Mt. Ephraim: Large Turnout at School Board Meeting

By Leigh Anne

Hockenberry Hubbs

There was a larger than average turnout for the Mount Ephraim Board of Education meeting March 9, the eve of Governor Corzine\’s budget address.

Superintendent Joseph Rafferty and Board Secretary Melissa Raywood presented a general overview of the district\’s budget, but stated that the exact figures will not be known until after the budget address.

Raywood said Mount Ephraim has been rated an efficient school district, and continues to maximize their dollars spent through sharing services with other communities such as using Bellmawr\’s Public Works for the development of the Mary Bray playground.

Another example of when a shared service saves the district money is their involvement in School Pool for Excess Liability Limits (SPELLJIF), an excess liability joint insurance program with many New Jersey districts that has caused Mount Ephraim\’s premiums to drop over the past five years.