COURT HOUSE — Will Woodbine pupils attend Middle Township schools?

Member Daniel Money raised that possibility at Middle Township Board of Education’s Feb. 21 meeting.

Don’t expect anything to take place sooner than two years. That’s a minimum on how long it would take to conduct feasibility studies and conclude agreements between the districts.

Money requested a discussion on a letter received from Woodbine School District Superintendent-Principal Lynda Anderson-Towns “relative to us receiving their students.”

“We are just looking to see what our options will be. We are putting out feelers to see if we can stay in Cape May County,” said Anderson-Towns in a telephone interview Monday.

Because the small, rural district is not K-12, its time may be numbered under present state education mandates.

So, the district wanted to be “pro-active” according to Anderson-Towns, and “look around to see where we would best fit. We are including all schools and sending district (Millville). We haven’t selected one,” she added.

“We reached out to Middle Township because it is so very close,” she said. In the course of a feasibility study, all county districts may be asked for their sentiments on consolidation, she added.

“I am hopeful the school would stay in Woodbine. We hope to find a level of compatibility so we don’t have to close down the school building, because there are new facilities (library and gymnasium among them) and the school is moving forward,” Anderson-Towns said.

She said it remains a possibility that administrative changes only would be made, and that the building, therefore, could remain a neighborhood school.

Superintendent Michael Kopakowski told the board that he had spoken with Anderson-Towns, who is a former Middle Township administrator and teacher, and that he “had asked her to forward a letter to me about it.”

“It will require discussion by the board first,” Kopakowski added.

“We have room for those students and transportation,” stated board President Calvin Back, who also noted a special meeting would have to be held to weigh the possibility of that K-8 district sending its pupils to Middle Township.

“I think that request is in concert with the governor’s education plan to consolidate districts,” Money said.

County superintendents met in January with new Executive Superintendent Terry Crowley to discuss such consolidation possibilities.

“Look at a map of Cape May County. I think our buses pass going in different directions,” he added.

Anderson-Towns agreed with that statements, and said “three or four a day” pass each other.

Assuming the “conversation goes well,” what would be required to implement the consolidation? Board member Anthony Anzelone posed that query.

One key factor, said Kopakowski, is Woodbine’s sending-receiving relationship with Millville School District. That Cumberland County district, with about 6,400 pupils K-12 has long educated Woodbine’s high school students.

In order to end such a sending-receiving district relationship, key factors for consideration would be the financial and racial impacts on both districts.

Other factors would be how well the two systems’ curricula match for students.

Then, the commissioner of the state Department of Education would have to consent to the move.

“You can’t end a sending-receiving relationship without the education commissioner allowing it,” advised Solicitor William Donio.

“I would like you to start the dialog, Mr. Superintendent,” said Back.

Middle Township, a K-12 district had a student population as of March 2007 of 2,879.

Woodbine, a K-8 district, had 215 elementary students and 20 teachers. The district sends 60 pupils to Millville High School.

Both districts offer pre-kindergarten classes.

At present, Middle Township accepts, on a tuition basis, high school students from Dennis Township, Avalon and Stone Harbor.

By virtue of Woodbine’s location, buses that serve Dennis Township students could be routed through the borough to pick up students.

Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 Ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com.