Oceanport School Administrators Share Wish List for Future Accomplishments

Following a presentation to the public of the 2012-13 budget for the School District on Thursday, an audience member asked Superintendent Andrew Orefice if he felt the district was "lacking" in anything, based on the

Orefice, who spent a good portion of the presentation touting the district's many accomplishments -- from solid testing scores and new security upgrades to the implementation of a regional curriculum and balanced literacy program -- did not hesitate in his answer.

"We are," he told the audience of about 20 people at the meeting on March 22. "All of our accomplishments could be taken to a greater level."

Orefice invited the district's two school principals up to discuss initiatives and equipment that were on their collective "wish list," which included expanding classroom leveled reading libraries, purchasing subscriptions to educational web applications and adding interactive whiteboard software.

Earlier in the budget presentation, board member Chris McCrae, who chairs the technology committee, said that Oceanport was "behind in technology."

The district will make a significant investment towards upgrading its technology with the infusion of a one-time capital outlay of $114,000 next year. That money will be used for a variety of tech upgrades including increasing the district's bandwidth, purchasing additional laptop carts (utilizing refurbished equipment) and creating wireless coverage at both buildings in compliance with a new state mandate.

Board member Mark O'Neill took issue with the inclusion of the administration's wish list as part of the budget presentation.

"What about a wish list for possible cuts?" he asked.

"Money doesn't equal the results," said O'Neill, adding that if it did, Abbott districts would be higher-performing.