The Ellison School in Vineland abruptly closes midway through year
VINELAND - On a day when students and staff celebrated with holiday parties, the mood wasn't all one of cheer at The Ellison School.
That's because Friday also was the last day the school will be open barring "a Christmas miracle," according to Board of Trustees president Renee Troyano.
Declining enrollment and mounting operation costs have doomed the South Spring Road private school to the point where the institution can't even survive the duration of the 2019-20 academic year.
"For the students and their families, this is our home away from home," Troyano said while fighting off tears. "We've fund-raised incredibly, we've done everything in our power, and unfortunately it's not enough."
More:Christmas spirit shining bright at Lawlor Lights in Pittsgrove
Ellison was celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The school accepted children starting at 15 months old and advances up to eighth grade.
The school's total enrollment as of Friday stood around 76 with about 11 teachers and three aides, according to Troyano.
"To run that school really efficiently, we'd probably need about 150 kids," said Troyano, who has seventh-grade son at Ellison and two other children who graduated from there. "When we were going high and strong, I'd say we had about 125."
It's been several years since Ellison has enjoyed that type of enrollment strength, however.
The school fought off a closure three years ago and has been struggling to survive ever since, Troyano said, adding a weakening alumni base also has hurt Ellison.
Tuition maxed out at $9,570 for students in first to eighth grade, while kindergarten was $7,491 per year. Tiny toddler through PreK-4 ranged from $4,290 to $7,898 depending on the number and whether the child attends full or half days.
The school opened at the corner of Grape Street and East Avenue in 1959 to students in first, second and third grades.Ellison moved twice after that as it grew, eventually settling on the two-plus acre site on Spring Road.
Ellison prided itself on small class sizes and individualized staff-to-student attention while promoting freedom of expression from the kids, according to Troyano.
"The school is such an asset it's just a shame it has come to this," Troyano said. "Let's face it, you go into a lot of these schools and they're wonderful, but they're busting at the seams. They already have 30 kids in a class.
"Here, you have maybe nine kids. It's a lot of individual attention, it's a different atmosphere where the children are allowed to express themselves."
Now the children must find new schools to call home.
Troyano said a pair of meetings were held in November alerting families of Ellison's dire situation.
According to Troyano, Ellison was working with a family willing to step up as a benefactor for the school to help with the mortgage payment on the building and assist with the educational fund but the deal fell through.
"All the parents thought we were on our way to great things," Troyano said. "I can't answer to why it didn't work out.
"Moving forward, we can't put ourselves in a situation where we're struggling to make the operating expenses every month," she continued. "Here we are in the middle of the school year, and this is just a disaster for the students."
Troyano said other schools had visited Ellison as students explored their transfer options, including Bishop Schad and Compass Academy in Vineland and Edgarton Christian Academy in Newfield.
Edgarton, Troyano noted, was even interested in potentially bringing some of Ellison's teachers on board.
"They have been particularly empathetic and compassionate," Troyano said of Edgarton, which in September announced it would be expanding after purchasing 15 acres on Wheat Road in Buena Borough.
Troyano said school officials have exhausted every option, including reaching out to the Ellen DeGeneres show for help.
"We're going to need a Christmas miracle to happen, like something out of a Hallmark movie," Troyano said. "The reality is right now we cannot pay the bills. We've built strategic plans, done capital campaigns, phone-a-thons, bingo nights, you name it... It hasn't been for a lack of trying."
A South Jersey native, Anthony Coppola has handled a variety of beats at The Daily Journal, including award-winning work in sports and business coverage. He joined the staff in 2008. Contact him at acoppola@gannettnj.com and follow on Twitter @AVCoppola. Please support local journalism with a subscription to The Daily Journal.
