Three of the four school buildings are more than 100 years old and all of them need extensive repairs, district officials said. Renovations could cost about $10 million per school, but the district does not have the funding to cover that, according to KYW Newsradio.
The district is running a $40 million budget deficit that will continue each year if not addressed, school officials said. The district s debt could get as high as $400 million in the next decade.
The impacted students will be sent to other district schools with higher-quality and newer facilities. Transportation will be guaranteed. These decisions are painful for you, they re painful for families, they re painful for the school community, they re painful for me, but there is a necessary pain that is needed that is temporary, Superintendent Katrina McCombs said.
N.J. city to shutter 4 old schools in major district consolidation
Updated Jan 26, 2021;
Posted Jan 26, 2021
Harry C. Sharp Elementary School in Camden is one of four schools in the district that will close at the end of the year.Google Maps
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Four of Camden’s older schools will close at the end of this year as part of the district’s consolidation plan, educators announced Tuesday.
Harry C. Sharp Elementary School, Cramer School, Wiggins School, and the Yorkship Family School will be shuttered at the end of the school year, school officials at the state-run district said. Three of the four buildings are over 100 years old and all four are in need of structural repair, they said.
Camden School District to announce school closures amid major restructuring 6abc.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from 6abc.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The plan, which will address the district’s looming structural deficit, will require difficult decisions
Janellen Duffy
Before the onset of the pandemic, real progress for students and families was emerging in some school districts in our state that have historically faced major academic and fiscal challenges. One of these is the Camden City School District, which has seen notable improvements in recent years.
Today, Camden is receiving national attention, not just for its approach to policing, but also for its progress in public education, as evidenced by rising test scores and graduation rates and significant investments in school facilities.
By STEVEN RODAS
Camden City Council President Curtis Jenkins
Camden City Council President Curtis Jenkins
Credits: City of Camden
January 5, 2021 at 7:56 PM
CAMDEN, NJ The Camden City Council and Camden City School District held respective annual reorganization meetings Tuesday evening. This year both were held virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions.
No new council members joined the group as there were no elections last year. The city’s clerk began with nominations of the council president and vice president.
Councilman Angel Fuentes nominated Curtis Jenkins, who was the current president, to retain the role. Councilman Victor Carstarphen seconded the nomination and no additional nominations were cast.