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SCHOOLS

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“… It would be foolish to believe that things are better now, now that the contract is settled, and the worst of the pandemic is behind us. If you continue with the status-quo policies and current administrative style, the exodus will continue. And I can tell you, there are already more in the pipeline who can’t wait to get out. And that hurts our students, who deserve to have experienced, dedicated teachers who are respected and want to be here. Anything less is selling our kids short.”

The PTEA president asked the Pemberton school board, and district administrators looking on, to “think about how great it would be to hear a Pemberton staff member state, ‘The atmosphere here is insanely upbeat and positive.’”

“In terms of resignations and exit interviews,” the superintendent ultimately responded, “there are resignations across the country in every field,” due to the hot job market, though he recognized “in education, there are less resignations than in other job occupations.” He pointed to the “teacher shortage” being a national occurrence.

Havers maintained that “usually” when a teacher resigns “they write a letter” explaining why they are doing so and noted the Pemberton district “will give out a form” for one to fill out when they retire. The superintendent then shared what a teacher who recently departed the Pemberton district had told him.

“She actually wanted to thank me,” he said, explaining that she left the Pemberton district because she wanted to join with her family moving to South Carolina.

Havers recounted having “hired her” and that he “worked with” that teacher during new staff orientation, monthly meetings and even recalled “spending half a morning helping her set up her classroom.”

“Many people have been telling me this year is a much better year,” declared Havers, looking directly at Horn. “And unfortunately, Mr. Horn, I feel like your message is the same message – repetitive, almost trying to convince everybody to be unhappy.”

The Pemberton superintendent then asserted that he “remembered” Horn “coming up and telling the board” when Pemberton Schools were closed due to the Coronavirus pandemic in January 2021 “‘that every school should be closed for the rest of the year.’”

“Imagine what the impact would have been on kids if we closed,” declared Havers as Horn vigorously denied saying such comments from his seat. “Yes, I have your (public comment preview) card right here, Mr. Horn! I saved it! Yes, 21’. I remember it really well! Parents were here, upset about their children. And you came up and said, ‘Schools should be closed the rest of the year – not to open back up.’ If we were to follow that advice, how much better off would our kids have been, and our staff have been?”

Shortly after the public spat, it became time for Pemberton school board member comments.

That is when Scull discussed her recent attendance at a New Jersey School Boards Association workshop, “Getting Your School Board Ready for 2023.”

“There should be other opportunities (outside of school board meetings) for the public to speak with board members,” said Scull of one of the things conveyed to attendees, calling for “at least one or two” meetings after the November election is held.

Another recommendation to come out of the workshop, she said, is for school superintendents to hold a question-andanswer session with the public, “like a Coffee with a Superintendent.”

“One of the things said is, ‘Don’t run from negatives. Deal with it,’” Scull recounted. “And I really feel that is important. We can sit here and say, ‘Oh, that is not true, that is now how it is.’ But apparently there are perceptions if there is something negative, and we should deal with some of these issues.”

“Trust” and “developing a vision,” is important, Scull maintained, with the latter entailing “the board always acting and believing in the value of education for ‘every’ student – special needs, all students, all creeds – everybody.”

Rules, she said, “should not be made to accommodate one or two people,” but “for the best of all students with equality and equity for everyone.”

She noted that it was also suggested that the “board have a discussion at the dais” about “what kind of skills the board president should have” when being appointed to the position.

Bivins, however, offered a contrasting take on how the negatives just raised to the Pemberton school board should be handled, but first contended that her daughter “had nothing but positive things to say in general” about her experiences at Denbo-Crichton School during the start of the school year, and while attending Meet the Teacher there, she noted “everybody was smiling” and the teachers “looked genuinely happy about seeing the children.”

“One of the things as a teacher myself, over the years, I have been burnt out and I have been overworked, and I have been tired,” Bivins said. “And last year, when we went back with masks, I decided I was going to say every morning, when everybody asked me how I was doing, ‘I am doing great!’ And everybody said to me, ‘Are you?’ And I said, ‘Yes, because I am going to change my attitude! I have 2 choices, I can either be miserable or I can be happy.’ Are things great? Nope! But I am choosing to be positive.

“I have a lamp in my room that my mother gave me. I have a humidifier in there (aromatherapy humidifiers can reportedly reduce stress and fatigue levels). I spend more time in my classroom than my own bedroom. So, I made it my home. It is not easy. I know. I have been there for almost 20 years. So, I guess I am encouraging everyone to get humidifier and a lamp. Have a great day!”

Tom Bauer, president of the Pemberton school board, commented that since Bivins has been on the public body, “she brings a very positive attitude, not only here in the public meetings, but in the committee meetings,” and that he has come to “rely” on her for her “information and input,” maintaining she is “very valuable” to the school board.

CANINE

(Continued from Page 11)

Patricia Hansen. The revised ordinance reduces the required setback for such facilities from 15 to five feet, eliminating any further need for affected residents to seek variances from the Zoning Board of Adjustment.

Director of Community development Kevin Rijs, in response to a question from Hansen regarding the noise that might result, justified the change on the grounds that the modern filters and equipment tend to generate less noise than some of the older equipment used to, and that the new rule would be in keeping with the kinds of relief the zoning board has seen fit to grant in such cases.

When Hansen asked him what would happen should it result in excessive noise, Rijs responded, “If something were to be a nuisance and in violation of the noise code, then we would get involved in the way of enforcement.”

The council members were also introduced to Ethan Verrone, the newly elected president of the Evesham Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), who used the occasion to “affirm our commitment to connect the youth of the town with council,” as well as to emphasize the many township events in which YAC participates, as well as its own projects, such as a community garden and a scholarship, and to help young people understand that “the town is more than a place to live—it’s a community.”

Veasy presented a group of PTA and PTO members, who spoke about their activities at the start of the session, with their own Community Impact Awards.

During a public comment session, resident Gary Warga talked about the importance of providing a paved path in the new park that will be developed on the 176-acre former Beagle Club property for “bicycles, people with baby strollers and people with wheelchairs.”

“I hope you’re able to do that and find a way around any kind of environmental regulations that make you think you cannot do that,” Warga declared.

Keith Abrams

Lic# 1283