. Sixteen girls did sign up for lacrosse which in addition to golf and track and field will be offered as part of the spring sports season.

"Mens tennis doesn't have enough right now," North said. North said that the high school sports program is doing well however. "The numbers are fantastic. We have nine kids in wrestling."

The district is now also part of the Channel 10 Weather Report program. The weather report concerns an NBC affiliate where the weather temperature is taken from the school system. "It gives us a bit more recognition and more input from the public," Board President Herbert Marinari said.

It was noted that Marinari is a new member of the district's Economic Development Authority designed to support and improve business in the township.

New Egypt Middle School Principal Christine Carlson reminded residents and board members that the 7th,8th and 9th grade production of "The Sound of Music" was being held at the middle school auditorium in April. The props and sets for the musical were being made during the evening.

Carlson also reported that middle school classes were taking state tests this week.

Also reported that New Egypt Elementary School Art Teacher Rita Williams was seeking to expand her series of family art workshops. The kindergarten through 4th grade classes which would run from December thru April would involve local seniors and a trip to an art museum.. The program is designed to link art with other subjects of the curriculum. "We hope she will get the funding for this," Dr. Woehr said.

Williams was successful in obtaining state grants for two other programs she pitched to the state last year.

In other news, long time serving Board of Education member Keith Buckalew is seeking another three year term on the board. He is running uncontested on the April 18, School Election ballot. Buckalew will be seeking an uncontested three-year term on the Board during the April 18 School Board Election.