Burlington County Special Services School District
Encyclopedia
The Burlington County Special Services School District is a school district
in Burlington County, New Jersey
, United States
whose special schools offer educational and therapeutic services for students of elementary school age who have emotional of physical disabilities that cannot be addressed by their sending districts.
The Burlington County Special Services School District was established in 1972 by the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders
. At first the district served 30 handicapped students, but grew within five years to accommodate 500 students from 40 sending school districts in the county. A newly-constructed campus for the school was built in Westampton Township
, starting use in January 1983. In 1990, the district opened a high school for at-risk students in Lumberton Township
and a K-8 campus was opened the following year in Willingboro to help teach students how to overcome their disabilities.
As of the 2007-08 school year, the district's three schools had an enrollment of 992 students and 141.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 7.0.
A group of emotionally and physically disabled students from the school district's marching band participated in the inaugural parade for President Bill Clinton
. The band also marched in the parade in Atlantic City, New Jersey
for the 1993 Miss America pageant.
Saying that he "didn't even know it was a paying job" when he was elected to the Assembly in 1995, Superintendent Carmine DeSopo
announced in 1996 that he would donate his entire $35,000 annual salary from the Assembly to the school district's marching band and to a camp the district runs for adult graduates. Having been responsible for the creation of the district, DeSopo announced in March 2001 that he was retiring at the end of the school year from his position as superintendent after 38 years in the field of education.
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
in Burlington County, New Jersey
Burlington County, New Jersey
There were 154,371 households out of which 34.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% were married couples living together, 10.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.70% were non-families. 22.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
whose special schools offer educational and therapeutic services for students of elementary school age who have emotional of physical disabilities that cannot be addressed by their sending districts.
The Burlington County Special Services School District was established in 1972 by the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders
Board of Chosen Freeholders
In New Jersey, the Boards of Chosen Freeholders are the county legislatures in each of that state's 21 counties.- Origin :New Jersey's system of naming county legislators "freeholders" is unique in the United States...
. At first the district served 30 handicapped students, but grew within five years to accommodate 500 students from 40 sending school districts in the county. A newly-constructed campus for the school was built in Westampton Township
Westampton Township, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 7,217 people, 2,525 households, and 1,966 families residing in the township. The population density was 653.6 people per square mile . There were 2,581 housing units at an average density of 233.8 per square mile...
, starting use in January 1983. In 1990, the district opened a high school for at-risk students in Lumberton Township
Lumberton Township, New Jersey
Lumberton Township is a Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 10,461....
and a K-8 campus was opened the following year in Willingboro to help teach students how to overcome their disabilities.
As of the 2007-08 school year, the district's three schools had an enrollment of 992 students and 141.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE
Full-time equivalent
Full-time equivalent , is a unit to measure employed persons or students in a way that makes them comparable although they may work or study a different number of hours per week. FTE is often used to measure a worker's involvement in a project, or to track cost reductions in an organization...
basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 7.0.
A group of emotionally and physically disabled students from the school district's marching band participated in the inaugural parade for President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. The band also marched in the parade in Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
for the 1993 Miss America pageant.
Saying that he "didn't even know it was a paying job" when he was elected to the Assembly in 1995, Superintendent Carmine DeSopo
Carmine DeSopo
Carmine DeSopo is an American Republican Party politician who served one term in the New Jersey General Assembly, from 1996 to 1998, where he represented the 7th Legislative District.-Education:...
announced in 1996 that he would donate his entire $35,000 annual salary from the Assembly to the school district's marching band and to a camp the district runs for adult graduates. Having been responsible for the creation of the district, DeSopo announced in March 2001 that he was retiring at the end of the school year from his position as superintendent after 38 years in the field of education.