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Toms River Regional Schools

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Coordinates: 39°58′36″N 74°11′00″W / 39.976587°N 74.183212°W / 39.976587; -74.183212
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Toms River Regional Schools
Address
1144 Hooper Avenue
Toms River
, Ocean County, New Jersey, 08753
United States
Coordinates39°58′36″N 74°11′00″W / 39.976587°N 74.183212°W / 39.976587; -74.183212
District information
GradesK-12
SuperintendentMichael S. Citta
Business administratorWilliam J. Doering
Schools18
Students and staff
Enrollment15,472 (as of 2018–19)[1]
Faculty1,171.6 FTEs[1]
Student–teacher ratio13.2:1[1]
Other information
District Factor GroupDE
Websitewww.trschools.com
Ind. Per pupil District
spending		 Rank
(*)		 K-12
average		 %± vs.
average
1ATotal Spending$14,5492$18,891−23.0%
1Budgetary Cost11,626514,783−21.4%
2Classroom Instruction7,12048,763−18.7%
6Support Services1,47972,392−38.2%
8Administrative Cost1,05131,485−29.2%
10Operations & Maintenance1,354191,783−24.1%
13Extracurricular Activities3358726825.0%
16Median Teacher Salary58,0001664,043
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

Toms River Regional Schools is a comprehensive regional public school district primarily located in the quickly growing coastal community of Toms River, located in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, along the state's Jersey Shore. The district includes Toms River and the adjoining boroughs of Beachwood, Pine Beach and South Toms River.[3] It is the largest suburban school district in the state, and the fourth largest school district in New Jersey (after Newark, Jersey City and Paterson).[4] It is also the largest school district in the state that is not an Abbott District.

As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprising 18 schools, had an enrollment of 15,472 students and 1,171.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 13.2:1.[1]

The district has three high schools -- Toms River High School South, Toms River High School North, and Toms River High School East—as well as three middle schools—Toms River Intermediate School East, Toms River Intermediate School North (formerly Intermediate West), and Toms River Intermediate School South. With the opening of Intermediate South in 2005, all sixth grade classes were shifted from the district's 12 elementary schools to the three middle schools in order to alleviate overcrowding. Also at that time, Intermediate West was renamed Intermediate North. Intermediate East and Intermediate North are currently the two most populous middle schools in New Jersey.

To raise money for the schools, the district created Toms River Fest, a major festival held during the summer in 2005, 2006 and 2008.

The district is classified by the New Jersey Department of Education as being in District Factor Group "DE", the fifth-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]

History

In previous eras, the district segregated students by race. In 1948 the district had a separate elementary school for black students. Journal of Negro Education stated the school was "very crude and is situated out in the woods."[6]

When Central Regional High School opened in September 1956, sending/receiving relationships under which students from Berkeley Township, Island Heights, Lacey Township, Ocean Gate, Seaside Heights and Seaside Park attended the district's schools for grades 7-12 were ended. The Toms River district had announced that it could no longer accommodate students from these six municipalities after that date.[7]

Constructed at a cost of $3.9 million (equivalent to $32 million in 2023),[8] Toms River High School North opened in 1969 in order to alleviate overcrowding in the original high school (which was renamed as Toms River High School South), which was found to be too small to accommodate the fast-growing community.[9] When the school opened it served students living north of Route 37, while those living south of that line would attend Toms River South, including those from the constituent districts of Beachwood, Pine Beach and South Toms River.[10] The first class to graduate wasn't until 1971, since all of the seniors were kept at TRHSS for the class of 1970.

By 1974, the district was facing split sessions for students, as the district's first and second high schools, Toms River High School South and Toms River High School North, had a total of 4,600 students, nearly 50% above capacity. To address the overcrowding, a March 1975 bond referendum was proposed to raise $15 million—the largest ever in county history—for construction of a third high school, which was rejected by a margin of nearly a 1,000 votes.[11][12] Toms River High School East opened in September 1979 on a 79-acre (32 ha) site in a building constructed at a cost of $10.9 million (equivalent to $45.8 million in 2023).[13] Opened at a time of rising energy prices, the building was designed so that each classroom had only two windows in order to reduce heat loss through the glass.[14]

After the Seaside Park School District closed in 2010, a sending / receiving relationship was established to allow students in grades K-6 from Seaside Park to attend the Toms River Schools. In 2017, the Appellate Division affirmed a decision by the New Jersey Department of Education allowing students from Seaside Park the option of attending school for grades K-6 in either Toms River or in the Lavallette School District, under the terms of a dual sending/receiving relationship. The Lavallette district had actively supported the proposal when the original petition was submitted in 2015 and the Appellate Division rejected the objections raised by the Toms River district, noting that no protest had been made when Seaside Park had submitted its original petition.[15][16][17]

Toms River Regional Schools has denied continued outside requests for racially insensitive mascots depicting Native Americans to be retired,[18] including the Toms River High School South Indians, Toms River Intermediate South Seminoles, and Washington Street Elementary School Warriors.

Awards and recognition

  • The Toms River Regional School District ranked first in Ocean County and second in the state for the lowest per pupil cost for the 2006-2007 fiscal year, according to the New Jersey Department of Education's Comparative Spending Guide.
  • For the 2005–06 school year, the district was recognized with the "Best Practices Award" by the New Jersey Department of Education for its "Career Day" Career Education program at East Dover Elementary School.[19]
  • For the 1993–94 school year, Toms River Alternate School - High School South was named as a "Star School" by the New Jersey Department of Education, the highest honor that a New Jersey school can achieve.[20]

Schools

Schools in the district (with 2019-20 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[21]) are:[22][23][24]

Elementary schools
  • Beachwood Elementary School[25] (471 students; grades K-5)
    • Kim Muir, principal
  • Cedar Grove Elementary School[26] (895; PreK-5)
    • Stacey Monetti, principal
  • Joseph A. Citta Elementary School[27] (514; K-5)
    • Mallory Kennedy, principal
  • East Dover Elementary School[28] (743; PreK-5)
    • Matthew H. Gray, principal
  • Hooper Avenue Elementary School[29] (718; K-5)
    • Jason Hughes, principal
  • North Dover Elementary School[30] (462; K-5)
    • Colleen McGrath, principal
  • Pine Beach Elementary School[31] (410; K-5)
    • Tricia Moran, principal
  • Silver Bay Elementary School[32] (637; PreK-5)
    • Michael J. DeVita, principal
  • South Toms River Elementary School[33] (317; K-5)
    • Dennis Holzapfel, principal
  • Walnut Street Elementary School[34] (751; K-5)
    • Richard Fastnacht, principal
  • Washington Street Elementary School[35] (355; K-5)
    • Jeffrey D. Ryan, principal
  • West Dover Elementary School[36] (381; K-5)
    • Michael S. Pallen, principal
Intermediate schools
  • Toms River Intermediate East[37] (1,408; 6–8)
    • Bryan A. Madigan, principal
  • Toms River Intermediate North[38] (1,197; 6–8)
    • Lynn Fronzak, principal
  • Toms River Intermediate South[39] (1,121; 6–8)
    • Paul T. Gluck, principal
High schools

Administration

Core members of the district's administration are:[43][44]

  • Michael S. Citta, superintendent
  • William J. Doering, business administrator and board secretary

Frank J. Roselli assumed the role of interim superintendent of schools on October 21, 2010,[45] following the sudden retirement of longtime superintendent Michael J. Ritacco, who earlier that day surrendered to the FBI and was charged in an 18-count fraud indictment. Ritacco was accused and ultimately convicted of accepting between one and two million dollars in bribes from the school district's insurance broker. Roselli was appointed superintendent on January 18, 2011.

In the spring of 2013, after suffering a heart attack, Roselli announced his retirement.[46] Thomas Gialanella was appointed interim superintendent, effective July 1, 2013, and Marianne Gaffney was appointed interim assistant superintendent, replacing Joseph Pizza as of August 1, 2013.[47] Subsequently, due to Gialanella's inability to start on July 1, James Hauenstein was named interim superintendent for the month of July 2013.

David Healy took over as permanent superintendent on July 1, 2014, after being named by the board on March 11, 2014. Healy had been superintendent in the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District.[48]

Michael S. Citta, who was Principal of Toms River High School South, was named as superintendent in February 2022.[49]

Board of education

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.[50][51] Seats on the district's board of education are allocated based on the population of the constituent municipalities, with six seats assigned to Toms River and the other three municipalities—Beachwood, Pine Beach and South Toms River—each assigned one seat.[52][53]

District facilities

The Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex is an air-supported structure that provides an indoor venue for athletics to the Toms River Regional Schools. It is part of the Bennett Complex, which also features outdoor facilities. The Bennett Complex is located between Hooper Elementary and Toms River Intermediate East at 1519 Hooper Avenue in Toms River. It is named after long time Superintendent John Bennett, who served the district from 1960 to 1977. Amongst other events, the Bennett Complex has hosted the track meet component of the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 (for indoor athletics only), 2013, and 2014. The Indoor Athletic Complex is also known as The Bubble, and is home to many New Jersey State indoor athletic meets (including state championships). The Indoor Complex features a 200-meter six-lane track with and eight-lane straightaway, a FinishLynx electronic timing system, and accommodates field events such as shot put, high jump, pole vault, long jump, and triple jump. The Indoor Complex was first installed for the 2005–2006 school year. The Indoor Complex was damaged by Hurricane Sandy, but was repaired and reopened in January 2013.[54]

The RWJBarnabas Health Arena is a public arena connected to High School North, opened in 2003. There have been many sponsorships and name changes since its induction, including the Ritacco Center, the Poland Spring Arena and the Pine Belt Arena. The 3,500-seat facility received its current name, the RWJBarnabas Health Arena, under the terms of a five-year deal reached in December 2017 under which the district will be paid $600,000 for the naming rights.[55] The facility is used for school assemblies, pep rallies and gym classes, and for the graduation ceremonies for the district's high schools and middle schools.[56][57][58] It is also used for the High School North Mariner's girls and boys' basketball teams.[59][60]

References

  1. ^ a b c d District information for Toms River 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. ^ Toms River Regional School District 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed June 17, 2020. "Toms River Regional is the largest suburban school district in the state, with a population of approximately 16,000 students learning in a pre-kindergarten early learning center, twelve elementary schools, three intermediate schools and three high schools. Despite its size, the district takes enormous pride in providing a neighborhood school concept with high-quality educational programs, facilities, and services for students from our four sending towns of Beachwood, Pine Beach, South Toms River, and Toms River."
  4. ^ Ocean County Economic Development Fast Facts, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed July 12, 2012. "Toms River Regional School District in the largest suburban district in New Jersey, fourth largest overall with 18,000 students."
  5. ^ NJ Department of Education District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 18, 2015.
  6. ^ 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. 87.
  7. ^ "Board Okays Finance Plans", Asbury Park Press, February 25, 1955. Accessed March 11, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "The Board of Local Government yesterday approved financial plans for the proposed $1,430,000 Ocean County Central Regional High School.... The board is shooting for a target date of September 1956, for the school opening. This is the date beyond which the Toms River Consolidated School District will no longer accept high school pupils from Seaside Park, Seaside Heights, Island Heights, Ocean Gate, and Berkeley and Lacey Townships.... The proposed six-year junior-senior high school is to be located on the 87-acre site of the former Pinewald Golf Course in Berkeley Township."
  8. ^ "26-Class Addition Vote Set; Sept. Balloting In Dover Twp.", Asbury Park Press, July 5, 1968. Accessed July 18, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "One of the phases of the program, construction of the Toms River North High School, a $3,855,000 complex, set to open in September 1969, is moving ahead as scheduled."
  9. ^ "Toms River North in Operation", Asbury Park Press, September 26, 1979. Accessed February 22, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "An outside view of the new Toms River North High School, Old Freehold Rd., which opened this month."
  10. ^ "School Progresses", Asbury Park Press, January 10, 1969. Accessed July 18, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Construction it progressing on the Toms River High School North, scheduled to open in September for Toms River students north of Route 37. The present school will then accommodate Toms River students living south of Route 37 and commuters from Beachwood, Pine Beach, and South Toms River."
  11. ^ "2 Schools Face Split Sessions", Asbury Park Press, December 18, 1974. Accessed April 16, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The two high schools have an enrollment of about 4,600, some 1,500 more than the functional capacities of Toms River High School North and Toms River High School South.... The proposed third high school would be known as Toms River High School East. Voters will be asked to approve a $14,975,000 bond issue for the school at a March 11 referendum."
  12. ^ "Defeat Seen Delaying School", Asbury Park Press, March 17, 1975.Accessed April 16, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "Toms River Regional School Superintendent John Bennett believes defeat of the $15 million school referendum Tuesday means new high school facilities can't be ready until a year after the hoped-for September 1978 opening. Bennett made his comments after the defeat of the largest single school referendum ever offered in Monmouth or Ocean counties.... The vote, with 22 per cent of the district's registered voters casting ballots, was 4,092 to 3,101."
  13. ^ "New High Schools Greet Students", Asbury Park Press, September 6, 1979. Accessed July 18, 2022, via Newspapers.com. "Business teacher Dorothy Lepo (above) points out a typewriter procedure to clerical office student Donna Duckworth, 16, of Ortley Beach on the first day of classes at Toms River High School East. Principal Richard Piscal said things ran smoothly. The opening of the $10.9 million school on a 79-acre tract off Dunedin Street eliminates split sessions in the district's two other high schools."
  14. ^ McDaniel, Patricia. Soaring Cost of Heating Oil Troubles School Officials", Asbury Park Press, October 28, 1979. Accessed April 16, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "The Toms River Regional School District serves more than 80,000 residents of four municipalities and has 15 schools, including the new Toms River High School East.... One bright spot in the district's problems with rising costs, however, is that Toms River High School East was designed for fuel efficiency.... The building has only two windows in each classroom and none in the gymnasium as part of a fuel-efficient system designed to hold heat generated by bodies and lights."
  15. ^ Wall, Karen. "Seaside Park Seeking Approval To Send Elementary Students To Lavallette; Borough students attend K-6 in Toms River; the move would relieve parents -- including 4 school board members -- of tuition to Lavallette.", Toms River Patch, May 20, 2015. Accessed November 22, 2017. "The Seaside Park Board of Education is seeking state approval to send its elementary students to Lavallette Elementary School -- a move the Toms River Regional Board of Education is not opposing....Seaside Park has been sending its elementary students to Toms River since it closed the borough's elementary school in 2010. This year, 27 students are covered under that agreement, according to Seaside Park's tentative budget for the 2015-16 school year. But several Seaside Park students already are attending Lavallette -- a K-8 school -- with their parents paying tuition for them to do so."
  16. ^ Dev, Sanmathi (Sanu). "Appellate Division Approves Dual Send-Receive Relationship", The NJ School Law Blog, May 9, 2017. Accessed November 22, 2017. "In 2009, Seaside Park entered into a send-receive agreement with Toms River to educate its K-6 students after Seaside Park closed its elementary school. In March 2015, Seaside Park initiated a petition with the Commissioner requesting it to enter into a second sending-receiving relationship – this time with Lavallette – while maintaining its existing agreement with Toms River. Seaside Park argued that the send-receive relationship with Lavallette would provide greater educational choice to its families. Seaside Park never sought to end its send-receive relationship with Toms River."
  17. ^ In the Matter of the Petition for Authorization to Enter into a Sending-Receiving Relationship with the Board of Education of the Borough of Lavallette, Ocean County, Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, decided May 4, 2017. Accessed November 22, 2017.
  18. ^ Muscavage, Nick. "New Jersey schools split on Native American sports mascots, logos". MY CENTRAL JERSEY. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  19. ^ New Jersey Department of Education Best Practices Award recipient for 2005-06, accessed October 23, 2006
  20. ^ Star School Award recipient detail, New Jersey Department of Education, Archived December 18, 2006. Accessed November 26, 2009.
  21. ^ School Data for the Toms River Regional Schools, National Center for Education Statistics.
  22. ^ Public Schools Directory 2023-2024; Living & Learning in Ocean County, Ocean County, New Jersey. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  23. ^ School Performance Reports for the Toms River Regional Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.
  24. ^ New Jersey School Directory for the Toms River Regional Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  25. ^ Beachwood Elementary School, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed July 9, 2022.
  26. ^ Cedar Grove Elementary School, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed July 9, 2022.
  27. ^ Joseph A. Citta School Elementary School, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed July 9, 2022.
  28. ^ East Dover Elementary School, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed July 9, 2022.
  29. ^ Hooper Avenue Elementary School, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed July 9, 2022.
  30. ^ North Dover Elementary School, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed July 9, 2022.
  31. ^ Pine Beach Elementary School, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed July 9, 2022.
  32. ^ Silver Bay Elementary School, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed July 9, 2022.
  33. ^ South Toms River Elementary School, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed July 9, 2022.
  34. ^ Walnut Street Elementary School, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed July 9, 2022.
  35. ^ Washington Street Elementary School, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed July 9, 2022.
  36. ^ West Dover Elementary School, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed July 9, 2022.
  37. ^ Toms River Intermediate East, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed July 9, 2022.
  38. ^ Toms River Intermediate North, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed July 9, 2022.
  39. ^ Toms River Intermediate South, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed July 9, 2022.
  40. ^ Toms River High School East, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed July 9, 2022.
  41. ^ Toms River High School North, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed July 9, 2022.
  42. ^ Toms River High School South, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed July 9, 2022.
  43. ^ Administration, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed June 18, 2022.
  44. ^ New Jersey School Directory for Ocean County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  45. ^ Mikle, Jean; Sahn, Michele; and McGrath, Matthew. "Michael J. Ritacco, Toms River, NJ school chief, took $1 million in bribes, feds say; The superintendent faces up to 20 years in prison", Asbury Park Press, October 21, 2010. Accessed August 10, 2014. "Toms River Regional Superintendent Michael J. Ritacco was at the center of one of the costliest public corruption schemes in recent New Jersey history, taking between $1 million and $2 million in bribes from the school district's insurance broker, federal authorities said Thursday."
  46. ^ Larsen, Erik. "Toms River schools super to retire before contract ends; Suffered heart attack this month; district seeks successor", Asbury Park Press, March 27, 2013. Accessed August 10, 2014. "Superintendent of Schools Frank J. Roselli has informed the township Board of Education that he will retire at the end of the school year after he suffered a heart attack earlier this month."
  47. ^ Toms River Regional Appoints Thomas Gialanella Interim Superintendent of Schools, Toms River Regional Schools, June 12, 2013. Accessed August 10, 2014.
  48. ^ Nee, Daniel. "Toms River BOE Appoints David Healy As New Superintendent; Terms of superintendent contract not released to public or media, however", Toms River Patch, March 11, 2014. Accessed August 10, 2014. "David M. Healy will become the next superintendent of New Jersey's largest suburban school district."
  49. ^ Lundy, Chris. "Michael Citta Chosen As Toms River Superintendent", Jersey Shore Online, February 2, 2022. Accessed June 28, 2022. "During a special meeting, the Toms River Board of Education finally chose a new superintendent: High School South Principal Michael Citta."
  50. ^ 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.
  51. ^ Annual Comprehensive Financial Report for the Toms River Regional Schools, New Jersey Department of Education for year ending June 30, 2021. Accessed July 9, 2022. "The School District is a Type II district located in the County of Ocean, 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 appointed to three-year staggered terms. . The District provides a full range of educational services appropriate to grades levels Pre-K through 12th grade includes both regular and special education programs."
  52. ^ Board of Education, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed July 9, 2022. "The Toms River Board of Education is comprised of nine elected members. Six are elected from Toms River Township, and one each from the Boroughs of Pine Beach, Beachwood, and South Toms River."
  53. ^ Toms River Regional Board of Education District Policy 0141 - Board Member Number and Term, Toms River Regional Schools. Accessed June 17, 2020. "The Board of Education shall consist of 9 members, representing Toms River (6 members), the Borough of Beachwood (1 member), the Borough of Pine Beach (1 member) and the Borough of South Toms River (1 member)."
  54. ^ Van Embden, Edward. "A Sign of Recovery, Bennett Bubble Reopens; The school district's inflated athletic bubble, critical to state high school sports and local businesses, reopened recently.", Toms River Patch, January 7, 2013. Accessed August 10, 2014.
  55. ^ "Pine Belt Arena in Toms River renamed a second time in 5 months: RWJBarnabas Health Arena". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  56. ^ "High School South Graduation 2023 | Toms River Regional School District". www.trschools.com. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  57. ^ "High School North Graduation 2023 | Toms River Regional School District". www.trschools.com. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  58. ^ "High School East Graduation 2023 | Toms River Regional School District". www.trschools.com. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  59. ^ NJ.com, Brian Deakyne | NJ Advance Media for (February 18, 2022). "Toms River North rallies past rival Jackson Memorial to reach SCT quarterfinals". nj. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  60. ^ admin20 (September 27, 2020). "RWJBarnabas Health Arena". TomsRiver.org. Retrieved July 20, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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