Mt. Ephraim School Supt. Turns Down Salary Increase and Will Contribute to Health Benefits

Also, Rafferty said he will not take a salary increase next year.

The audience, and the School Board members, applauded the news.

Rafferty said he discussed the idea with his wife, and they decided this was something they could do to maybe help other families.

The Board approved Rafferty’s request to send a formal letter to teachers and paraprofessionals, encouraging them to do the same.

Mount Ephraim residents re-elected board members Patricia Blaylock, Carl Ingram and David McDonough to serve additional three-year terms during the School Election, and they were all installed.

Then, members re-elected Dominic Cipolone as the School Board President.

As of March 31, Mount Ephraim School District’s enrollment was 705, which includes 193 students who attend Audubon High.

Board Member Rocco Vespe said that for the 2009-10 school year, the Audubon School District charged Mount Ephraim $12,681 per regular education student and $14,249 per special education student at the High School.

These are costs that Mount Ephraim has no control over, Vespe said.

\”Very polite\” is how residents and employees of the John West Senior Center described Mary Bray’s fourth graders, who recently visited the residents for arts and crafts and to read books they had written.

Language Arts teacher Mrs. Susan Leon said she will retire at the end of this school year, and will be moving to be closer to family members.

Rafferty read her retirement letter, which thanked Mount Ephraim residents for the privilege of teaching their children.

The Board approved practicum students from Rutgers Division of Continuous Education, Camden, to complete 45 hours of classroom experience at Kershaw School.

Mark Mignone will work with Mr. Kidd teaching Social Studies, and David Kroon will work with Mrs. Conley teaching math.

March student of the month winners are: 1^st grade Cherylin Pizzillo, 2^nd grade Matthew King, 3^rd grade Robert Snyder, 4^th grade Isabel Cruz, 5^th & 6^th grades Christopher Blaylock, and 7^th & 8^th grades Eric Evans.

The Board approved a 4^th grade field trip to the Brooklawn Shoprite on May 6 from 9-11:30 a.m., and the Kershaw Safety members will go to Great Adventure on May 26 from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Ashley Fusaro was approved to be a substitute teacher for the rest of the 2009-10 school year, at a rate of $80 per day.