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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Camden City School District
Camden City School District is a public school district that serves students in pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade from the city of Camden, in Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The district is one of 31 former Abbott districts statewide that were established pursuant to the decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court in Abbott v. Burke which are now referred to as "SDA Districts" based on the requirement for the state to cover all costs for school building and renovation projects in these districts under the supervision of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority. In 2013, after years of requests from local officials, New Jersey intervened in Camden City, making the school district state-run under the leadership of Superintendent Paymon Rouhanifard.

As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprising 19 schools, had an enrollment of 7,553 students and 668.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.3:1.

The district is classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "A", the lowest of eight groupings. District Factor Groups organize districts statewide to allow comparison by common socioeconomic characteristics of the local districts. From lowest socioeconomic status to highest, the categories are A, B, CD, DE, FG, GH, I and J.

In 2017–18, Camden students who took the state PARCC test showed year-on-year progress since the test was first administered in 2014–15, as reported on KYW NewsRadio. About 14% of district students in grades three through eight are proficient in language arts, with about 10% testing proficient in math. Just under 11% of high school students tested at or above the statewide proficiency rate in language arts. For math, that number was 1 to 3% of high school students.

But there are also signs of progress. In 2016, the state committed $133 million to renovate Camden High School, the graduation rate has gone up by 17 percentage points in five years, while drop outs have been cut in half. the District-led pre-school program has become a highlight.

In 2015, a new, $41 million, 110,000-square-foot (10,000 m) school opened on Broadway, and in 2017 two additional brand new renaissance school buildings opened, one in the Cramer Hill neighborhood and the other in Haddon Avenue in Whitman Park. Working in partnership with the school district, today renaissance schools serve about 4,200 students and boast rising test results.

The district is guided by its school improvement plan, Putting Students First.

History

The Board of Education of the City of Camden was established by Isaac W. Mickle, who was entrusted by The Camden Board of School Trustees to borrow money to build a schoolhouse and apply to become a board of education. Mickle would go on to become the first secretary of the board of education.

The first meeting of the Board of Education of the City of Camden was in City Hall on April 3, 1854. The first three members elected into the board were from each political ward: Joseph Kimble (North Ward), Ebenezer Nichols (Middle Ward), and Isaac Lloyd (South Ward).

The district previously followed de jure educational segregation in the United States, where it officially segregated elementary schools on the basis of race. This ended in September 1946.

In 1948 it had two elementary schools entirely with black students and teachers.

John Greenleaf Whittier Elementary School - In 1948 the school designated black children to transfer to the school even if it wasn't in their attendance zone.

In June 2004 the school district enacted a mandatory school uniform policy for all students. 10 schools had already started their own uniform policies. Uniform policies were enforced effective September 2004.

In 2011, during a review of the proposed budget for the 2011–2012 school year, it was announced that Creative Arts High School would be merging with Morgan Village Middle School. A new building was built to accommodate both high school and middle school students. The new building also housed the facilities necessary to sustain and expand the creative arts programs.

Other schools merging that year were Washington Elementary School with Veterans Middle School and Parkside Elementary School with Hatch Middle School. These changes were intended to address schools with low enrollment, specifically schools with less than 300 students.

In 2013 the district had 15,161 students. In March 2015, the district announced that it was closing the John Greenleaf Whittier Family School at the end of the 2014–15 school year. As part of the changes, Henry L. Bonsall Family School, East Camden Middle School, Francis X. McGraw Elementary School and Rafael Cordero Molina Elementary School were all to be transferred to renaissance school operators, who were responsible for making significant renovations to the District-owned buildings.

An important transition to education in Camden occurred March 25, 2013, at Woodrow Wilson High School, when Governor Chris Christie announced that the state of New Jersey would be taking over administration of the public schools in the city of Camden. The Department of Education had done an investigation that found in 2012, graduation rates fell to 49.27%, down from 56.89% the year before. From 2011 to 2012, only 2% of Camden students scored above a 1550 out of a possible 2400 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), compared with 43% students nationally. Only 19% and 30.4% of third-through eighth-grade students tested proficient in language arts and in math, respectively, which were far below the state average.

Christie said, "I can't be a guarantor of results, none of us can, but just because we can't guarantee a positive result or because there have been some mixed results in the past, should not be used as an excuse for inaction."

In 2016, three years after the State of New Jersey takeover, former superintendent Paymon Rouhanifard noted the changes made within the district that contributed to a 64% graduation rate (up from 49%) and 15% decrease in the drop out rate within the Camden City School District:

  • the creation of new staff positions that specialize in helping students with discipline and learning
  • the implementation of a required SAT/ACT test-taking day for all high school students
  • the creation of a program for absentee students in which officials visit families to address the causes of the absences

In 2016, the district partnered with Camden's six charter school operators to introduce a city-wide enrollment system to create a simple, equitable way for families to choose to attend any district, charter, or renaissance school. Today, all but one of Camden's publicly funded schools participate in Camden Enrollment.

In 2016, Cooper B. Hatch Family School and MetEast High School were consolidated into the building that had been occupied by the Hatch School, providing access to a gymnasium and auditorium for students in the high school program; the combined school, serving grades 6-12, has since been renamed as the Camden Big Picture Learning Academy.

In the wake of declining enrollment, poor performance and a deteriorating facility constructed in 1926, Charles Sumner Elementary School was closed at the end of the 2016–17 school year.

Due to weather-related problems in 2018, Riletta Twyne Cream Family School and Yorkship Family School, both K-8 schools, were caused to close. R.T. Cream Family School, housed in a 27-year-old building, experienced water pipe damage due to the pipes being exposed to cold temperatures by being located close to the roof of the building. Yorkship Family School's 100-year-old building, on the other hand, experienced heating problems, and had to be closed alongside R.T. Cream Family School.

In May 2018, former superintendent Rouhanifard announced that the district would be piloting a gifted and talented program available to 130 third through fifth grade students in H.B. Wilson and Catto Family Schools. Formerly known as the CHIPS program, this pilot created new teaching positions for gifted and talented educators and endeavored to encourage gifted students to accomplish the most with their academic talents though fun, developmental activities, field trips, and guest speakers. To get into the program, students had to pass an assessment. New students had the same opportunity, and the program would be open to all grade levels in the school if the first year ended successfully. H.B. Wilson and Catto Family Schools were chosen for their diversity, but if all goes well, the program is anticipated to be established in more district schools.

It was announced on April 10, 2019 by acting superintendent Katrina McCombs that, due to a $27 million deficit, the Camden City School District plans to compensate by closing Veterans Memorial Family School by the end of June. Riletta Twyne Cream Family School will be converted into an early childhood center. Educators will also be affected, as Onome Pela-Emore, schools spokeswoman, anticipates that the district could lay off up to 300 staff members. A similar announcement was made in April 2014. Then-superintendent Paymon Rouhanifard, in the face of a $75 million deficit, announced that the district intended to phase out 575 staff positions, with the potential for layoffs.

As of April 2019, Superintendent Katrina McCombs announced that the district has applied for a $122 million state grant to address the repairs needed in the older buildings in the district. This grant is expected to prevent any more school closures.

By 2021, enrollment was down to more than 6,000, a decline of 60% from 2013.

In January 2022, the district renamed Woodrow Wilson High School to Eastside High School, in light of segregationist policies of the former president.

Awards, recognition and rankings

George Washington School was recognized by Governor Jim McGreevey in 2003 as one of 25 schools selected statewide for the First Annual Governor's School of Excellence award.

For 2022, the Camden City School District received Bronze Awards from Sustainable Jersey for Schools for all 17 school facilities.

Schools

Schools in the district, with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics are:

Preschool
  • Martha F. Wilson Early Childhood Development Center (154; PreK-K)
    • Loray Vaughn, principal
  • Riletta Twyne Cream Early Childhood Center (85; PreK)
    • Medinah Dyer, principal
Elementary schools
  • Octavius V. Catto Community Family School (606; PreK-8)
    • Byron R. Dixon, principal
  • Cooper's Poynt Family School (407; PreK-8)
    • Janine Casella, principal
  • Dr. Henry H. Davis Family School (321; PreK-8)
    • Sharon K. Woodridge, principal
  • Thomas H. Dudley Family School (404; PreK-8)
    • Evelyn Ruiz, principal
  • Forest Hill Elementary School (305; K-5)
    • Darrell Staton, principal
  • Morgan Village Middle School (NA; 6-8)
    • Jahnia Robinson, principal
  • Veterans Memorial Family School (337; PreK-8)
    • Danette Sapowsky, principal
  • Henry B. Wilson Family School (537; PreK-8)
    • Nicole Harrigan, principal
  • Yorkship Family School (434; PreK-5)
    • It opened circa 1920.
    • Lana L.P. Murray, principal
High schools

Criticism

In the 2000s, the Camden school system was labeled as corrupt by some individuals; a July 6, 2006 editorial written by Sherry Wolkoff appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer. The editorial, titled "Children of Camden get short end of the pencil," asserts that Camden school officials obtain unjustified bonuses while Camden schoolchildren have few resources.

In early 2006, allegations were also made that school officials had altered standardized test scores to improve Camden's national school ratings. "We know that, with respect to the test scores, those scores were not legitimately achieved," says Lucille Davy, New Jersey's acting commissioner of education. "There was manipulation of the process."

In December 2013, the district reported that only three high school students had met the "college ready" standard, based on a minimum combined score of 1550 on the SAT.

In the wake of 163 violent incidents in the district during the 2012–13 school year, the district undertook a $1.4 million project in 2014 to add digital cameras and electronic controls at doors to limit access to high school buildings.

In January 2024, a lawsuit was filed which alleged that Camden Advisory School Board President Wasim Muhammad started sexually abusing a female student at Camden's Cooper B. Hatch Middle School in 1994. The alleged abuse was reported to have continued for years, with Muhammad, who at the time was known as Donald Walker, also abusing her at motels in nearby Cherry Hill. An attempt to file criminal charges proved ineffective due to the state's statute of limitations. Muhammad, who is scheduled to face a civil trial in February 2024, soon afterwards took a leave of absence pending the outcome of his trial. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy was among those who called for Muhammad to resign. In addition to Muhammad, the South Jersey school system, which includes Camden, was named as a defendant in the civil lawsuit as well.

Administration

Core members of the district's administration are:

  • Katrina T. McCombs, state district superintendent
  • Raymond Coxe, school business administrator and board secretary

The Camden district is one of two districts statewide that operate under state intervention with (the other is the Paterson Public Schools), and has been under state supervision since June 2013. The district's superintendent is appointed by the commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education The district has a nine-member advisory board that acts in lieu of a board of education. The members of the advisory board are appointed by the mayor to serve three-year terms on a staggered basis, with three seats up for reappointment each year. A student representative selected from the district's high schools also serves on the board.

References

  1. ^ District information for Camden City School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.
  2. ^ Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending April 2013, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 15, 2013.
  3. ^ What We Do: History, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022. "In 1998, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in the Abbott v. Burke case that the State must provide 100 percent funding for all school renovation and construction projects in special-needs school districts. According to the Court, aging, unsafe and overcrowded buildings prevented children from receiving the "thorough and efficient" education required under the New Jersey Constitution.... Full funding for approved projects was authorized for the 31 special-needs districts, known as 'Abbott Districts'."
  4. ^ What We Do, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022.
  5. ^ SDA Districts, New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Accessed March 1, 2022.
  6. ^ Goodnough, Abby. "On Politics; A Request From Camden: Take Our Schools, Please", The New York Times, March 29, 1998. Accessed July 12, 2017. "But takeovers were back in the spotlight last week, after Mayor Milton Milan of Camden beseeched Governor Whitman to seize control of the schools in his hard-luck city."
  7. ^ Steele, Alison. "How an Iranian refugee rose to lead Camden's schools", The Philadelphia Inquirer, February 6, 2017. Accessed July 12, 2017. "After Rouhanifard's family settled near Nashville, his father pumped gas until he was able to start a small business. Rouhanifard learned English, went to college, and became an educator. In 2013, Gov. Christie appointed him superintendent of Camden's state-run school district, calling on him to turn around the city's struggling schools."
  8. ^ NJ Department of Education District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 18, 2015.
  9. ^ "CCSD 2016-17 PARCC Results" (PDF). Camden City School District. September 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  10. ^ "SDA Camden High Redevelopment Project". Camden City School District. October 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  11. ^ "Drop out rate down, student back on track" (PDF). Camden City School District. February 13, 2018. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  12. ^ "Philadelphia Inquirer". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016.
  13. ^ "Courier-Post".
  14. ^ "Camden Schools Show Improvement" (PDF). Camden City School District. September 29, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  15. ^ Putting Students First, Camden City School District. Accessed March 28, 2022.
  16. ^ McCombs, Katrina T. "Your Turn: Camden students deserve district that puts them first", Courier-Post, October 26, 2018. Accessed March 28, 2022.
  17. ^ Reiss, Fred. (2005). Public education in Camden, N.J. : from inception to integration. New York: iUniverse, Inc. p. 19. ISBN 0595351492. OCLC 62169434.
  18. ^ Jensen, Noma (Winter 1948). "A Survey of Segregation Practices in the New Jersey School System". The Journal of Negro Education. 17 (1). Journal of Negro Education: 84–88. JSTOR 2966093. - CITED: p. 85.
  19. ^ Burney, Melanie. "Camden schools to require uniforms in September; A new policy aims to improve discipline among students and security in schools." (Archive). June 9, 2004. Accessed November 29, 2015.
  20. ^ Burney, Melanie. "On first day, students give new uniforms mixed reviews" (Archive). The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 8, 2004. Accessed November 29, 2015.
  21. ^ Rothschild, Barbara (March 28, 2011). "Hearing set on budget for schools". Courier-Post. p. 5A.
  22. ^ Kennedy, Mike (March 5, 2021). "Camden (N.J.) district says 3 schools will close in June". American School & University. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
  23. ^ Laday, Jason. "Camden closing 1 school, transferring 4 to charters", South Jersey Times, March 26, 2015. Accessed December 12, 2017. "Camden Superintendent Paymon Rouhanifard announced that the 105-year-old J.G. Whittier Family School will be permanently shuttered at the end of the academic year. Henry L. Bonsall Family School, East Camden Middle School, Francis X. McGraw Elementary School and Rafael Cordero Molina Elementary School will, in addition to receiving much-needed renovations and repairs, each be taken over by one three Camden charter organizations."
  24. ^ "Camden closing 1 school, transferring 4 to charters". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved November 9, 2016.
  25. ^ Heyboer, Kelly (December 7, 2016). "Troubled N.J. school district 'making progress,' but remains under state control". The Star-Ledger.
  26. ^ Steele, Allison. "Camden plans changes to 3 schools", The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 14, 2016. Accessed December 12, 2017. "Camden officials are making changes to three schools in the city's Parkside neighborhood next fall, including moving students at MetEast High School into the building that houses Cooper B. Hatch Family School.... In the coming years, the schools will operate under one name - Hatch-MetEast - and serve students in grades six through 12. Meanwhile, Parkside's Forest Hill Elementary, which now serves kindergarten through eighth grade, will next year serve students through fifth grade only."
  27. ^ Trethan, Phaedra. "District: Camden elementary school to close", Courier-Post, March 24, 2017. Accessed December 12, 2017. "Charles Sumner Elementary School will close at the end of the 2016-17 school year, Camden School District officials confirmed in a memo to faculty and staff. The memo, obtained by the Courier-Post, was sent to Sumner staff Thursday morning. In it, schools Superintendent Paymon Rouhanifard said the "difficult decision" was made based on the school building's condition, its enrollment and its performance."
  28. ^ Walsh, Jim (January 8, 2018). "Weather problems close two Camden schools". Courier-Post. Retrieved April 10, 2019.
  29. ^ "Camden Schools Announce Gifted and Talented Program to Raise Student Achievement" (PDF). May 22, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  30. ^ Trethan, Phaedra (April 11, 2019). "Camden superintendent says school to close, hundreds face possible layoffs". Courier-Post. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  31. ^ Terruso, Julia (April 3, 2014). "Camden City schools may lay off 400". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
  32. ^ Burney, Melanie (April 15, 2019). "Camden activists on a mission to Trenton to seek more funding for city's schools". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
  33. ^ Burney, Melanie. "Camden's Woodrow Wilson High School renamed Eastside High", The Philadelphia Inquirer, January 25, 2022. Accessed November 10, 2022. "Camden's Woodrow Wilson High School will now be called Eastside High to break from the segregationist views and practices of the former president and New Jersey governor."
  34. ^ McGreevey Celebrates Schools that are "Getting it Right": Schools of Excellence Winners Demonstrate Effectiveness of Governor's Education Priorities Archived October 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey Department of Education press release dated November 211, 2003. Accessed December 15, 2009.
  35. ^ 2022 Sustainable Jersey for Schools Certified Schools, Sustainable Jersey Schools. Accessed October 7, 2022.
  36. ^ School Data for the Camden City School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.
  37. ^ School Directory, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  38. ^ School Performance Reports for the Camden City School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.
  39. ^ New Jersey School Directory for the Camden City School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  40. ^ Martha F. Wilson Early Childhood Development Center, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  41. ^ About the Principal, Martha F. Wilson Early Childhood Development Center. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  42. ^ Riletta Twyne Cream Early Childhood Center, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  43. ^ About the Principal, Riletta Twyne Cream Early Childhood Center. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  44. ^ Octavius V. Catto Community Family School, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  45. ^ About the Principal, Octavius V. Catto Family School. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  46. ^ Cooper's Poynt Family School, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  47. ^ About Our Administrators, Cooper's Poynt Family School. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  48. ^ Dr. Henry H. Davis Family School, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  49. ^ About the Principal . Henry H. Davis Family School. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  50. ^ Thomas H. Dudley Family School, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  51. ^ About the Principal, Thomas H. Dudley Family School. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  52. ^ Forest Hill Elementary School, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  53. ^ About the Principal, Forest Hill School. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  54. ^ Morgan Village Middle School, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  55. ^ About the Principal, Morgan Village Middle School. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  56. ^ Veterans Memorial Family School, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  57. ^ Henry B. Wilson Family School, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  58. ^ About the Principal, Henry B. Wilson Family School. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  59. ^ Yorkship Family School, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  60. ^ About the Principal, Yorkship Family School. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  61. ^ Brimm Medical Arts High School, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  62. ^ About the Principal, Brimm Medical Arts High School. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  63. ^ Camden Big Picture Learning Academy Middle School, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  64. ^ Camden Big Picture Learning Academy, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  65. ^ About the Principal, Camden Big Picture Learning Academy. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  66. ^ Camden High School, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  67. ^ About the Principal, Camden High School. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  68. ^ Creative Arts Morgan Village Academy, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  69. ^ About the Principal, Creative Arts Morgan Village Academy. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  70. ^ [Eastside High School (Camden, New Jersey) Eastside High School], Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  71. ^ About the Principal, Eastside High School. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  72. ^ Pride Academy, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  73. ^ About the Principal, Pride Academy. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  74. ^ Children of Camden get short end of the pencil, The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 6, 2006
  75. ^ NPR: Widespread Fraud Alleged in Camden, N.J. Schools
  76. ^ Via Associated Press. "Only 3 students scored college-ready in Camden", NJ.com, December 18, 2013. Accessed August 27, 2014. "The new school superintendent in Camden says it was a 'kick-in-the-stomach moment' when he learned that only three district high school students who took the SAT this year scored as college-ready."
  77. ^ Burney, Melanie. "At Camden high schools, new security cameras and controlled access", The Philadelphia Inquirer, August 23, 2014. Accessed August 27, 2014.
  78. ^ Rickman, Rick (January 11, 2024). "Prominent NJ Official Accused Of Abusing Student For Years Will Get Trial". New Jersey 101.5. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  79. ^ Barney, Melanie (January 18, 2024). "Who is Wasim Muhammad, Camden's school board president accused of sexually abusing a student?". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  80. ^ Barney, Melanie (January 14, 2024). "A former student has alleged sexual abuse for years by current Camden Advisory School Board president". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  81. ^ Barney, Melanie (January 18, 2024). "Camden school board president says he will take leave pending the outcome of the sexual assault civil trial against him". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  82. ^ "NJ governor calls on school board president to resign amid sexual assault allegations". WPVI. January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  83. ^ Leadership Team, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  84. ^ Camden County - New Jersey School Directory, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  85. ^ Meet our Superintendent, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  86. ^ Business Services, Camden City School District. Accessed November 10, 2022.
  87. ^ New Jersey Boards of Education by District Election Types - 2018 School Election, New Jersey Department of Education, updated February 16, 2018. Accessed January 26, 2020.
  88. ^ Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Camden City School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2023. Accessed April 9, 2024. "The Board of Education currently serves as an Advisory Board. The Board is comprised of nine members who serve three-year terms. These terms are staggered so that three member's terms expire each year. Board members are elected by the City of Camden residents. The Advisory Board reviews policy and makes suggestions for changes for the School District. They meet each month to review activities and services presented by the State District Superintendent. The purpose of the School District is to educate students in grades Preschool through 12 within the School District."
  89. ^ Advisory Board, Camden City School District. Accessed March 28, 2022. "The Board consists of nine members who serve three-year terms. Board members are appointed by the Mayor of Camden. One student representative and one student alternate represent each of the district's five high school on the board."
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