School bond vote in Dec.
Board unanimously approves
Stockton talks
by Jennifer Schmidt, Gazette
Contributing
Writer
HAMMONTON—According to the
Hammonton Board of Education, a multi-million
dollar bond referendum will be put before voters
in December. The board outlined the reasons for
the referendum, whose final cost has not yet
been determined, during a special board meeting
on June 24. The board said the referendum would
fund an addition to the Early Childhood
Education Center (ECEC) and alterations to the
Warren E. Sooy Jr. Elementary School.
The Hammonton Board of Education also
unanimously passed a motion to continue
discussions with Stockton concerning the
establishment of a satellite campus in Hammonton
during the board’s meeting. Though the topic was
not originally slated for the board’s meeting,
it was the subject of public comment during the
meeting from numerous town members,
representatives from Stockton and members of the
Hammonton Education Association (HEA).
The vote by the board followed the public
comment, after a motion to have the board
endorse the project made by board member Stephen
DiDonato was seconded by board member Salvatore
Velardi.
During the first public portion of the meeting,
the board heard from its own employees and
members of the public regarding Stockton’s
desire to establish a campus in Hammonton.
Judy Shaner of the HEA expressed concern about
the project and raised various questions.
“We question how and why the economic
development of the town is the concern of the
board of the education. The intention of the
board should be to watch our schools,” Shaner
said.
Shaner added that Hammonton High School already
offers advanced placement classes, and has many
programs in need of funding that might be
dedicated to the Stockton project.
John A. Iacovelli, Dean of Enrollment Management
at Stockton, stressed the benefits provided by
such a merger noting the “financial, cultural
and educational opportunities for students and
faculty.”
Iacovelli, who recently moved to Hammonton, also
added that the motivation for “buying into this
community is that there is something special”
about the town.
Town residents noted the opportunities for
retired citizens to go back to school, yet
another NEA member expressed concern about the
cost in light of teacher’s salaries.
Stockton professor and local resident Tait
Chirenje urged action from the board.
“A vote of confidence will help us address those
questions,” Chirenje said.
Hammonton Board of Education President Loretta
Rehmann said the board needed to proceed slowly
on the Stockton project.
“It’s an exciting concept and the board sees the
opportunity. But we are moving cautiously and
slowly. We need to answer a lot of questions
first,” Rehmann said.
Mayor John DiDonato, who is board member Stephen
DiDonato’s brother, also addressed the board
during the meeting.
“What is a school district? It shouldn’t stop at
12th grade. This is priceless to have in the
community. Is this an economic development
engine? Absolutely. But it will also be an
education engine to encourage our children to go
to college because it’s in their backyard,”
Mayor DiDonato said.
Mayor DiDonato urged the board to move forward
as the town council did on Monday, June 23.
Charles Kramer, Chairman of the Board of Kramer
Beverage Co. in Hammonton and president of the
Stockton Foundation, also addressed the board
publicly and encouraged them to seize the
opportunity presented by having Stockton in
Hammonton.
Dominic “Tip” DiDonato, father of the mayor and
board member Stephen DiDonato, also addressed
the board.
“We lost a lot of good things in Hammonton
because we sat on our hands. Let’s not sit on
our hands. There should be a vote tonight,” he
said.
Hammonton resident Patty Palmieri encouraged the
board to support the effort to bring Stockton to
the town.
“This is a great opportunity to have a college
right in town. Why not have a vote of confidence
in support of this issue?” Palmieri said during
the meeting.
Board member Stephen DiDonato said he wanted the
board to move forward on the Stockton project.
“This is a win-win for students….Teachers cannot
provide college accredited classes. This is a
win-win, an investment, for the community.
Stockton will be an anchor for shopping and
transit, and will inspire growth,” Stephen
DiDonato said.
Following his comments, Stephen DiDonato
presented a motion to have a public meeting
within 30 days where the board of education,
town council and Stockton representatives would
discuss the project. Other board members
expressed concern that such a close deadline
would not allow enough time for the board to
establish a position or to answer the questions
that were raised. After amending the motion, the
board unanimously passed a motion that a public
meeting would be held by September 1.
The meeting began with a presentation of the
needed repairs and alterations at Warren E. Sooy
Elementary School and proposed addition to the
Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) from
Hammonton Board of Education Vice President
Joseph Giralo, adding that the Warren E. Sooy
Jr. Elementary School was originally built in
1974.
“As far back as 2003, we’ve been discussing the
need for this, and money has always been a
problem,” Giralo said.
The ECEC opened in 2001.
Giralo outlined the need for improvements to the
roof, which was last replaced 17 years ago,
floor and ceiling tiles, the electrical system,
mechanical system and plumbing.
Following Giralo’s presentation and
Superintendent Mary Lou DeFrancisco’s
explanation of state policy concerning preschool
education, architect Wayne Neville explained the
cost and timeline for the renovations and
expansion.
“We cannot set a price because we need to survey
and see exactly what needs to be done,” Neville
said during the meeting.
The board unanimously voted to authorize Neville
to begin the process, setting aside $577,466 to
cover the expense of the design phase of the
project. The board awarded the design to
Neville, who worked on the design of the
Hammonton Middle School roof and addition. The
board did not seek any other bidders for the
design work.
Approval to ratify the Memorandum of Agreement
between the Hammonton Board of Education and the
Hammonton Association of School Administrators
was granted with an abstention from member
Barbara Berenato. Agreement was also ratified
between the board and the Hammonton Supervisor’s
Association.
The board unanimously approved the promotion of
Janet Holloway from director of curriculum and
instruction to assistant superintendent while
also approving the job description for the new
position and abolishing her previous title.
The board also approved a letter of resignation
from Hammonton Middle School Assistant
Principal, Thomas Attanasi. Attanasi has
accepted a position as a principal in another
school district.
Submission of the Carl D. Perkins Career and
Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 Five
year plan was unanimously approved.
“I’m excited about the opportunity this gives
the children,” board member Robert Bauers said.
The board will meet again on Monday, July 21, to
meet with Jane Kershner of NJSSA, who will be
helping guide the selection process for a new
superintendent.
Gabe Donio contributed to this report.

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