Frustrations with Greater Egg School Superintendent Leads Teachers and Staff to Union Vote

Superintendent John Keenan
Photo Credit: Shore News

Frustrations continue to grow while morale goes down for the over 400 members of the Greater Egg Harbor Regional Education Association who have been working without a contract since June 30. 

The Association represents the teachers and support staffs in Absegami High School, Oakcrest High School and Cedar Creek High School. On Wednesday, members gave a unanimous vote of confidence to its union leadership.  The vote of confidence stated  “The Greater Egg Harbor Regional Education Association gives a vote of unconditional confidence to its Negotiations Committee, Action Committee and Association Leadership and will support all actions that may be determined by the Action Committee and endorsed by the Leadership.”

Stephanie Tarr, President of the Association told the members that “Your leadership believes that many of the problems we are facing this year and last are due to ideas and changes suggested or implemented by Mr. John Keenan, our new Superintendent. 

Mayor Don Purdy when reached for comment stated, "I am concerned" but wanted to reserve comment until he reaches out to the Superintendent. 

Cedar Creek Student Acquitted of Charges in Attempting to Possess a Weapon, Files Tort Claim

Cedar Creek Highschool; Credit Press of Atlantic City

Cedar Creek student Kevin Jones Jr., 17 of Galloway Township was arrested in December 2012 for allegedly possessing ingredients to make a bomb has filed a Tort Claim against several agencies, including Galloway Township Police Department. 

Agencies listed in Tort Notice Filed

According to Galloway Patch, "Investigators from the Galloway Police Department were joined by the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office at the student's home on the 300 block of East Spencer Lane, police said. They found several items, including electronic parts and chemicals that could cause an explosion when mixed together, police said."

Jones was charged with possession of a Destructive Device and sent to Harborfield Detention center. Jones was also charged with a second crime of Attempting to Possess a Weapon. The second charge was subsequently dismissed by Judge Jackson after the trial began on May 21, 2013 and May 22, 2013. 

Ultimately on May 22, 2013, according to the Notice of Tort Claim, Judge Jackson found Jones not guilty of all of the charges against him. Judge Jackson ruled that Jones did not have the requisite malicious intentions needed to substantiate the charges and that even at completion the device would not constitute a weapon. 

The notice states Jones was a student with disabilities who was classified as Other Health Impaired for Attention Deficit Disorder and was included in a Individualized Educational Program, also known as an IEP. The notice further stated, Cedar Creek High School which is a magnet program for Engineering, Jones was a gifted child in the areas of chemistry and engineering.

As part of the claims listed, it is alleged as a direct result of the defendants actions and inactions, Jones and his family were subjects of news media coverage, pictures and live news feeds of their home was printed, distributed on the internet, newspapers and through television coverage. It is also alleged that Jones was a victim of cyber bullying and harassment, intimidation and bullying by school personnel. 

A Notice of Tort Claim is a notification that a Lawsuit may be filed against those agencies. To date, a lawsuit has not been filed against the Township. 

Jones is scheduled to return to Cedar Creek High School in September of 2013. 

LT Tort Claims Aug 13-27, 2013 by GallowayTwpNews