Margate school superintendents, past and present, from left, former Superintendent John DiNicola, incoming Superintendent Audrey Becker, Interim Superintendent Thomas Baruffi, and former Superintendent Dominick A. Potena.
Parents asked to provide feedback on school reopening plan
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
MARGATE – The Board of Education held its first in-person meeting of the year at the Dominick A. Potena Performing Arts Center June 9. It was held in the auditorium to accommodate a crowd gathered to honor eight school district employees who retired after many years of service to Margate’s children.
Interim Superintendent Thomas Baruffi, who was attending his last board meeting in Margate, and incoming Superintendent and current Principal of the William H. Ross School Audrey Becker took turns honoring eight school district employees, including members of the teaching staff, health office and maintenance team.
Those recognized are:
Maintenance technician Pat Conover with 16 years of service to the district, school nurse Diane Grossi with nearly 26 years of service, and teachers Margo Thompson (12 years), Nancy Palomero (20 years), Mike Lamy (25 years), Debbie Gaskill (29 years), Karen Petitt (25 years) and Kathy Styles-Landgraf (28 years).
Board Chairwoman Cathy Horn also thanked Baruffi for his “seasoned approach” toward governing the school district over the last three years. Baruffi stepped in when former Superintendent John DiNicola retired.
Baruffi always looked out for what is best for Margate, she said.
“You don’t take things personally, you are very fair, and you’re quick to pivot when we come at you, but you’re a rule guy and it has to meet the rules,” she said. “We have learned so much from you. We are going to miss you, but we are sure you prepared Audrey (Becker) and you are leaving the district in the best hands.”
Baruffi said it was “a pleasure” to work with the school board, administrators, staff and community, and that he “adapted” to accommodate the people who are always looking to do the right thing for the right reasons – the students.
“It’s been an incredible positive experience for me,” he said.
Baruffi will be following some of the districts graduates as he temporarily takes the helm of the Ocean City school district where Superintendent Kathleen Taylor has retired. The Ocean City Board of Education agreed to hire an interim superintendent while it conducts a full superintendent search.
In other business, the board adopted a safe return to school plan for implementation in September as required by federal and state government. The plan includes following CDC guidelines currently in place but will reflect new guidelines when they are released.
The plan calls for students and staff to wear masks, social distancing, desk barriers, limiting shared supplies, frequent cleaning of surfaces, frequent handwashing and improving ventilation.
“Some aspects of the opening plan may seem overly cautious,” Becker said, stating she hopes mask wearing will not be necessary in the fall. “We need to begin there and slowly remove safeguards only as permitted and effective in our district.”
Due to ample space for social distancing and low class size, Margate was the only school district in the county to have in-school learning throughout the 2020-2021 school year. Students attended classes in school in the morning, and were able to return for tutoring or special programs in the afternoons.
The plan is a living document that will be updated over the next few months, Becker said.
“But it will help us communicate our procedures while striving to keep our students and staff safe,” she said.
Becker said future funding available through the American Rescue Plan will be put toward completing facilities projects that were put on hold during the pandemic, including upgrading the ventilation system. The board also approved acceptance of emergency relief funds in the amount of $422,459 over the next two years.
She urged parents to review the plan, which is posted on the home page of the district website, margateschools.org, and encouraged them to respond to the accompanying survey.
“Parents can comment on the plan, remote learning, or your particular experiences,” she said. “We want to know what you want education to look like in the fall.”
The board also approved the appointment of Bonnie Todd Marino as principal of the William H. Ross School with a starting salary of $110,000 at a date to be determined.
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