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Resident raises concerns about surveys at district-owned building; board says tenant commissioned minor repairs and approves slate of motions
Summary
Angela Donio, chair of the Historic Preservation Commission, asked whether surveys at district-owned school properties signaled large-scale change; the board said St. Joseph’s Academy commissioned the survey for minor repairs and that any substantial demolition would require board approval. The board also approved finance and personnel motions, with several abstentions on specific items.
Angela Donio, chair of the local Historic Preservation Commission, spoke during the board’s public-comment period about surveys she had observed around district-owned school properties and asked whether the work indicated planned large-scale demolition or changes.
“Why are they doing the survey? Are they gonna build?” Donio asked, summarizing her concern that a past diocese plan had included large changes that would have altered the appearance of the primary building.
President Lyons and board staff responded that St. Joseph’s Academy is a tenant in a district-owned building and that the academy commissioned and paid for the survey Donio observed. Lyons said the lease permits the tenant to perform “minor repairs” needed for day-to-day operation, and he emphasized that any large-scale demolition or substantial change would require board approval.
“The survey that was done was not commissioned or paid for by the board of education. It was paid for and commissioned by St. Joseph’s Academy,” Lyons said; he added the district had been in contact with the academy about sidewalk and curbing work and is not aware of any request for major demolition.
Votes at a glance: the board approved a package of finance items numbered 1–54 (mover named as Anthony Anderson; second not specified) and later approved personnel items 55–109 with item 106 withdrawn. The roll-call process recorded abstentions on items 77, 80 and 81 by several members; the minutes show the motions carried. The board also approved welfare/emotional-program items 110–118, addendum finance items 119–120, and personnel item 121. A special meeting was scheduled for July 18 at 6 p.m. in the Hammonton High School library to consider any matters arising before the next regularly scheduled meeting.
Several newly hired staff introduced themselves following the votes and thanked the board, identifying roles including middle-school math and language-arts teachers, a nurse, a bilingual aide and elementary special-education staff.
