Schools

Shore Regional, West Long Branch Schools May Hire Shared Superintendent

West Long Branch Board of Education hears input from other districts who share services

The West Long Branch School District and could begin sharing a superintendent and other services in the future.

West Long Branch Interim Superintendent Herbert Massa said the West Long Branch Board of Education and Shore Regional Board of Education (BOE) have had discussions about sharing a superintendent in order to save money.

"The boards of education in the region are looking at reducing expenses, and one way to do that is to share services," Massa said in an interview on Wednesday.

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Both schools currently have an interim superintendent, as Shore Regional hired Renae LaPrete on a temporary basis. Massa said this would be a good time to make the transition to a shared superintendent, because a new one could be hired to man both schools.

Massa said the neither school has made a decision at this point, but that schools do hope to have a joint meeting next week to discuss the possibility.

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The West Long Branch BOE invited superintendents and board members from school districts who share services and heard their input during its Tuesday night meeting.

"We have a very important decision that the schools' boards may be making in the near future," Massa said during the meeting.

Among the guests were Point Pleasant Beach and Bay Head School Superintendent John Ravally, who has overseen both districts since 2006.

"It's been a cost savings and a seamless transition," Ravally said.

Ravally said the Point Pleasant Beach also shares its business administrator, Brian Savage with the Sea Girt School District.

Massa said if the schools would be open to sharing services other than a superintendent in the future.

Manchester Regional Superintendent Richard Ney was another guest and said he also oversees the Haledon Public School District. He said the district shares 12 services and has saved about $4 million since the agreement began in 2003.

Another guest, Haledon BOE member Jeffrey Fisher, said the cost savings is not seen by the taxpayers but is seen by the district.

"All the money we save goes back to the kids and teachers," Fisher said. "(Sharing services) allows us to save programs, but it does not save taxpayers."

Massa agreed with Mr. Fisher and said if the districts did decide to share services it would use the saved money to "offset expenditures elsewhere."

He said he does not expect Shore Regional's two other sending districts, Monmouth Beach and Oceanport, to share superintendents. He said Oceanport has a sitting superintendent and said he believes Monmouth Beach is close to appointing one as well.


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