Upper Deerfield Township Schools
As of the 2020–21 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 820 students and 83.2 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.9:1.
The district is classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "B", the second-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.
Public school students in ninth through twelfth grades attend Cumberland Regional High School, which also serves students from Deerfield Township, Fairfield Township, Greenwich Township, Hopewell Township, Shiloh Borough and Stow Creek Township. As of the 2022–23 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 1,124 students and 82.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.7:1. The high school district has a nine-member board of education, with board seats allocated to the constituent municipalities based on population; Upper Deerfield Township has two seats on the board.
Schools
Schools in the district (with 2020–21 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are:
- Elementary schools
- Charles F. Seabrook School with 325 students in grades PreK-3
- Peter Koza, principal
- Elizabeth E. Moore School with 228 students in grades 4-5
- Stephen Wilchensky, principal
- Middle school
- Woodruff School with 260 students in grades 6-8
- Harold Hill, principal
Administration
Core members of the district's administration are:
- Peter L. Koza, superintendent
- Frank Badessa, interim business administrator and board secretary
Board of education
The district's board of education is comprised of nine members who set policy and oversee the fiscal and educational operation of the district through its administration. As a Type II school district, the board's trustees are elected directly by voters to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with three seats up for election each year held (since 2012) as part of the November general election. The board appoints a superintendent to oversee the district's day-to-day operations and a business administrator to supervise the business functions of the district.
Controversies
In 2023, parents started a petition calling for the resignation of superintendent Peter Koza, criticizing school leadership’s “slow and inadequate” response to a series of videos which showed a janitor at Elizabeth F. Moore School tampering with cafeteria food. One video showed the janitor rubbing bread meant to be served to students on his intimate parts, while another showed him putting bleach on cucumbers.
References
- ^ District information for Upper Deerfield Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.
- ^ Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending April 2013, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 15, 2013.
- ^ NJ Department of Education District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed December 9, 2014.
- ^ Cumberland Regional School District 2016 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed August 6, 2017. "The Cumberland Regional School District, located in Western Cumberland County, provides students with a comprehensive learning environment in a nurturing and personalized setting. The district serves students in grades 9-12 who reside in the municipalities of Deerfield Township, Fairfield Township, Greenwich Township, Hopewell Township, Shiloh Borough, Stow Creek Township, and Upper Deerfield Township."
- ^ Shott, Meghan. "Cumberland Regional High School", South Jersey magazine. Accessed June 5, 2016. "Cumberland Regional High School, located in the northwest part of Cumberland County, serves students from Deerfield Township, Fairfield Township, Greenwich Township, Hopewell Township, Shiloh Borough, Stow Creek Township and Upper Deerfield Township."
- ^ Cumberland Regional High School Constituent Districts, Cumberland Regional High School. Accessed May 2, 2024.
- ^ School data for Cumberland Regional High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 1, 2024. Note that faculty data was taken from the district and the ratio was then calculated on that basis.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Cumberland Regional High School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2023. Accessed April 10, 2024. "The Cumberland Regional Board of Education is a Type II district located in the County of Cumberland, State of New Jersey. As a Type II District, the School District functions independently through a Board of Education. The board is comprised of nine members elected to three-year terms. The purpose of the district is to educate students in grades 9-12."
- ^ Board of Education, Cumberland Regional High School. Accessed May 2, 2024. "The Cumberland Regional School District is led by a nine-member Board of Education representing Cumberland Regional High School's constituent district municipalities: Deerfield Township, Fairfield Township, Greenwich Township, Hopewell Township, Shiloh Borough, Stow Creek Township, and Upper Deerfield Township."
- ^ School Data for the Upper Deerfield Township Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed February 15, 2022.
- ^ School Performance Reports for the Upper Deerfield Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.
- ^ New Jersey School Directory for the Upper Deerfield Township Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
- ^ Charles F. Seabrook School, Upper Deerfield Township Schools. Accessed September 4, 2022.
- ^ Staff List, Charles F. Seabrook School. Accessed September 4, 2022.
- ^ Elizabeth E. Moore School, Upper Deerfield Township Schools. Accessed September 4, 2022.
- ^ Staff List, Elizabeth E. Moore School. Accessed September 4, 2022.
- ^ Woodruff School, Upper Deerfield Township Schools. Accessed September 4, 2022.
- ^ Staff List, Woodruff School. Accessed September 4, 2022.
- ^ Administration, Upper Deerfield Township Schools. Accessed September 4, 2022.
- ^ New Jersey School Directory for Cumberland County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
- ^ Superintendent of Schools, Upper Deerfield Township Schools. Accessed September 4, 2022.
- ^ Business Office, Upper Deerfield Township Schools. Accessed September 4, 2022.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Upper Deerfield Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2018. Accessed February 3, 2020. "The School District is a Type II district located in the County of Cumberland, State of New Jersey. As a Type II district, the School District functions independently through a Board of Education (The 'Board'). The Board is comprised of seven members elected to three-year terms. These terms are staggered so that member's terms expires each year.... The purpose of the School District is to educate students in grades Pre-K through 8 at three schools."
- ^ Board of Education, Upper Deerfield Township School District. Accessed September 4, 2022.
- ^ "Janitor accused of wiping himself on bread meant for kids in 3rd-5th grade".