Wikipedia

Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District

The Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District is a regional public school district in Monmouth County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The district serves students from pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from the communities of Aberdeen Township and Matawan Borough.[3][4]

Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District
Address
1 Crest Way
Aberdeen Township
, Monmouth County, New Jersey, 07747
United States
Coordinates40°24′40″N 74°14′22″W / 40.411042°N 74.239377°W / 40.411042; -74.239377
District information
GradesK-12
SuperintendentJoseph G. Majka
Business administratorAlex Ferreira
Schools7
Students and staff
Enrollment3,827 (as of 2018–19)[1]
Faculty324.1 FTEs[1]
Student–teacher ratio11.8:1[1]
Other information
District Factor GroupFG
WebsiteDistrict website
Ind. Per pupil District
spending		 Rank
(*)		 K-12
average		 %± vs.
average
1ATotal Spending$17,44335$18,891−7.7%
1Budgetary Cost13,4303114,783−9.2%
2Classroom Instruction8,279328,763−5.5%
6Support Services1,903252,392−20.4%
8Administrative Cost1,385401,485−6.7%
10Operations & Maintenance1,373221,783−23.0%
13Extracurricular Activities3589226833.6%
16Median Teacher Salary62,2003564,043
Data from NJDoE 2014 Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending.[2]
*Of K-12 districts with more than 3,500 students. Lowest spending=1; Highest=103

As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprising seven schools, had an enrollment of 3,827 students and 324.1 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 11.8:1.[1]

The district is classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "FG", the fourth-highest 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.[5]

The Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District Central Offices are located at 1 Crest Way, in Aberdeen.

History

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In 2015, New Jersey Superior Court judge David F. Bauman dismissed a case filed against the district filed by a student of the district and by the American Humanist Association that argued that a discriminatory climate was created by the inclusion of the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance recited by students, making non-believers "second-class citizens" by elevating religious belief. He noted; "As a matter of historical tradition, the words 'under God' can no more be expunged from the national consciousness than the words 'In God We Trust' from every coin in the land, than the words 'so help me God' from every presidential oath since 1789, or than the prayer that has opened every congressional session of legislative business since 1787."[6][7]

Schools

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The district is a comprehensive system comprising seven schools, which includes one preschool, three elementary schools grades K-3, one 4-5 school, one middle school grades 6-8, one high school grades 9-12. Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[8]) are:[9][10][11]

Preschool
  • Cambridge Park Developmental Learning Center[12] (12 students; Preschool)
    • Maggie Lazur, Director of Preschool
Elementary schools
  • Cliffwood Elementary School[13] (320; K-3)
    • Christine Cherence, principal
  • Ravine Drive Elementary School[14] (326; K-3)
    • Jessie Zitarosa, interim principal
  • Strathmore Elementary School[15] (397; K-3)
    • Kelly Bera, principal
  • Lloyd Road Elementary School[16] (614; 4-5)
    • Joseph Jerabek, principal
Middle school
  • Matawan Aberdeen Middle School[17] (888; 6-8)
    • Mark Van Horn, principal
High school

Administration

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Core members of the district's administration are:[19]

  • Joseph G. Majka, superintendent of schools[20]
  • Alex Ferreira, business administrator and board secretary[21]

Board of education

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The district's board of education, composed of nine members, sets policy and oversees 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.[22][23] Seats on the district's board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with six assigned to Aberdeen Township and three to Matawan.[24][25]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d District information for Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.
  2. ^ Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending April 2013, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 15, 2013.
  3. ^ Matawan Aberdeen Regional Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District. Accessed April 19, 2020. "Purpose: The Board of Education exists for the purpose of providing a thorough and efficient system of free public education in grades Pre-Kindergarten through twelve in the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District. Composition: The Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Aberdeen Township and Matawan Borough."
  4. ^ 2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book, Rutgers University Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, March 2013, p. 211.
  5. ^ NJ Department of Education District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed January 22, 2015.
  6. ^ Rizzo, Salvador. "Hearing 'Under God' in Pledge of Allegiance does not violate rights of atheist students, NJ judge rules", The Record, May 12, 2015, backed up by the Internet Archive as of May 14, 2015. Accessed February 25, 2018. "A student filed a lawsuit last year against the Matawan-Aberdeen school district in Monmouth County, arguing that the phrase “under God” fostered a climate of discrimination in the classroom because it exalted religion and made non-believers feel like 'second-class citizens.'... State Superior Court Judge David F. Bauman dismissed the case in February, noting that the student was free to skip the pledge. The judge upheld a New Jersey law that says pupils must recite the Pledge of Allegiance unless they have 'conscientious scruples' that do not allow it."
  7. ^ Sullivan, Maureen. "Judge Refuses To Kick God Out Of Public Schools", Forbes, February 7, 2015. Accessed February 25, 2018. "'Under God' is as much a part of the Pledge of Allegiance as red, white and blue are part of the American flag. That was the ruling this week by a New Jersey judge who said an atheist student did not face discrimination or coercion during the recitation of the daily Pledge in the classroom. State Superior Court Judge David F. Bauman upheld the right of the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District in Monmouth County to follow the state statute that mandates daily recitation of the pledge. Students are allowed, however, to abstain from participating in the pledge for any reason they choose."
  8. ^ School Data for the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed April 1, 2020.
  9. ^ County School List L-M, Monmouth County, New Jersey. Accessed March 1, 2024.
  10. ^ School Performance Reports for the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.
  11. ^ New Jersey School Directory for the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  12. ^ Cambridge Park Developmental Learning Center, Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District. Accessed April 19, 2020.
  13. ^ Cliffwood Elementary School, Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District. Accessed April 19, 2020.
  14. ^ Ravine Drive Elementary School, Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District. Accessed April 19, 2020.
  15. ^ Strathmore Elementary School, Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District. Accessed April 19, 2020.
  16. ^ Lloyd Road Elementary School, Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District. Accessed April 19, 2020.
  17. ^ Matawan Aberdeen Middle School, Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District. Accessed April 19, 2020.
  18. ^ Matawan Regional High School, Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District. Accessed April 19, 2020.
  19. ^ New Jersey School Directory for Monmouth County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  20. ^ Superintendent, Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District. Accessed April 19, 2020.
  21. ^ Business Office, Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District. Accessed April 19, 2020.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 2023. Accessed April 18, 2024. "The Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District is a Type II District located in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The School District is an instrumentality of the State of New Jersey, established to function as an educational institution. The Board of Education of the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District, comprised of nine elected individuals, is the primary governing authority of the District. A superintendent is appointed by the Board and is responsible for the administrative control of the District." See "Roster of Officials" on page 14.
  24. ^ Matawan Aberdeen Regional Board of Education District Policy 0141 - Board Member Number and Term, Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District. Accessed April 19, 2020. "The Board of Education shall consist of nine members six from Aberdeen Township and three from Matawan Borough (subject to the U.S. Census.)"
  25. ^ Board of Education Members, Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District. Accessed April 19, 2020.
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