Hanover Township Public Schools

The Hanover Township Public Schools is a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in kindergarten through eighth grade from Hanover Township (including its Cedar Knolls and Whippany neighborhoods), in Morris County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.[3][4]

Hanover Township Public Schools
Address
61 Highland Avenue
, Morris County, New Jersey, 07981
United States
Coordinates40°49′32″N 74°24′43″W / 40.825539°N 74.411885°W / 40.825539; -74.411885
District information
GradesK-8
SuperintendentMichael Wasko
Business administratorVanessa M. Wolsky
Schools4
Students and staff
Enrollment1,260 (as of 2021–22)[1]
Faculty127.6 FTEs[1]
Student–teacher ratio9.9:1[1]
Other information
District Factor GroupI
Websitewww.hanovertwpschools.com
Ind. Per pupil District
spending
Rank
(*)
K-8
average
%± vs.
average
1ATotal Spending$17,59448$18,891−6.9%
1Budgetary Cost15,7047514,15910.9%
2Classroom Instruction9,037618,6594.4%
6Support Services2,656752,16722.6%
8Administrative Cost1,759691,54713.7%
10Operations & Maintenance2,004771,61224.3%
13Extracurricular Activities1206610415.4%
16Median Teacher Salary65,4186761,136
Data from NJDoE 2014 Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending.[2]
*Of K-8 districts with more than 750 students. Lowest spending=1; Highest=84

As of the 2021–22 school year, the district, comprising four schools, had an enrollment of 1,260 students and 127.6 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 9.9:1.[1]

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

Students in public school for ninth through twelfth grades attend Whippany Park High School in the Whippany section of Hanover Township, as part of the Hanover Park Regional High School District, which also serves students from the neighboring communities of East Hanover Township and Florham Park, who attend Hanover Park High School in East Hanover.[6] As of the 2021–22 school year, the high school had an enrollment of 615 students and 61.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 10.1:1.[7]

Policies

edit

In May 2023, the Hanover Township School District adopted a policy requiring teachers to notify parents regarding the gender identity and sexual orientation of LGBTQIA+ students.[8] The New Jersey Attorney General immediately filed a civil rights complaint about the policy, which also requires teachers to notify parents about "preoccupation with anti-social music" and "transitioning".[9]

Awards and recognition

edit

During the 1998-99 school year, Bee Meadow Elementary School was awarded the Blue Ribbon School Award of Excellence by the United States Department of Education, the highest award an American school can receive.[10]

Schools

edit

Schools in the district (with 2021–22 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics[11]) are:[12][13][14]

Elementary schools
  • Bee Meadow School[15] with 287 students in grades K-5
    • Darrin Stark, principal[16]
  • Mountview Road School[17] with 256 students in grades K-5
    • Carmen Camean, principal[18]
  • Salem Drive School[19] with 237 students in grades K-5
    • Roberto Camean, principal[20]
Middle school
  • Memorial Junior School[21] with 471 students in grades 6-8
    • Michael Anderson, principal[22]

Administration

edit

Core members of the district's administration are:[23] [24]

  • Michael J. Wasko, superintendent[25]
  • Vanessa M. Wolsky, business administrator and board secretary

Board of education

edit

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.[23] 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 2013) 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.[26]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d District information for Hanover Township School District, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.
  2. ^ Taxpayers' Guide to Education Spending April 2013, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 15, 2013.
  3. ^ Annual Comprehensive Financial Report of the Hanover Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education, for year ending June 30, 20122. Accessed December 7, 2023. "Hanover Township encompasses 10.8 square miles of Morris County. The Township, comprised of Cedar Knolls and Whippany, is home to more than 13,000 residents."
  4. ^ Hanover Township Board of Education District Policy 0110 - Identification, Hanover Township Public Schools. Accessed December 7, 2023. "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 eight in the Hanover Township School District. Composition: The Hanover Township School District is comprised of all the area within the municipal boundaries of Hanover Township in the County of Morris."
  5. ^ NJ Department of Education District Factor Groups (DFG) for School Districts, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed September 29, 2014.
  6. ^ Hanover Park Regional High School District 2015 Report Card Narrative, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed March 31, 2015. "The Hanover Park Regional High School District is comprised of two high schools. Hanover Park High School is located in East Hanover, receives students from East Hanover and Florham Park, and has an enrollment of 855 students. Whippany High School is located in Hanover Township, receives students from Hanover Township and has an enrollment of 714 students."
  7. ^ School data for Whippany Park High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.
  8. ^ "NJ Attorney general sues Hanover school district over policy on LGBTQ students". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  9. ^ Platkin, Matthew (May 18, 2023). "Brief In Support Of Plaintiffs' Application For An Order To Show Cause With Temporary Restraints" (PDF). NJOAG Office of the Attorney General.
  10. ^ Blue Ribbon Schools Program: Schools Recognized 1982-1983 Through 1999-2002 (PDF), United States Department of Education. Accessed September 29, 2014.
  11. ^ School Data for the Hanover Township Public Schools, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed December 1, 2022.
  12. ^ Directory, Hanover Township Public Schools. Accessed December 7, 2023.
  13. ^ School Performance Reports for the Hanover Township School District, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed April 3, 2024.
  14. ^ New Jersey School Directory for the Hanover Township Public Schools, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  15. ^ Bee Meadow School, Hanover Township Public Schools. Accessed December 7, 2023.
  16. ^ Principal's Message, Bee Meadow School. Accessed December 7, 2023.
  17. ^ Mountview Road School, Hanover Township Public Schools. Accessed December 7, 2023.
  18. ^ Principal's Message, Mountview Road School. Accessed December 7, 2023.
  19. ^ Salem Drive School, Hanover Township Public Schools. Accessed December 7, 2023.
  20. ^ Principal's Message, Salem Drive School. Accessed December 7, 2023.
  21. ^ Memorial Junior School, Hanover Township Public Schools. Accessed December 7, 2023.
  22. ^ December 7, 2023, Memorial Junior School. Accessed December 7, 2023.
  23. ^ a b Board of Education Members, Hanover Township Public Schools. Accessed December 7, 2023.
  24. ^ New Jersey School Directory for Morris County, New Jersey Department of Education. Accessed February 1, 2024.
  25. ^ Superintendent's Message, Hanover Township Public Schools. Accessed December 7, 2023.
  26. ^ 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.
edit