Sea Isle City — After several months of relative calm, the Sea Isle City Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 21, heated up again.

What brought out the crowd of parents, teachers and other residents was a series of proposed cutbacks in staffing. The staff and program reductions were presented by Chief School Administrator Dr. Michael Schreiner and quickly met resistance from parents.

“At the Sept. 16 meeting, I was given the job of presenting an alternative staffing plan,” Schreiner said. “Predictably, concerns exist on the part of parents and staff. A reduction in force is necessary because of decreased enrollment.”

Last April, the 2008-09 school budget was based on 81 students. Current enrollment, based on the required Oct. 15 totals, is 68 students, or 16 percent fewer than anticipated.

“Enrollment is significantly lower than was budgeted for. The reduction recommendation will not result in the elimination of any program,” Schreiner said. “All current staff will be provided an opportunity to remain employed by the district, but not necessarily in their current positions. Circumstances and a reduction in enrollment have resulted in a re-allotment of staff.”

Changes being considered included combining the pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classes and reductions in physical education, technology education and Spanish.

Before the school board discussed the issue – in executive session and outside the view of the public – residents were given a chance to express their concerns. Most of the comments made focused on the possible combining of the kindergarten and pre-K classes. Others questioned why the board would cut staff when the money to pay them is already in the budget.

Prior to executive session to discuss possible staff cuts, board member Dan Tumolo proposed a motion to give the public another opportunity to address the board, after the return to public session.

The board was in closed session for an hour. Upon its return, solicitor Mark Toscano read a lengthy motion, citing the decreased enrollment and the board’s legal right for a reduction in staff.

“Based on the information from the chief school administrator, there is a recommendation for the reduction the number of and status of staff as a result,” Toscano said. “The teaching of physical education, Spanish and technology education would be modified.”

The motion was to reduce physical education and Spanish classes, and teachers, from three days per week to two. The technology education classes, and teacher, would be changed from full-time to 60 percent, or three days a week. No change was being recommended to the kindergarten or preschool programs.

While most of the earlier comments from the public centered on the early childhood classes, the comments that followed the board motion were passionately against the reduction in the other subject areas. Several board members expressed disbelief at the changes as well.

“I want to understand something. You (board members) ran on Ocean City having such a good program that we need to send our kids there. Now we are reducing the very things you want to send our kids to Ocean City for,” board member Terrence Libro said. “These things are already in the budget. It doesn’t make any sense to me to do this for $16,000 in savings.”

The 2008-09 budget included funds for the existing level of instruction for gym, Spanish and technology classes. The budget approved by the full board, with the exception of member Ellen Ramsey, did fund the combination of the pre-k and kindergarten classes, which did not take place.

Ramsey, who supported Tuesday night’s recommended cuts, said they were based on providing more instructional time for basics such as math and language arts. “What is best for kids is to focus more time on learning the basics, and less time on special area classes,” she said.

Board member Valere Egnasko said 20 percent of the school’s 68 students receive additional basic skills instruction, and 20 percent have individual educational plans (IEPS). “The funding of basic skills is significantly higher than two years ago and that is with enrollment dropping. We need to address that,” Egnasko said.

Parents did not agree with Ramsey or Drew’s explanations.

“You are putting the almighty dollar ahead of kids. This is a cancer I’m looking at on this board and you’re eating away at our school,” parent Ron Gretzky said. “You say you are about education, but you reduce staff, reduce programs. You should be ashamed of yourselves for putting the almighty dollar ahead of our kids.”

“You’re cutting Spanish, gym and tech-ed for more language arts and math,” parent Lisa Iannone said. “For the child that only feels successful in gym, you’re taking that away. You’re trying to jam a square peg into a round hole by taking away the subjects they thrive on to jam more math and reading down their throats. There is more to school than reading, writing and arithmetic.”

“If you cut tech-ed, you will probably be the first school in the country to be reducing technology,” parent Andy Fiorelli said. “Someday you will answer to your maker because you are lying here tonight with what you are doing.”

After being cautioned as his comments became personal attacks on individual board members, Fiorelli continued, arguing against reducing the language program.

“I have two sons that play football in Ocean City. Do you know how many Mexicans are on that team,” Fiorelli said. “Kids come in contact with so many Spanish speaking people. The things these kids need in the real work, you are cutting. Are we going to give the kids something else, or just jam more math, reading and writing down their throats?”

“The decisions are not about any of these subjects not being important. It is a better use of instructional time in core content areas,” Schreiner said. “I don’t believe there is a teacher in this school that is jamming anything down a kid’s throat.”

Drew reiterated the motion before the board was based on “our intention to do what is best for students.”

Libro urged parents to reclaim control of the school.

“You all know, come April, what we have to do. Come April, you can reclaim your school in the election,” Libro said.

Board member Joe Schmidt, a staff member in Somers Point’s school district, said the board needed to consider that their vote would affect three teachers and their means of supporting themselves.

The motion to reduce instruction in the three areas passed five votes to three. Libro, Schmidt and Maria Crudele voted against the change, with Tumolo, Egnasko, Ramsey, Barbara Drew and Tom Szczurek voting for the change. Robert Smith was not present for the vote.